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Terry Mun: Analysis and use of a natural mutagen to gain better insight of plant-microbe interactions

PhD defence, Friday 9 December 2016. Terry Mun.

Terry Mun

Terry Wei Hao Mun

Leguminous plants, when paired with compatible soil bacteria, bear the amazing ability of converting atmospheric nitrogen into biologically accessible nitrates. While permitting infection of beneficial soil bacteria, plants also have to guard against harmful pathogens that might hijack this process. During his studies, Terry Mun established an online information portal for the legume Lotus japonicus (Lotus), and studied a mutagenesis mechanism native to the legume. With these, he used the well-characterized mutant population generated from this mechanism to further the understanding of plant-microbe interaction. His work made a wealth of Lotus-centric resources, available through simple yet powerful means, to researchers worldwide. His research also uncovered a gene involved in ethylene signaling that plays an important role in the interaction of Lotus with beneficial and harmful microbes, which might also dictate the specific architecture of root structures required to host the symbionts.


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

This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 9 December 2016 at 13.00
Place:
Building 1252, room 204, Eduard Biermann Auditorium, Lakeside Lecture Theatre, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of dissertation:
Tri-LORE-gy—LORE1, a three-part journey
Contact information:
Terry Mun, terry@mbg.au.dk, tel: +45 50 34 00 56
Members of the assessment committee:

Professor Klaus Mayer, Department of Plant Genome and Systems Biology (PGSB), Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health
Professor Kåre Lehmann Nielsen, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience – Section for Biotechnology, Aalborg University
Professor Claus Oxvig (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:

Professor Jens Stougaard, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:

Assistant Professor Stig U. Andersen, 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 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.