Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Improving Seed Yield in Italian Ryegrass through Selection
Applying general concepts of plant breeding. Phenotyping of general traits and seed yield. Statistical analysis of data from the experiment.
In the last decades, the focus in the Agroscope breeding program of Italian Ryegrass (_Lolium multiflorum_) was mainly on agronomic traits like biomass yield, forage quality or disease resistance. However, for a variety to be successful on the market, a high seed yield is also a prerequisite. Therefore, the main goal of the project is to elucidate the prospects of including seed yield as a selection criterion.
Seed yield is influenced by many factors like pollination, seed setting, seed development and seed retention. A preliminary test on selected Agroscope varieties showed that reduced yields were mainly caused by low seed retention, which is supposed to be dependent on a rather simple genetic inheritance.
A classical selection experiment will be performed over two generations. Starting from a founder population consisting of ten accessions with 30 plants each, a selection for high and low seed retention has been done in advance. The two derived high and low seed retention populations will again be selected for high and low seed retention, respectively (this would be your part). Furthermore, the best performing genotypes from the selection experiment can be directly integrated into the breeding program.
In the last decades, the focus in the Agroscope breeding program of Italian Ryegrass (_Lolium multiflorum_) was mainly on agronomic traits like biomass yield, forage quality or disease resistance. However, for a variety to be successful on the market, a high seed yield is also a prerequisite. Therefore, the main goal of the project is to elucidate the prospects of including seed yield as a selection criterion. Seed yield is influenced by many factors like pollination, seed setting, seed development and seed retention. A preliminary test on selected Agroscope varieties showed that reduced yields were mainly caused by low seed retention, which is supposed to be dependent on a rather simple genetic inheritance. A classical selection experiment will be performed over two generations. Starting from a founder population consisting of ten accessions with 30 plants each, a selection for high and low seed retention has been done in advance. The two derived high and low seed retention populations will again be selected for high and low seed retention, respectively (this would be your part). Furthermore, the best performing genotypes from the selection experiment can be directly integrated into the breeding program.
- Apply general concepts of plant breeding
- Phenotyping of general traits and especially for
seed yield
- Statistical analysis of phenotypic data from the
selection experiment
- Apply general concepts of plant breeding - Phenotyping of general traits and especially for seed yield - Statistical analysis of phenotypic data from the selection experiment
You will phenotype in total 43 varieties with a low and high seed yield, respectively. The focus on the phenotyping is mainly on seed yield but still classical traits like heading date or vigor are also part of the phenotyping. You will use the phenotypic data to confirm the previous observations from low and high seed yield varieties. The experiment will be performed on the field at the Agroscope Reckenholz. The thesis can be done full time or part time. Ideal start is in April 2020.
You will phenotype in total 43 varieties with a low and high seed yield, respectively. The focus on the phenotyping is mainly on seed yield but still classical traits like heading date or vigor are also part of the phenotyping. You will use the phenotypic data to confirm the previous observations from low and high seed yield varieties. The experiment will be performed on the field at the Agroscope Reckenholz. The thesis can be done full time or part time. Ideal start is in April 2020.
Statistical analysis in a selection experiment; phenotyping methodologies; practical field work.
Statistical analysis in a selection experiment; phenotyping methodologies; practical field work.
Bachelors students interested in plant breeding. Field experience is an advantage but no requirement.
Bachelors students interested in plant breeding. Field experience is an advantage but no requirement.
For questions contact roland.koelliker@usys.ethz.ch or christoph.grieder@agroscope.admin.ch
For questions contact roland.koelliker@usys.ethz.ch or christoph.grieder@agroscope.admin.ch