Leaves in 3D: photosynthesis and water-use efficiency. This project aims to develop leaf anatomical ideotypes with improved photosynthesis and water-use efficiency for wheat, rice, chickpea and cotton using novel three dimensional imaging and modelling techniques. This project expects to generate new understanding of the role of leaf anatomy on leaf function. Expected outcomes of this project include the world's first 3D spatially-explicit, anatomically accurate model of leaves of crop plants to ....Leaves in 3D: photosynthesis and water-use efficiency. This project aims to develop leaf anatomical ideotypes with improved photosynthesis and water-use efficiency for wheat, rice, chickpea and cotton using novel three dimensional imaging and modelling techniques. This project expects to generate new understanding of the role of leaf anatomy on leaf function. Expected outcomes of this project include the world's first 3D spatially-explicit, anatomically accurate model of leaves of crop plants to allow virtual experiments identifying optimized anatomy for improved photosynthetic performance. Benefits to the agricultural industry include increased crop productivity and water-use efficiency to meet future global food demand and to make the most of Australia's limited water resourcesRead moreRead less
Functional analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxins. Pore-forming toxins, such as anthrax, hemolysin, cholera and diphtheria toxins, are among the most virulent microbial toxins, posing a threat to humans and lifestock. We are using a novel functional approach to test possible lectin and antimicrobial peptide functions of a typical and economically important pore-forming toxin, the crystal endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis, to examine why toxicity of the lectin-containing toxin is ....Functional analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxins. Pore-forming toxins, such as anthrax, hemolysin, cholera and diphtheria toxins, are among the most virulent microbial toxins, posing a threat to humans and lifestock. We are using a novel functional approach to test possible lectin and antimicrobial peptide functions of a typical and economically important pore-forming toxin, the crystal endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis, to examine why toxicity of the lectin-containing toxin is restricted to invertebrates only, while the amphipathic peptide alone is also toxic to many vertebrate cells. The outcome of these experiments has important implications for the sustainable use of biopesticides and for the prevention and containment of infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
New Polymers for Cellulose-based Bioplastics. We will design new cellulose derivatives by combining carefully engineered synthetic polymers to cellulose. We will explore the fundamental science underpinning the manufacture of these bioplastics, and apply the concept to the design of two new materials, with (super)hydrophobic and antibacterial properties. These materials have the potential to replace synthetic plastics, which comprise one of the major outputs of the chemical industry worldwide. P ....New Polymers for Cellulose-based Bioplastics. We will design new cellulose derivatives by combining carefully engineered synthetic polymers to cellulose. We will explore the fundamental science underpinning the manufacture of these bioplastics, and apply the concept to the design of two new materials, with (super)hydrophobic and antibacterial properties. These materials have the potential to replace synthetic plastics, which comprise one of the major outputs of the chemical industry worldwide. Plastic is present everywhere in human life, but its manufacture and disposal have a strong negative impact on the environment; the new materials manufactured in this project are viable alternatives to plastics, and are sustainable from a production and disposal point of view.Read moreRead less
The cellulose synthase complex of the Arabidopsis primary cell wall. The polysaccharide cellulose is the basis for the wood and cotton fibre industries of Australia and much of our research on the mechanism of synthesis has been supported by those industries over the past decade. The present project focuses on the proteins making cellulose and how they organised into functional complexes that are able to make cellulose. The knowledge it provides, together with that from other projects, will move ....The cellulose synthase complex of the Arabidopsis primary cell wall. The polysaccharide cellulose is the basis for the wood and cotton fibre industries of Australia and much of our research on the mechanism of synthesis has been supported by those industries over the past decade. The present project focuses on the proteins making cellulose and how they organised into functional complexes that are able to make cellulose. The knowledge it provides, together with that from other projects, will move us towards the situation where we can manipulate the rate at which cellulose is produced and change its detailed properties. This opens the way to industry producing fibres with more desirable properties and producing novel cellulose-based materials tailored to specific applications.Read moreRead less
Molecular basis of antimicrobial and insecticidal activity of floral defensins from the Solonaceae. The flowers of Solanaceous plants produce high levels of defensins that protect the reproductive tissues against potential damage from microorganisms. The presence of related defensins in mammals, insects and plants indicates that they are part of an ancient defence mechanism. The floral defensins are potent antifungal molecules and surprisingly also have insecticidal activity. The aim of this pro ....Molecular basis of antimicrobial and insecticidal activity of floral defensins from the Solonaceae. The flowers of Solanaceous plants produce high levels of defensins that protect the reproductive tissues against potential damage from microorganisms. The presence of related defensins in mammals, insects and plants indicates that they are part of an ancient defence mechanism. The floral defensins are potent antifungal molecules and surprisingly also have insecticidal activity. The aim of this project is to understand the molecular basis of the antifungal and insecticide activity and to use this knowledge to produce improved molecules for crop protection.Read moreRead less
Predicting cell wall mechanics from structure in a materials engineering approach to plant growth. The project fosters a novel, interdisciplinary approach to understanding how the structure of plant cell walls determines their mechanical properties. Such understanding requires combining biological and engineering approaches and will illuminate how plants grow and produce cells and organs with particular shapes. This is scientifically important but is also important for industries depending on sp ....Predicting cell wall mechanics from structure in a materials engineering approach to plant growth. The project fosters a novel, interdisciplinary approach to understanding how the structure of plant cell walls determines their mechanical properties. Such understanding requires combining biological and engineering approaches and will illuminate how plants grow and produce cells and organs with particular shapes. This is scientifically important but is also important for industries depending on specialised cell shapes such as those of cotton and wood fibres. Our work will improve our understanding of how wall structure determines fibre and other cell shapes and give us tools which can be used to understand how final wall structure determines the fibre mechanics on which industrial users depend. Read moreRead less
Dissecting the Indigo Pathway in Natural Indigo Producing Plants: Intricate Pathway Engineering for the Generation of Blue-Fibre Cotton. Australian cotton growers must maintain a sustained competitive advantage in the future to compete within the global cotton market by commanding higher margins for specialty cotton lint over and above current revenues. Development, via biotechnology, of naturally-colored, 'blue' lint cottons is the technical goal, where novel environmentally-benign textile prod ....Dissecting the Indigo Pathway in Natural Indigo Producing Plants: Intricate Pathway Engineering for the Generation of Blue-Fibre Cotton. Australian cotton growers must maintain a sustained competitive advantage in the future to compete within the global cotton market by commanding higher margins for specialty cotton lint over and above current revenues. Development, via biotechnology, of naturally-colored, 'blue' lint cottons is the technical goal, where novel environmentally-benign textile products could be produced without the use of toxic synthetic dyes or caustic dyeing processes. Success will provide a unique opportunity to re-establish an Australian cotton/textile industry by allowing direct participation in the development, branding and marketing of novel Australian textile products, generating potential revenue upwards of $10B/year. Read moreRead less
A systems approach to dissect the pathogenicity and host specificity of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes wilt disease in many plant species, including many that are important for Australian agriculture. Developing environmentally friendly disease protection strategies against this pathogen requires a clear understanding of infection strategies used by the fungus to invade its host. This project, along with a parallel project in host ....A systems approach to dissect the pathogenicity and host specificity of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes wilt disease in many plant species, including many that are important for Australian agriculture. Developing environmentally friendly disease protection strategies against this pathogen requires a clear understanding of infection strategies used by the fungus to invade its host. This project, along with a parallel project in host resistance mechanisms, will provide the basis for development of a world leading platform in mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity and virulence and plant disease resistance/susceptibility. Application of the knowledge gained in this project to other host-pathogen interactions will thereby provide opportunities for improved crop protection and biosecurity.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms regulating plant cell expansion: assessing the role of aquaporins and sugar signalling. This project seeks to understand the role of water channel genes in controlling water flow into expanding plant cells by using cotton fibre as a model cell. Water flow plays critical roles in plant growth, hence yield. The information generated may provide technological opportunities for improving water flow and utilization, hence, crop yield.
CesA (cellulose synthase) genes of Arabidopsis; all doing the same job or specialists cooperating to make the most abundant biopolymer. The biosphere makes more cellulose than any other polymer with fibre industries depending on its physical properties and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels depending on its stability as a carbon sink. Demonstrations that cellulose production needs CesA genes drove recent progress in elucidating the mechanism of synthesis. CesA proteins all look very similar but i ....CesA (cellulose synthase) genes of Arabidopsis; all doing the same job or specialists cooperating to make the most abundant biopolymer. The biosphere makes more cellulose than any other polymer with fibre industries depending on its physical properties and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels depending on its stability as a carbon sink. Demonstrations that cellulose production needs CesA genes drove recent progress in elucidating the mechanism of synthesis. CesA proteins all look very similar but if all do the same job, why do plants need so many and why do none seem redundant? We will make gene interchanges in transgenic plants, build chimeric genes and identify where each CesA protein operates. This will identify their individual and cooperative contributions to cellulose production.Read moreRead less