PhD students at AU 2025
Adane, Ermias, Tekalign and Thomas visited AU in Flakkebjerg from September to November 2025.
The main purpose of the visit was to continue CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of barley, which was initiated in 2024 (March to September), targeting six specific genes, potentially related to aluminium tolerance and disease resistance (Rhynchosporium graminicola and Pyrenophora teres).
Specifically, this visit aimed at identification of CRISPR/Cas9 generated barley mutant plants (from cv. Golden Promise) and to characterize the mutations by sequencing the targeted genes. Homozygous, biallelic and heterozygous gene edited mutants were identified. The homozygous gene edited mutants (knockouts) will be tested for the effect of the genes with cv. Golden Promise as the wildtype control.
Barley Team and PhD students at AU 2024
In June 2024 the Barley Team were all joined at AU-Flakkebjerg for two weeks. Three PhD students from Ethiopia had already stayed here for three months, when four colleagues from Ambo University, Haramaya University and EIAR joined. This gave a good opportunity to show ongoing lab activities related to barley embryo rescue and transformation of these with Agrobacterium (CRISPR/Cas9 construct) with the view also to transfer knowledge to Ethiopia. The two weeks also included student presentations to highlight the identified genes which will be edited, lectures and a Barley Team (management) meeting. Finally, field visits to Tystoftefonden and two breeding companies gave the broader perspective of the status of plant breeding in Denmark.
