Open BSc and MSc Thesis Projects

Crown rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus _Puccinia coronata_ f. sp. lolii, leads to yield losses and reduction of quality in Italian ryegrass (_Lolium multiflorum_ Lam.). Therefore, resistance to crown rust is an important selection criterion in ryegrass breeding. To find new sources of resistance, a previously established nested association mapping (NAM) population will be screened for crown rust resistance. The NAM population consists of 708 plants, for which genotyping data is already available. For screening of the population, a commonly used leaf segment test will be applied as a greenhouse experiment. Phenotypic and genotypic data will then be used for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the identification of candidate resistance loci.

Identification of loci/marker/genes controlling resistance against crown rust.

• Phenotyping of the NAM population for crown rust resistance • GWAS using the available genotyping data together with the newly obtained henotypic data • Identification of candidate resistance genes

to design experiments, systematically screen for resistance sources, conduct GWAS

Master’s students, interested in molecular plant genetics. The experiments will be conducted at Agroscope Reckenholz.

jenny.kiesbauer@agroscope.admin.ch, roland.koelliker@usys.ethz.ch or christoph.grieder@agroscope.admin.ch