PhD position in biology or plant sciences (ecophysiological models), Netherlands (2015)

General introduction: The improvement of yield is of general importance in most crop species. Traditional breeding approaches try to improve yield by selecting on yield as a single trait itself. This project is aimed at improving yield by using an approach based on selecting on yield components rather than on yield itself. We will develop prediction and selection strategies for yield through a synthesis of crop ecophysiological modelling on the one hand and QTL mapping and genomic prediction of yield components on the other hand.

The approach consists of five steps:

(I) dissecting yield into yield components, where several dissections (e.g. static versus dynamic) are considered;

(II) identify the genetic basis for these yield components from marker profiles by QTL mapping and genomic prediction;

(III) build a prediction model for these yield components;

(IV) insert the predicted yield component values in a crop ecophysiological model to predict yield as single output; and

(V) use the crop ecophysiological model for ranking and selecting genotypes for high yield.

The project will deliver efficient selection and breeding strategies based on idealised plant types (ideotypes) for yield and yield components.

As a PhD candidate you will take the lead in and participate in conducting physiological measurements (e.g. photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence) in two large scale phenotyping experiments. You will model the development of phenotypic traits in a tomato population as a function of genetic and environmental factors.

In this project you will work in close collaboration with a Postdoc, who will focus on developing the measurement protocol and the application of sensitivity analysis methodologies like Fisher information and Bayesian approaches for model selection and improvement. Together with the Postdoc you will validate the yield prediction tools and conduct ideotyping.