Abazar Rajabi
Education
2003-present: PhD study, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
1998-1999: MSs, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.
1990-1994: BSs, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran.
Research interests
PhD project: Carbon isotope discrimination and selective breeding of sugar beet for drought tolerance.
Drought is the main constraint on crop productivity worldwide. It limits sugar beet production in the UK and Iran. Selection based on yield per se has not been successful because of high GxE interaction and low heritability of yield. Therefore, indirect selection criteria are needed in breeding sugar beet for water-limited environments. Improvements in water use efficiency (WUE) can help maintain yields when water resources are limited. Carbon isotope discrimination (delta) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion to improve WUE in many C3 species. However, it has not been extensively studied in sugar beet.
Significant genotypic variation for WUE, delta and related traits was found in sugar beet germplasm. An inexpensive surrogate measure for delta was identified to cull the inferior genotypes at the early stages of plant breeding programmes.
The relationship between WUE and delta is currently being investigated. To determine the source(s) of variation in delta, stable isotopes are being analysed on the samples collected from the soil, plant and atmosphere.
Before delta could be used in sugar beet breeding programmes, it is necessary to determine its genetic components and heritability. The progenies obtained from a full diallel analysis are being evaluated in a greenhouse experiment to determine the genetic basis of delta and hence WUE.
In a large-scale breeding program, it is time-consuming to field evaluate all materials for useful traits contributing to yield. In addition, the cost of sample analysis by mass spectrometry is a potential limitation to the use of delta in breeding programmes. One approach is to use molecular markers to trace the genes conditioning delta. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in delta variation have been identified in soybean, barley and wheat. No similar work has been done in sugar beet. A mapping population is being developed using the breeding lines contrasting for delta responses. The aim is to find the molecular markers linked to the genes controlling delta in sugar beet.
Papers presented in conferences
Rajabi, A; Griffiths, H and Ober, E. 2005. Carbon isotope discrimination in irrigated and droughted sugar beet. Proceedings of the 13th Multi-disciplinary Iranian Researchers Conference in Europe, 2nd-3rd July 2005, Leeds, UK.
Rajabi, A; Griffiths, H and Ober, E. 2005. Water use efficiency and gas exchange parameters in sugar beet subjected to drought stress. Proceedings of the 13th Multi-disciplinary Iranian Researchers Conference in Europe, 2nd-3rd July 2005, Leeds, UK.
Ober, E; Mich, L and Rajabi, A. 2005. Genotypic differences in rooting pattern and soil moisture extraction associated with drought tolerance in sugar beet. SEB Main Meeting, Barcelona, Spain. 11-15th July 2005.
Rajabi, A; Griffiths, H and Ober, E. 2005. Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency in sugar beet. SEB Main Meeting, Barcelona, Spain. 11-15th July 2005.
Rajabi, A; Griffiths, H and Ober, E. 2005. Genotypic variation for carbon isotope discrimination in sugar beet. InterDrought-II, the 2nd International Conference On The Integrated Approaches To Sustain and Improve Plant Production Under Drought Stress, Rome, Italy. 24-28th Sept 2005.
Ober, E; Rajabi, A., Jaggard, K.W and Pidgeon, J.D. 2005. Drought tolerance-linked secondary traits for screening sugar beet germplasm under managed drought conditions. InterDrought-II, the 2nd International Conference On The Integrated Approaches To Sustain and Improve Plant Production Under Drought Stress, Rome, Italy. 24-28th Sept 2005.
Ober, E; Rajabi, A., Jaggard, K.W and Pidgeon, J.D. 2005. Physiological selection criteria for Drought tolerance in sugar beet. InterDrought-II, the 2nd International Conference On The Integrated Approaches To Sustain and Improve Plant Production Under Drought Stress, Rome, Italy. 24-28th Sept 2005.
Sponsoring bodies/ Organizations
- Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Iran
- KWS seeds, Germany
- Broom's Barn Research Station, Suffolk, UK
- Sugar beet Seed Institute (SBSI), Iran
- British Beet Research Organisation
Contact Details
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Cambridge
Downing Street
Cambridge CB2 3EA
T + 44 (0)1223 333218
F + 44 (0)1223 333953
E ar358@cam.ac.uk