Avijit Biswas is a PhD student, based at Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury campus. Avijit’s PhD project, titled “Linking Mechanical Stress and Bioactive Carotenoid Signals to Resistance against Insect Herbivory in Plants” hypothesizes that “Mechanical stimulation will trigger the hyperaccumulation of apocarotenoid bioactive signals that modulate defense to insect herbivory.”
Chapter one of his thesis will focus on the optimisation of apocarotenoid quantification protocols. Additionally, Avijit will investigate the effects of mechanical stress on the production of apocarotenoids in both naïve and touched acclimated tissues. Chapter two will explore the effects of mechanical stress on tomato plant phenotypes, whilst Chapter three will focus on the influence of mechanical stress and various covering materials (light-shifting and light-blocking films) on pest infestations.
Avijit’s research experiments will be performed at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Campus in the high-tech S40 horticultural protected cropping glasshouse and S38 poly house harbouring LAF chambers covered with LLEAF and light-blocking films.