Expanding the gene pool of canola (Brassica napus) by introgressing valuable genes from related species. Canola is a high value export crop from Australia, and an important rotational crop which improves sustainability of agriculture through a disease and weed break for cereal crops. While breeders have improved quality, disease resistance and adaptation of canola to Australian conditions over the past 30 years, this has reduced genetic variation to dangerously low levels. Wide crossing with d ....Expanding the gene pool of canola (Brassica napus) by introgressing valuable genes from related species. Canola is a high value export crop from Australia, and an important rotational crop which improves sustainability of agriculture through a disease and weed break for cereal crops. While breeders have improved quality, disease resistance and adaptation of canola to Australian conditions over the past 30 years, this has reduced genetic variation to dangerously low levels. Wide crossing with drought tolerant Brassica carinata (Ethiopean mustard) will help to alleviate this problem. New uses of biotechnology, combined with molecular genetics, will help to overcome species barriers to introduce useful new genes into canola for Australian canola breeders.Read moreRead less
Superior Australian psyllium for functional foods. This project aims to establish a breeding program for Plantago ovata in Australia to provide a reliable supply of high quality, superior psyllium as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry, providing benefits to the industrial partner, growers in Australia and consumers. Target traits include better harvest index, reduced seed shattering and identification of lines carrying psyllium with novel properties or whole seeds that can be grou ....Superior Australian psyllium for functional foods. This project aims to establish a breeding program for Plantago ovata in Australia to provide a reliable supply of high quality, superior psyllium as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry, providing benefits to the industrial partner, growers in Australia and consumers. Target traits include better harvest index, reduced seed shattering and identification of lines carrying psyllium with novel properties or whole seeds that can be ground and used as flour that imparts less intense colour changes or effects on loaf structure, and which may be highly suitable for other baked gluten-free products. The fundamental knowledge gained from the genetic and biochemical anlayses of these lines will also broadly benefit seed biology research.Read moreRead less
Accelerating the genetic improvement of grain legumes for Australia by developing doubled haploid technology for field pea and chickpea. Doubled haploid technology is used in many broad acre crop species to accelerate cultivar development and create homozygous populations for genetic mapping. Field pea and chickpea have been unresponsive to this technique but a recent breakthrough by UWA researchers has resulted in haploid pro-embryos from in vitro cultured immature pollen. A barrier to further ....Accelerating the genetic improvement of grain legumes for Australia by developing doubled haploid technology for field pea and chickpea. Doubled haploid technology is used in many broad acre crop species to accelerate cultivar development and create homozygous populations for genetic mapping. Field pea and chickpea have been unresponsive to this technique but a recent breakthrough by UWA researchers has resulted in haploid pro-embryos from in vitro cultured immature pollen. A barrier to further embryo maturation has been identified, which we propose to overcome using powerful microscopy tools to elucidate haploid embryology processes. This information will be applied to develop world-first in vitro doubled haploid protocols for these species, which will facilitate the development and accelerated delivery to industry of better adapted, high yielding cultivars.Read moreRead less
Fungal Glucanase Genes for Engineering Disease Resistance in Plants. Plants can be engineered for resistance to fungal diseases by transformation with recombinant genes encoding chitinase or glucanase. Although fungi are prolific producers of glucanases, with some species producing novel forms, they have been unexplored as a source of useful glucanases. This project will isolate glucanase-producing fungi from soil, screen them for antifungal activity, and clone the glucanase genes from one or m ....Fungal Glucanase Genes for Engineering Disease Resistance in Plants. Plants can be engineered for resistance to fungal diseases by transformation with recombinant genes encoding chitinase or glucanase. Although fungi are prolific producers of glucanases, with some species producing novel forms, they have been unexplored as a source of useful glucanases. This project will isolate glucanase-producing fungi from soil, screen them for antifungal activity, and clone the glucanase genes from one or more isolates. In view of the high degree of biodiversity in WA soils, we have a high expectation of finding novel glucanases which will be useful for engineering disease resistance in plants, or for other industrial processes.Read moreRead less
Exploiting the Arabidopsis genome sequence as a molecular 'toolbox' for Brassica improvement. Australia's position as a major exporter of canola (Brassica napus) is under threat from genetic improvements in yield and quality being made by our international competitors. We will identify genes from Arabidopsis (the 'tool-box') that will be used to increase the speed of selection of new canola varieties with improved oleic acid content, disease resistance, and agronomic traits such as early flower ....Exploiting the Arabidopsis genome sequence as a molecular 'toolbox' for Brassica improvement. Australia's position as a major exporter of canola (Brassica napus) is under threat from genetic improvements in yield and quality being made by our international competitors. We will identify genes from Arabidopsis (the 'tool-box') that will be used to increase the speed of selection of new canola varieties with improved oleic acid content, disease resistance, and agronomic traits such as early flowering and cold tolerance. Genome similarity between Arabidopsis and canola will be exploited to map specific genes from Arabidopsis directly into canola. Based on this knowledge, we will develop gene-specific molecular markers for rapid selection of Australian-adapted canola varieties.Read moreRead less
Genome editing to improve the dietary quality of potato. The project aims to develop non-genetically modified (non-GM) potato varieties with lower glycaemic index (GI) but good agronomic and culinary traits. Potato is the world's fourth-most important food. It is integral to the western diet and consumption is rising rapidly in Asia. However, the starch in cooked potato is readily digestible causing a rapid elevation of blood sugar levels on eating (i.e. it has a high GI). Long-term consumption ....Genome editing to improve the dietary quality of potato. The project aims to develop non-genetically modified (non-GM) potato varieties with lower glycaemic index (GI) but good agronomic and culinary traits. Potato is the world's fourth-most important food. It is integral to the western diet and consumption is rising rapidly in Asia. However, the starch in cooked potato is readily digestible causing a rapid elevation of blood sugar levels on eating (i.e. it has a high GI). Long-term consumption of meals with high GI is associated with increased risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This project aims to use new genome editing methods to silence key genes that influence starch composition and thus develop non-GM potato varieties with lower GI to reduce these risks.Read moreRead less
Ascorbate and glutathione integrate the control of grapevine development. This project aims to make a step-change in understanding how the growth of woody perennial crops is regulated. The study of herbaceous annual plants has established that the antioxidants, ascorbate and glutathione, are important in regulating every step of plant development. However, this cannot readily translate to perennial life cycles. This project will develop novel genetic tools in grapevine that enable functional stu ....Ascorbate and glutathione integrate the control of grapevine development. This project aims to make a step-change in understanding how the growth of woody perennial crops is regulated. The study of herbaceous annual plants has established that the antioxidants, ascorbate and glutathione, are important in regulating every step of plant development. However, this cannot readily translate to perennial life cycles. This project will develop novel genetic tools in grapevine that enable functional studies of these antioxidants in a perennial plant for the first time. It will investigate how ascorbate and glutathione regulate the development of grapevine, and how these functions integrate with hormone and energy metabolism. The outcomes will advance our ability to manage perennial crops in current and future climates.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Grain Yield Potential and Quality of Lupin. Sustainability of wheat production in Western Australia depends on the continued use of legumes, specifically lupins, in farming systems. The low returns to growers for lupins has jeopardised these sustainable systems. This project aims to gather new information to develop novel genetic strategies to increase yield potential and modify seed composition in lupins, enhancing their commercial worth.
Sterol interference as a new approach to the control of insect pests of crops. This project aims to develop a new approach to control chewing insect pests of crops. This will be achieved by interfering with insect sterol metabolism so that they fail to grow and reproduce normally.
Engineering safer pastures for livestock. This project aims to develop subterranean clover with elevated condensed tannins in leaves. This important pasture legume is currently a bloat risk for cattle and sheep due to low condensed tannins and high soluble proteins. Bloat is a health issue that costs the Australian and New Zealand livestock industries over $200 million per annum. Condensed tannins can reduce bloat, decrease methane production and improve efficiency of production. A novel approac ....Engineering safer pastures for livestock. This project aims to develop subterranean clover with elevated condensed tannins in leaves. This important pasture legume is currently a bloat risk for cattle and sheep due to low condensed tannins and high soluble proteins. Bloat is a health issue that costs the Australian and New Zealand livestock industries over $200 million per annum. Condensed tannins can reduce bloat, decrease methane production and improve efficiency of production. A novel approach using CRISPR and other innovative molecular techniques will generate breeding lines high in condensed tannins and deliver knowledge applicable to other pasture legumes. Expected outcomes for livestock producers include improved animal welfare, reduced carbon emissions and enhanced profits.Read moreRead less