Wheat yield and grain quality are heavily influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Understanding the genetic basis of adaptability to environmental variations, particularly temperature fluctuations, is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity. The circadian clock, a conserved gene regulatory network orchestrating rhythmic biological processes, is a pivotal player in plant adaptation to environmental cues, including temperature.

However, its functional and regulatory mechanisms in wheat remain largely unexplored. In my PhD, I will investigate genetic variation in circadian rhythms in wheat and the impact on two traits known to be influenced the circadian clock: adaptation to warm temperature and timing of senescence. I aim to comprehensively assess circadian trait variation within Australian wheat cultivars and identify associated loci using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). By measuring circadian rhythms of delayed fluorescence (DF), I will measure circadian phenotypes in addition to key agronomic traits, including timing of senescence, grain protein content (GPC), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), in a panel of Australian wheat cultivars.

This investigation will shed light on the genetic architecture underlying circadian rhythms and its implications for grain quality. Furthermore, I will explore the influence of the circadian clock on temperature responsiveness by performing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis of clock gene transcripts under varying temperature conditions. Specifically, I will examine the role of key clock components, such as ELF3, in mediating temperature compensation and its influence on response to heat stress.

Additionally, I will investigate the involvement of the circadian clock in regulating leaf senescence, a critical developmental process influencing grain quality and yield. My PhD will integrate molecular genetics, phenomics, and field trials to unravel the intricate relationship between the circadian clock, temperature adaptation, and senescence control in wheat.

By elucidating the underlying mechanisms, I aim to identify novel genetic targets for breeding resilient wheat varieties capable of thriving in changing environmental conditions, thereby contributing to global food security.