Microfluidic models of the CNS: Understanding cells, circuits & synapses. Aims: We aim to develop new cell culture platforms to form defined networks of brain cells. These platforms will be used to determine the critical mechanisms underpinning central nervous system function.
Significance: The devices developed will enable an unprecedented capacity to monitor changes throughout a network, with analysis at the level of the synapse, cell and circuit.
Expected outcomes: We will advance knowledge ....Microfluidic models of the CNS: Understanding cells, circuits & synapses. Aims: We aim to develop new cell culture platforms to form defined networks of brain cells. These platforms will be used to determine the critical mechanisms underpinning central nervous system function.
Significance: The devices developed will enable an unprecedented capacity to monitor changes throughout a network, with analysis at the level of the synapse, cell and circuit.
Expected outcomes: We will advance knowledge regarding the function of the CNS and deliver complex human cellular systems, that have both discovery and commercial applications.
Benefit: These platforms will have subsequent application revealing the mechanisms underlying numerous neurological diseases, with capacity to upscale for rapid drug screening.
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Revealing Enigma of Salt Bladders to Help Crops Cope with Salinity. In this project, the key transport systems mediating salt sequestration in halophytes are planned to be characterised and linked with cell genetic and metabolic profiles. Salinity is a major environmental hurdle affecting crop production around the world. Halophytes (naturally salt-loving plants) use specialised structures, called salt bladders, to sequester excessive salt outside their metabolically active parts. This feature i ....Revealing Enigma of Salt Bladders to Help Crops Cope with Salinity. In this project, the key transport systems mediating salt sequestration in halophytes are planned to be characterised and linked with cell genetic and metabolic profiles. Salinity is a major environmental hurdle affecting crop production around the world. Halophytes (naturally salt-loving plants) use specialised structures, called salt bladders, to sequester excessive salt outside their metabolically active parts. This feature is not utilised by crops however, and no information is available about the molecular mechanisms by which salt is pumped into bladder cells. This knowledge will allow breeders to utilise this, previously unexplored, trait to improve crop performance under conditions of salinity.Read moreRead less
How plants open up: revealing the evolution of stomatal opening mechanisms. This project aims to identify novel and conserved mechanisms that drive the opening of stomata – plant pores that enable CO2 acquisition for photosynthesis. Stomatal movements strongly affect plant productivity and water use efficiency and have profoundly influenced the earth’s climate and terrestrial ecology. This project will address critical gaps in our understanding of how plants open stomata in response to their env ....How plants open up: revealing the evolution of stomatal opening mechanisms. This project aims to identify novel and conserved mechanisms that drive the opening of stomata – plant pores that enable CO2 acquisition for photosynthesis. Stomatal movements strongly affect plant productivity and water use efficiency and have profoundly influenced the earth’s climate and terrestrial ecology. This project will address critical gaps in our understanding of how plants open stomata in response to their environment and the evolutionary history of the genes controlling this fundamental process. A major expected outcome is knowledge of the diversity of stomatal opening pathways, which should ultimately lead to improved predictions of plant responses to environmental change and assist future targeted modification of plant growth.Read moreRead less
Membrane transporters in oxidative stress signalling and tolerance in plants. Oxidative stress imposed by salinity and drought severely limits agricultural crop production, resulting in multibillion dollar losses to farmers. Australia is one of the driest continents, with a significant proportion of arable land affected by salinity. Thus, developing salt- and drought tolerant species is critical to minimise the impact of these stresses on crop production. This project will reveal specific ionic ....Membrane transporters in oxidative stress signalling and tolerance in plants. Oxidative stress imposed by salinity and drought severely limits agricultural crop production, resulting in multibillion dollar losses to farmers. Australia is one of the driest continents, with a significant proportion of arable land affected by salinity. Thus, developing salt- and drought tolerant species is critical to minimise the impact of these stresses on crop production. This project will reveal specific ionic mechanisms mediating reactive oxygen species signalling and tolerance in plants. This will help achieve the above goal by providing plant breeders with vital information on key genes controlling oxidative stress tolerance in plants. Read moreRead less
Coping with flooding: nutrient transport in oxygen-deprived roots. Flooding damages plants by reducing oxygen supply to roots. The project will study effects of low oxygen on nutrient transport by roots. Understanding root functioning during low oxygen will enhance knowledge of plant acclimation to soil water logging. The project will contribute to the National Goal of 'Responding to Climate Change and Variability'.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,067.00
Summary
The quick and the dead: identifying mechanisms for plant drought survival. This project aims to identify genes that control plant responses to low air humidity, which enhance drought survival by restricting water loss. Most plant water loss occurs through pores called stomata. This project expects to identify the genes that close stomata within minutes of decreased humidity by determining the molecular changes that occur over this timeframe and testing candidate genes for a critical role. Divers ....The quick and the dead: identifying mechanisms for plant drought survival. This project aims to identify genes that control plant responses to low air humidity, which enhance drought survival by restricting water loss. Most plant water loss occurs through pores called stomata. This project expects to identify the genes that close stomata within minutes of decreased humidity by determining the molecular changes that occur over this timeframe and testing candidate genes for a critical role. Diverse land plant models will be examined to ensure broad applicability of results. A major expected outcome is new knowledge of genes that minimise plant water loss, which would ultimately benefit plant-based industries through new targets for breeding improved, drought-adapted varieties for food security in a drying climate.Read moreRead less
Genetics, genomics and evolution of flowering time control in legumes. Flowering in plants is strongly regulated by environmental factors, with important consequences for their natural distribution and use in agriculture. This project will characterise genes, genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms that control flowering in legumes, contributing to fundamental biology, crop improvement and research training.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100946
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,561.00
Summary
410 million years of stomatal evolution: key innovations in the transition from passive valves to active pores. Central to the supremacy of seed plants was the evolution of active, metabolic control of the stomata; the pores that regulate both plant productivity and water loss. However, little is known about the transition from passive control of stomata in seedless plants to active stomatal control in seed plants. This project will identify the key physiological and genetic innovations that und ....410 million years of stomatal evolution: key innovations in the transition from passive valves to active pores. Central to the supremacy of seed plants was the evolution of active, metabolic control of the stomata; the pores that regulate both plant productivity and water loss. However, little is known about the transition from passive control of stomata in seedless plants to active stomatal control in seed plants. This project will identify the key physiological and genetic innovations that underpinned the evolution of stomatal control over the past 410 million years. Understanding these evolutionary innovations will offer important insights into stomatal function in seed plants, as well as informing models of global productivity and water use through time, with benefits for Australian agriculture and natural resource management.Read moreRead less
Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the ....Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the transport systems mediating stomata function in halophytes and contribute to understanding the molecular and physiological basis of their operation. This should allow breeders to use this trait to improve crop performance under conditions of extreme salinity and drought.Read moreRead less
Decoding the signals in legume symbioses: investigating the role of plant hormones. Plants form intimate relationships with soil microbes that give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients. Legumes are major Australian crops for fodder, grain and nutrients, and are unique in forming symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This project aims to determine the role of plant hormones (small, mobile, potent ....Decoding the signals in legume symbioses: investigating the role of plant hormones. Plants form intimate relationships with soil microbes that give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients. Legumes are major Australian crops for fodder, grain and nutrients, and are unique in forming symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This project aims to determine the role of plant hormones (small, mobile, potent growth regulators) in the formation of these relationships. In particular, the role of interactions between hormones and other novel plant signals will be determined. An insight into the common and divergent roles of hormones in these symbioses is essential to provide new tools to maximise nutrient acquisition.Read moreRead less