Australian rushes: unearthing the function of root clusters and sand-binding roots. Unearthing the functioning of highly specialised root structures provides fundamental insights into the role of native rush plants in south-western Australian ecosystems and addresses a major issue with Australia's biodiversity, currently a Priority area for the ARC. Native rushes form a prominent but inconspicuous component of the Australian 'grass-like' flora, accounting for more than half the plant biomass on ....Australian rushes: unearthing the function of root clusters and sand-binding roots. Unearthing the functioning of highly specialised root structures provides fundamental insights into the role of native rush plants in south-western Australian ecosystems and addresses a major issue with Australia's biodiversity, currently a Priority area for the ARC. Native rushes form a prominent but inconspicuous component of the Australian 'grass-like' flora, accounting for more than half the plant biomass on some landscapes. Rushes are also highly sensitive to small increments in nutrients in disturbed environments and thus form a management priority relating to their use in rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, such as mine sites and wetland margins. Read moreRead less
Spatio-temporal analysis of molecular changes during leaf senescence in arabidopsis and wheat and their response to the environment. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia can be gained by changing the abundance of proteins and metabolites to influence plant performance and provide more robust plants and plant products. The aging and dying of leaves (leaf senescence) is a key factor in our understanding of plant development and the recovery of nutrients from dying tissues. Leaf senescenc ....Spatio-temporal analysis of molecular changes during leaf senescence in arabidopsis and wheat and their response to the environment. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia can be gained by changing the abundance of proteins and metabolites to influence plant performance and provide more robust plants and plant products. The aging and dying of leaves (leaf senescence) is a key factor in our understanding of plant development and the recovery of nutrients from dying tissues. Leaf senescence is also important for pre-harvest impacts on seed and grain quality as leaves represent the major nitrogen store remobilised to feed these plant products. This work will support the generation of intellectual property to be applied within Australia's plant-based industries and at the same time provides a strong environment for the training of students and researchers.Read moreRead less