Accelerated Domestication of Australian Grass Species Using Molecular Tools. The development of new food crops from the Australian flora will provide opportunities for new sustainable agricultural and food industries in Australia. The project targets the accelerated domestication of native species with lower tillage and fertiliser requirements, better water use efficiencies and increased salt, shade, frost and/or drought tolerances than the current introduced cereal and fodder crops. This will ....Accelerated Domestication of Australian Grass Species Using Molecular Tools. The development of new food crops from the Australian flora will provide opportunities for new sustainable agricultural and food industries in Australia. The project targets the accelerated domestication of native species with lower tillage and fertiliser requirements, better water use efficiencies and increased salt, shade, frost and/or drought tolerances than the current introduced cereal and fodder crops. This will directly benefit regional Australia. The technologies developed in the project will have wide application to accelerated domestication of other Australian plants (for agriculture and food production in Australia and internationally) and to plants found in other parts of the world.Read moreRead less
Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanis ....Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying male germ line initiation and development in plants. Switching off male gamete development in some crop plants will create male sterile lines, which, when crossed with genetically distinct lines, will have the potential to produce hybrids that yield 20-30 percent more crop without additional inputs. Read moreRead less
Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The o ....Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The outcomes of this proposal will enhance Australia's international lead in this field and will pave the way toward the development of new approaches for sustaining and enhancing crop productivity under changing environmental conditions. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354745
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
International Network for Genomics of the Root-Soil Interface (INGORSI). INGORSI brings together a new group of leading Australian and International researchers with common interests in the application of bioinformatics and genomics to understanding the root-soil interface, particularly the microbiology of this interface. The Network will communicate via a novel ?virtual? seminar room, with a research focus on molecular signals between organisms and plants of the rhizosphere that promote or pre ....International Network for Genomics of the Root-Soil Interface (INGORSI). INGORSI brings together a new group of leading Australian and International researchers with common interests in the application of bioinformatics and genomics to understanding the root-soil interface, particularly the microbiology of this interface. The Network will communicate via a novel ?virtual? seminar room, with a research focus on molecular signals between organisms and plants of the rhizosphere that promote or prevent plant growth, and also potentially impact human health. The network will facilitate high quality basic science, with linked programs that promote its application, to produce outcomes of benefit to plant crops, human health and sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Protecting the Australian chickpea industry through knowledge of the current Ascochyta rabiei fungal population and risk to resistance breeding strategies. Australian chickpea is highly vulnerable to epidemics of Ascochyta blight, which may cause total crop failure. This project will help to maintain Australia's position as a major global chickpea producer through maximising the life span of current resistance genes to A. rabiei. and determining the applicability of other potential resistance so ....Protecting the Australian chickpea industry through knowledge of the current Ascochyta rabiei fungal population and risk to resistance breeding strategies. Australian chickpea is highly vulnerable to epidemics of Ascochyta blight, which may cause total crop failure. This project will help to maintain Australia's position as a major global chickpea producer through maximising the life span of current resistance genes to A. rabiei. and determining the applicability of other potential resistance sources. The knowledge that will be generated regarding the pathogen's potential to overcome host resistance is imperative for developing future disease management strategies, especially since more aggressive isolates exist outside Australia. The project findings will feed directly into the National Australian Chickpea Breeding Program.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775763
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,000.00
Summary
High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin ....High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin new developments in plant and animal agriculture. Outcomes include: development of new molecular markers to speed crop improvement and quality, animal genetic improvement and health, and support for new biotechnology companies. This will benefit the community through more productive, competitive and sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Dissecting insect gut function to understand insecticide detoxification. Massive quantities of chemical insecticides are used daily to control the insect pests that threaten agriculture, human health and the welfare of domestic pets. Insects readily evolve resistance to these chemicals reducing the effectiveness of pest control, increasing the amount of chemical used and increasing costs to consumers. This project examines the way in which insects adapt to the extreme stress imposed on them by ....Dissecting insect gut function to understand insecticide detoxification. Massive quantities of chemical insecticides are used daily to control the insect pests that threaten agriculture, human health and the welfare of domestic pets. Insects readily evolve resistance to these chemicals reducing the effectiveness of pest control, increasing the amount of chemical used and increasing costs to consumers. This project examines the way in which insects adapt to the extreme stress imposed on them by chemical insecticides. A thorough understanding of this adaptation process is required before insecticide resistance can be effectively managed or prevented. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354908
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
The Insect-Plant Chemical Ecology Network (IPCEN). We bring together plant molecular biology, entomology and analytical chemistry to transform three leading fields of Australian research into an advanced science with far reaching capabilities in innovative research and applied outcomes. Expertise studying the biochemical pathways that produce specific plant compounds and expertise in insect recognition and response to these chemicals will be brought together. This will lead to new research outco ....The Insect-Plant Chemical Ecology Network (IPCEN). We bring together plant molecular biology, entomology and analytical chemistry to transform three leading fields of Australian research into an advanced science with far reaching capabilities in innovative research and applied outcomes. Expertise studying the biochemical pathways that produce specific plant compounds and expertise in insect recognition and response to these chemicals will be brought together. This will lead to new research outcomes and solutions to problems in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and protection of Australia's native flora. Researchers are struggling to create these links, constrained by disciplinary boundaries and geographical isolation. Key industries and researchers already support this proposal.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic characterisation of genotype x environment interactions in sorghum and arabidopsis. Sorghum is an economically important cereal crop for Australia. In Australia, sorghum is used as a staple animal feed and it is very important for the live stock industry. With the predicted changes of temperature and rainfall patterns due to climate change, negative effects on sorghum yield are expected, which can have adverse effects on Australian economy. Our studies will identify and mark genes th ....Mechanistic characterisation of genotype x environment interactions in sorghum and arabidopsis. Sorghum is an economically important cereal crop for Australia. In Australia, sorghum is used as a staple animal feed and it is very important for the live stock industry. With the predicted changes of temperature and rainfall patterns due to climate change, negative effects on sorghum yield are expected, which can have adverse effects on Australian economy. Our studies will identify and mark genes that regulate flowering and seed production in sorghum in response to changes in temperature and light interactions. These studies will help to develop novel sorghum varieties with desirable characters through plant-breeding programmes.Read moreRead less
Systemic control of nodule proliferation. We aim to clone and characterize the functions of the supernodulation (NTS-1) locus of soybean using positional cloning and functional genomics approaches. Supernodulation fascinatingly results from a mutant Nts-1 gene functioning in the shoot, although the phenotype is expressed as excessive nodule proliferation in the root. The cloned gene will be used to monitor expression changes after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, treatment with nitrate, nod-fac ....Systemic control of nodule proliferation. We aim to clone and characterize the functions of the supernodulation (NTS-1) locus of soybean using positional cloning and functional genomics approaches. Supernodulation fascinatingly results from a mutant Nts-1 gene functioning in the shoot, although the phenotype is expressed as excessive nodule proliferation in the root. The cloned gene will be used to monitor expression changes after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, treatment with nitrate, nod-factor, xylem exudates and phytohormones. We will use RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation and reporter gene expression in transgenic plants. Microarray analysis of soybean ESTs (4200 arrayed) will analyse concurrent gene expression changes in both root and shoot.Read moreRead less