Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain. Grain yield is controlled by complex, regulated genetic networks or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations in many crop plants. Yield is a product of the three major parameters: panicle number, grain number and grain size, trade-offs are commonly observed between grain number and size. There is evidence to suggest it is possible to improve grain size without altering overall biomass. With the genomic and genetic resource t ....Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain. Grain yield is controlled by complex, regulated genetic networks or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations in many crop plants. Yield is a product of the three major parameters: panicle number, grain number and grain size, trade-offs are commonly observed between grain number and size. There is evidence to suggest it is possible to improve grain size without altering overall biomass. With the genomic and genetic resource tools at hand. This project will elucidate the genetic architecture of grain size, and manipulate the key loci to generate more biomass in the grain, minimising or eliminating the adverse impact on seed number. This will maximise harvestable yield without imposing increased demand for water and nutrients.Read moreRead less
Cellulose-based composites as models for primary plant cell walls of cereals and grasses. Cereals and grasses are the lynchpins of the Australian Agri-Food industry. Cell walls provide shape, form and barrier properties to the plant and are the basis for both post-harvest mechanical properties and direct nutritional benefits. There is as yet no validated model for the molecular assembly, architecture and mechanical behaviour of cereal/grass cell walls. This project aims to derive such a model, s ....Cellulose-based composites as models for primary plant cell walls of cereals and grasses. Cereals and grasses are the lynchpins of the Australian Agri-Food industry. Cell walls provide shape, form and barrier properties to the plant and are the basis for both post-harvest mechanical properties and direct nutritional benefits. There is as yet no validated model for the molecular assembly, architecture and mechanical behaviour of cereal/grass cell walls. This project aims to derive such a model, so that predictions can be made concerning the effects of tailoring either plant composition (e.g. at the gene level) or post-harvest treatment in order to achieve desired plant or food properties. The findings will also be relevant to understanding how individual features of cell walls affect digestibility and nutritional properties.Read moreRead less