LATERAL GENE TRANSFER, GENOME EVOLUTION AND THE EMERGENCE OF NEW DISEASES CAUSED BY FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN THE PLEOSPORALES. Normal evolution involves the transfer of genes within species. The modest variation between progeny powers natural selection. Lateral gene transfer is the movement of genetic material between species. It allows for large evolutionary steps. Although common in bacteria, it has rarely been described convincingly in higher organisms such as fungi, plants or animals. We have evi ....LATERAL GENE TRANSFER, GENOME EVOLUTION AND THE EMERGENCE OF NEW DISEASES CAUSED BY FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN THE PLEOSPORALES. Normal evolution involves the transfer of genes within species. The modest variation between progeny powers natural selection. Lateral gene transfer is the movement of genetic material between species. It allows for large evolutionary steps. Although common in bacteria, it has rarely been described convincingly in higher organisms such as fungi, plants or animals. We have evidence that one group of fungal pathogens is particularly adept at acquiring new genes that enable them to cause new diseases. We will determine the mechanism and frequency of gene transfer in this group. The work had fundamental significance in evolutionary biology, in the emergence of new diseases and in the use of genetically-modified organisms.Read moreRead less
Role of soil factors and transmission on propagation material of fungal pathogens in the severity of strawberry crown and root disorders. Through identification of the pathogen complexes associated with root and crown disorders, their impacts, understanding the influences of environmental conditions and rotational species, knowing the sources of major pathogens, and identification of varietal resistances to the pathogens, this project will provide a unique opportunity for growers to better manag ....Role of soil factors and transmission on propagation material of fungal pathogens in the severity of strawberry crown and root disorders. Through identification of the pathogen complexes associated with root and crown disorders, their impacts, understanding the influences of environmental conditions and rotational species, knowing the sources of major pathogens, and identification of varietal resistances to the pathogens, this project will provide a unique opportunity for growers to better manage such disorders of strawberries occurring across southern Australia. Benefits include prevention of severe losses in strawberries, making strawberry production and exports more viable, sustainable and environmentally friendly, addressing the National Research Priority 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia' and the Priority Goal of 'Transforming existing industries".Read moreRead less
The biology, genetics, pathology and control of Alternaria species in Paulownia plantations. The development of Paulownia plantations is a rapidly expanding industry in Australia. Recently, three Alternaria species have been associated with foliar and canker disease leading to tree deaths. Alternaria disease has the potential to cause economic losses to the industry in Western Australia. Therefore, this study will examine the pathology and genetic diversity of Alternaria species, establish path ....The biology, genetics, pathology and control of Alternaria species in Paulownia plantations. The development of Paulownia plantations is a rapidly expanding industry in Australia. Recently, three Alternaria species have been associated with foliar and canker disease leading to tree deaths. Alternaria disease has the potential to cause economic losses to the industry in Western Australia. Therefore, this study will examine the pathology and genetic diversity of Alternaria species, establish pathogenicity screening of different genetic material and look at a range of integrated chemical and silvicultural approaches to reduce disease impact and severity.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
Biology and Integrated conservation of temperate Australian orchids. To successfully conserve rare and endangered orchids an integrated approach to translocation must be adopted. The orchid species and associated fungal symbionts must be succesfully established at a site to achieve a self-sustaining population. Currently little is know about the in situ interactions of orchid and fungal endophytes. Research here will determine essential field interactions and requirements of both partners. The e ....Biology and Integrated conservation of temperate Australian orchids. To successfully conserve rare and endangered orchids an integrated approach to translocation must be adopted. The orchid species and associated fungal symbionts must be succesfully established at a site to achieve a self-sustaining population. Currently little is know about the in situ interactions of orchid and fungal endophytes. Research here will determine essential field interactions and requirements of both partners. The ex situ conservation of rare and endangered species should included reliable long-term storage of propagation material such as seed. Information obtained will be used to develop orchid conservation packages for implementation by landmanagers.Read moreRead less
Why are many fungicide lead compounds active against pathogens in axenic culture but inactive when applied to infected plants? It is much cheaper and easier to screen compounds for fungicidal activity in vivo (that is against the fungus grown in axenic culture) than to test in planta. However, it is commonly observed that compounds active in in vivo screens do not subsequently prove to be active in planta. The aim of this project is to investigate the physiological, biochemical and genetics basi ....Why are many fungicide lead compounds active against pathogens in axenic culture but inactive when applied to infected plants? It is much cheaper and easier to screen compounds for fungicidal activity in vivo (that is against the fungus grown in axenic culture) than to test in planta. However, it is commonly observed that compounds active in in vivo screens do not subsequently prove to be active in planta. The aim of this project is to investigate the physiological, biochemical and genetics basis of this discrepancy and to attempt to provide tools that circumvent the problem. It is expected the project will generate novel information on the environment in the plant experienced by the fungus.Read moreRead less
CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are ....CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are
preeminent.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238631
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of ato ....Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of atoms and molecules will be enabled, including the dynamics of near-threshold processes, the formation of transient states and the examination of processes such as rotational excitation and dissociative attachment in molecules - important in a number of gas-discharge based devices.
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A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enha ....A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where Australian theorists are preeminent, and the research training will produce PhD graduates with a high-level ability in numerical modelling using supercomputers. Such skills are essential in many defense, mining and technological applications of national priority.Read moreRead less
Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and tim ....Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and time independent, relativistic and non-relativistic approaches will be considered, thereby determining the direction of the field for the foreseeable future.Read moreRead less