Understanding disease resistance gene evolution across the Brassicaceae. Pan genomes represent the diversity of a species, including structural and sequence variation, which cannot be provided by a reference genome alone. In this project we will characterise resistance gene diversity across the Brassicaceae pan genomes. Through comparison with resistance gene diversity in cultivated Brassica species we will understand selection underlying resistance gene evolution in wild species and subsequent ....Understanding disease resistance gene evolution across the Brassicaceae. Pan genomes represent the diversity of a species, including structural and sequence variation, which cannot be provided by a reference genome alone. In this project we will characterise resistance gene diversity across the Brassicaceae pan genomes. Through comparison with resistance gene diversity in cultivated Brassica species we will understand selection underlying resistance gene evolution in wild species and subsequent domestication and breeding. Knowledge on how variation affects disease susceptibility, especially to the devastating fungal pathogen blackleg, and contributes to phenotypic variation, will lead to improved plant protection strategies and increased crop resilience.Read moreRead less
Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing appr ....Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing approaches and the improvements in photosynthesis, growth and yield evaluated. This information will aid complimentary biotechnological efforts seeking to supercharge photosynthesis and help deliver the second Green Revolution needed to meet the improvement required in future agriculture productivity and resource use.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utili ....Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utilizable sterols which will not support insect growth and reproduction, but will still allow the plant to function normally. We will demonstrate this in the important crop canola. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop production.Read moreRead less
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100025
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$747,126.00
Summary
Using the blackleg fungus as a model for maximising fungicide efficacy. Resistance to chemicals impacts the ability to control many diseases across many crops. This project aims to identify key epidemiological factors contributing to fungicide resistance in an emerging model system, blackleg disease of canola, using innovative approaches. The outcomes of this research will be management strategies for minimising the risk of evolution of fungicide resistance, a key industry need. This will also e ....Using the blackleg fungus as a model for maximising fungicide efficacy. Resistance to chemicals impacts the ability to control many diseases across many crops. This project aims to identify key epidemiological factors contributing to fungicide resistance in an emerging model system, blackleg disease of canola, using innovative approaches. The outcomes of this research will be management strategies for minimising the risk of evolution of fungicide resistance, a key industry need. This will also enhance interdisciplinary collaborations through combining field and molecular research. These management strategies will provide significant economic benefits by ensuring increased canola yields, whilst providing health and environmental benefits through minimisation of unnecessary use of fungicides.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101560
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,589.00
Summary
Towards understanding the molecular details of canola-infection by Fusarium. This project aims at improving our understanding of how canola plants are infected by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Canola is the primary oilseed crop, and the overall third most important crop in Australia, accounting for a 3 billion AUS$ industry. Fusarium is a relatively new fungal disease to Australian canola, but projected to become a serious threat in the future. The project will provide insights into ....Towards understanding the molecular details of canola-infection by Fusarium. This project aims at improving our understanding of how canola plants are infected by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Canola is the primary oilseed crop, and the overall third most important crop in Australia, accounting for a 3 billion AUS$ industry. Fusarium is a relatively new fungal disease to Australian canola, but projected to become a serious threat in the future. The project will provide insights into the earliest stages of plant-infection by the fungus on a cellular level, using molecular biology, genetics and microscopic tools. Expected outcomes of this research include the identification of key components to improve plant defense against Fusarium, and the development of strategies to improve the plant's resilience.Read moreRead less
Who’s who in the plant gene world? As many more plant genomes are sequenced, the bottleneck is being able to interrogate and translate this data into applications for crop improvement. This project will develop and apply a population graph database, hosting genome data for the world’s major crops and their wild relatives, allowing the characterisation of gene diversity on an unparalleled scale. Analysis of this data will reveal the presence/absence and sequence diversity for classes of genes for ....Who’s who in the plant gene world? As many more plant genomes are sequenced, the bottleneck is being able to interrogate and translate this data into applications for crop improvement. This project will develop and apply a population graph database, hosting genome data for the world’s major crops and their wild relatives, allowing the characterisation of gene diversity on an unparalleled scale. Analysis of this data will reveal the presence/absence and sequence diversity for classes of genes for important agronomic traits including disease resistance, flowering time and legume nitrogen fixation which will enable plant breeders to identify and apply novel genes and allelic variants for use in breeding programmes, accelerating the production of improved crop varieties.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL230100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,320,000.00
Summary
A walk on the wild side: understanding disease resistance across plants. Plants are in constant battle with pests and pathogens. Wild species host genetic diversity, providing sources of disease resistance, while the narrow genetic base of crop varieties leads to an increasing reliance on the unsustainable application of chemical fungicides. Here I will apply the latest genomics approaches to characterise disease resistance gene diversity across the plant kingdom. Comparison of gene diversity wi ....A walk on the wild side: understanding disease resistance across plants. Plants are in constant battle with pests and pathogens. Wild species host genetic diversity, providing sources of disease resistance, while the narrow genetic base of crop varieties leads to an increasing reliance on the unsustainable application of chemical fungicides. Here I will apply the latest genomics approaches to characterise disease resistance gene diversity across the plant kingdom. Comparison of gene diversity within and between plant families will improve our understanding of resistance gene evolution in wild species and the impact of domestication and breeding on resistance gene diversity. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop productionRead moreRead less