PhD Studentship: Discovering Novel Genetic Variation in Height for Hybrid Wheat Breeding

Primary Supervisor - Dr Philippa Borrill

This project will be completed with the CASE partner, KWS UK LTD.   

Hybrid wheat holds great potential to increase wheat yields and yield stability in the coming years, ensuring crop production in the face of climate change. However, to breed successful hybrid varieties, additional genetic variation is required in a range of traits including plant height. The height of the female and male parents must be carefully controlled to maximise hybrid seed production and the resulting hybrids must have a height suitable for the target growing region, despite potential increases in height from heterosis.   

In this project, we will identify novel genetic loci controlling plant height by focussing on single copy genes. Hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has on average three highly similar copies of every gene (homoeologs) which can be functionally redundant, i.e. if one homoeolog is mutated no phenotypic effect will be observed due to compensation by the other homoeologs. However, ~14% of the genes are single copy and do not have any homoeologs in hexaploid wheat. These single copy genes offer advantages to breeding to avoid genetic redundancy between homoeologs.  

We recently cloned the Rht13 dwarfing gene which encodes a single copy gene and causes a comparable height reduction to the Green Revolution dwarfing genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b (Borrill et al., 2022, PNAS). We hypothesise that other single copy genes may affect height and that induced variation in these genes could be an important source of height modification for hybrid breeding. In this project we will deepen our understanding of how Rht13 reduces plant height and identify new single copy height genes that can be used in breeding hybrid wheat. 

The student will develop a wide range of skills including plant genetics, molecular biology, gene editing and genomics. They will benefit from tailored training opportunities through the DTP programme and from the outstanding scientific environment across the NRP.  

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2025 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP CASE students undertake a three to 18-month placement with the non-academic partner during their study. The placement offers experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. 

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 28, 29 or 30 January 2025.  

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/

Funding Details 

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2024/5 stipend rate: £19,237), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship. 

Closing Date: 25 November 2024 (at 11.59 pm) 

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