Robustness of plant immunity to biotic and abiotic stresses

The stability of agricultural production and therefore food security is threatened by climate change. The variability of biotic and abiotic stresses changes the effectiveness of plant immunity. The PhD project focuses on phenotypic robustness under stress, an emerging concept in plant biology. The RobusThèse project first aims to identify QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) to determine the robustness of immunity to the oomycete Phytophthora capsici and Potato virus Y (PVY), under two thermal regimes, and then to determine whether there is a link between the robustness of immunity to a pathogen and tolerance in healthy and infected conditions. Finally, the genericity of plant robustness will be assessed by measuring the effect of the identified QTLs on plant immunity to new stresses, biotic or abiotic, alone or in combination.

Training and Career

Msc in Plant Biology (Plant Health and Breeding)