PhD Thesisstarted in Mar 2010
Characterization of circadian clock in Nicotiana attenuata and their roles in plant-pollinator interaction
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät
First Supervisor: Prof. I.T. Baldwin
Co-Supervisor(s): Ph.D. S. Kim, Prof. Dr. M. Mittag (Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena) Current Research (PhD Thesis):
The circadian clock in plants regulates most of the plant development from germination to seed maturation. Components of the central oscillator and several regulatory loops have been identified using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, sequencing of other plants species shows that the clock is highly conserved. The wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata serves as an ecological model plant, providing a good background and molecular toolbox for evaluating the relevance of the circadian clock in its native habitat and the biotic interactions with herbivores and pollinators. Studies with N. attenuata allow us to extrapolate real interactions that cannot be clearly observed in crop plants due to the loss of interactions during domestication processes. We have found interesting interactions between diurnal rhythm of N. attenuata and pollinators such as Manduca sexta during the group’s two decade field work. Based on field observation, I will work on the characterization of the circadian clock of N. attenuata and elucidate the circadian importance of plant-pollinator interactions and plant fitness in nature. | | last updated on 2012-12-26 |
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