During her studies, Nanna Hellum Nielsen detected chromosomal regions responsible for several important traits in wheat: microspore culture response, heading date, pre-harvest sprouting tolerance and resistance to powdery mildew, yellow rust and brown rust. Microspore culture is an important technique to save time in the breeding process. The study was conducted as an industrial PhD, and the aim was to investigate the possibility to implement microspore culture in the wheat breeding at Nordic Seed.

The new findings suggest that genetic improvement is needed to enable implementation of the wheat microspore technique. Furthermore, the results suggest chromosomal areas that can be used for marker-assisted selection of varieties with a high microspore response level.

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

Time: Monday 22 September 2014 at 13.15
Place: Meeting room 2, AU Conference Centre, Fredrik Nielsens Vej 4, Aarhus C, Aarhus University
Title of dissertation: Optimization of wheat microspore culture protocol and detection of chromosomal regions assoated with microspore culture response, heading date, pre-harvest sprouting tolerance and resistance to powdery mildew, yellow rust and brown rust in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Contact information: Nanna Hellum Nielsen, e-mail: nhni@nordicseed.com, tel.: +45 28950070
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Dr. Volker Mohler, Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Technische Universitat München, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL). Germany
Dr. Thomas Didion, DLF-TRIFOLIUM, Dansk Planteforædling, Denmark
Associate professor, Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chair), Department of Molecular Biologogy and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Jens Stougaard

Co-supervisors:
Postdoc Stig Uggerhøj Andersen, Department of Molecular Biologogy and Genetics, Aarhus University
Breeding Manager Ahmed Jahoor, Nordic Seed A/S
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 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.