Senescence is a complex, highly controlled final stage of leaf development that results in the coordinated degradation of macromolecules and the subsequent remobilization of components to other parts of the plant. Recent research has greatly improved our understanding of leaf senescence regulation by the identification and characterization of various senescence mutants and a large number of genes that show enhanced expression during senescence. Although the senescence process has been extensively studied in the model plant Arabidopsis, knowledge about the molecular mechanism driving senescence in crop plants is still limited.

During her PhD studies, Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka investigated the role of NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC2) transcription factors in regulation of senescence in barley in order to provide more clues about the genetic mechanism of the process in cereals. In her research, Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka showed that individual three members of this family, HvNAC005, HvNAC013, and HvNAC026, have impact on development and senescence regulation of the barley.

The new research findings support the importance of the barley NAC transcription factors in the control of leaf senescence, and increase our understanding of regulatory mechanisms of leaf senescence in cereal crop plants.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

This résumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday 8 December 2015 at 12.00
Place: Lecture Theatre, Research Centre Flakkebjerg, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse
Title of dissertation: Characterization of senescence-associated NAC transcription factors in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Contact information: Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka, e-mail: dagmara.podzimska-sroka@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 52909092
Members of the assessment committee:
Senior Scientist Jennifer Stephens, James Hutton Institute, University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Docent Matti Leino, Agroecology Department, Linköping University, Sweden
Associate Professor Søren Borg (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Senior Scientist Per Langkjær Gregersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Senior Scientist Inger Bæksted Holme, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 1520, building 128, room 134, 8000 Aarhus C.