For his final paper, which he wrote at IAPN, Hendrik Meemken received the award for the “Most Original Master Thesis 2018”. The award is granted by the Section of Agricultural Sciences of Alumni Göttingen e.V. During his project, Hendrik Meemken was supervised by Junior-Professor Dr. Merle Tränkner and PhD student Setareh Jamali Jaghdani. Technical assistance for scientific experiments was provided by Kirsten Fladung and Ulrike Kierbaum.
Efficiency of photo-protection mechanisms under nutrient deficiency
Award winner Hendrik Meemken together with IAPN staff-members Ulrike Kierbaum, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Merle Tränkner, PhD student Setareh Jamali Jaghdani, Martina Renneberg and Kirsten Fladung (left to right). (Photo: IAPN)
The master thesis is titled “Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and ROS detoxifying enzyme activity under macro nutrient deficiency in sunflower”. Hendrik Meemken researched deficits of the nutrients potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and nitrogen in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and the effects of these deficits on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and on enzyme activities for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS). The objective of his research was to measure the efficiency of photo-protection mechanisms under the specific nutrient deficiency. Photo-protection mechanisms are plant functions for self-protection against the negative impact of intense light. For his research, Hendrik Meemken employed various analysis techniques, among them imaging technology for depicting chlorophyll fluorescence. This allows to visualize modifications of leaves that are related to nutrient deficiencies and which are not yet visible to the human eye. Used in conjunction with for instance measurements of CO2-assimilation-rates, this technique provides detailed information on any inhibitions of the photosynthesis capacity under nutrient deficiency.
Also awarded was the master thesis by Frederick Asankom Dadzie, produced in the Division of Biogeochemistry of Agroecosystems, part of the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Göttingen. This thesis was supervised by Junior-Professor Dr. Michaela Dippold and it is titled “Verbessern Wurzelhaare die Aufnahme von Phosphor in basischen Boden?” (Do root hairs improve phosphorus uptake in alkaline soils?). Frederick Asankom Dadzie explored the effects of nitrogen fertilization on phosphorus uptake via root hairs.
Awarded by the Section of Agricultural Sciences of Alumni Göttingen
The festive award presentation took place on November 30th 2018, as part of the annual ceremony honoring the graduates of master and bachelor study programs of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. The awards are each endowed with € 350.00 and granted by the Section of Agricultural Sciences of Alumni Göttingen. The non-profit association Alumni Göttingen e.V. with more than 5,000 members connects former students and graduates with the University of Göttingen and its current work, teaching and research. Its Section of Agricultural Sciences has emerged from the previous Gesellschaft der Freunde der Landwirtschaftlichen Fakultät (GFL e.V.), founded in 1987 and merged with Alunmi Göttingen e.V. in 2011.
The entire IAPN-team congratulates Hendrik Meemken and Frederick Asankom Dadzie on their accomplishments. Way to go!!
