Keywords: Reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes, oxidative damage, heat tolerance
Oxidative stress is a central component of plant responses to abiotic stress, yet its role in determining yield stability among lupin cultivars remains insufficiently understood. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulate under heat stress and can impair cellular function unless efficiently detoxified by enzymatic antioxidant systems, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD).
This project aims to investigate whether differences in ROS detoxification capacity contribute to the contrasting yield responses observed among Lupinus angustifolius cultivars under heat stress. We will quantify antioxidant enzyme activities, ROS levels, and oxidative damage markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), and relate these to physiological performance and yield outcomes. By integrating biochemical, physiological, and agronomic data, the project seeks to clarify whether oxidative stress regulation represents a key mechanism underlying cultivar-dependent stress tolerance, and whether antioxidant capacity can serve as a reliable indicator for breeding heat-resilient lupin varieties.
Is field work part of the topic (yes/no)?
No
Is lab work part of the topic (yes/no)?
Yes
I coding part of the thesis topic (yes/no)?
No (not beyond the statistical analysis of student’s data)
Any time based on student’s schedule
Department of Food Science of Aarhus University (Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus)
30 ECTS (IMSOGLO and Agrobiology): Theoretical thesis based on literature studies and/or analysis of issued and edited data sets.
45 ECTS (Agrobiology): Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for collection and analysis of his/her own original data
60 ECTS (Agrobiology): Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for planning, trial design and collection and analysis of his/her own original data
