How do wheat roots change their extracellular vesicle signals during water stress? This thesis, linked to the EU EIC Pathfinder project EVOLVE, will explore drought-dependent changes in root EV release and composition in an international research environment

Drought strongly alters plant physiology and root–environment interactions, but its effects on root-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) remain poorly understood.

The student will investigate how water stress influences EV release and selected components of EV composition in wheat, together with changes in plant growth and physiology. Depending on ongoing EVOLVE activities, the study may compare stress intensity or duration and/or recovery after rewatering.

The exact treatments and analytical methods will be adapted to ongoing activities in the EU EIC Pathfinder project EVOLVE. The project aims to identify reproducible links between plant water-stress responses and root EV release and composition.