Master thesis opportunity "How do drought stress, insect pollination and magnesium nutrition affect plant traits in faba beans?"
Adverse climatic conditions, such as drought, greatly impair plant performance and decrease crop yields. Nutrient supply can mitigate the impact of abiotic stressors in crops. In this context, most studies focused on nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, while magnesium (Mg) effects have rarely been considered. ...more
Bachelor thesis opportunity on "Do floral traits differ between cherry cultivars? (Can these differences be used to strategically attract pollinators?)"
Project significance: Alternatives to conventional agriculture are urgently needed to sustain ecosystem functions and services. Ecological intensification is a promising concept, aiming to improve agricultural system performance and efficiency through actively managing functional biodiversity to sustainably enhance delivery of production-supporting ecosystem services. ...more
Bachelor theses opportunity on "How do drought stress and intercropping affect pollen and nectar traits in faba beans?"
The theses aim to explore how drought stress affects the nectar and pollen production of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) grown in sole stands and intercrops with wheat. The question whether intercropping can prevent negative drought effects on plant traits that determine the crop’s attractiveness to pollinators will be answered. One thesis will focus on nectar traits (volume, sugar concentration), while the other thesis will address pollen traits (amount, vitality) of faba beans. There is also the option of one master thesis analyzing both, pollen and nectar traits (see call for master thesis). ...more
Master thesis opportunity on "How do drought stress and intercropping affect pollen and nectar traits in faba beans?"
Adverse climatic conditions, such as drought, greatly impair plant performance, decrease crop yields, disrupt plant-pollinator interactions and threaten important ecosystems services (e.g. food provision and pollination). Diversification measures like intercropping have been shown to provide some natural insurance under extreme conditions. However, knowledge is lacking on how intercropping and environmental stressors interact in their effect on functional crop plant traits that are related to pollinator attraction and thus pollination success and yields. ...more
