Genomic strategies for reducing losses during processing and improving the nutritional value of wheat in human diets. Wheat breeding requires efficient tools to allow selection of varieties with both high grain yield and good functional and nutritional value. Whole genome analysis will be used to develop screening methods to deliver wheat varieties with novel processing and nutritional properties for human diets contributing to global food and nutritional security.
Transport systems that underpin nitrogen efficient maize. This project aims to define the nitrogen transport network involved in the uptake, storage and redistribution of inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) over the developmental life cycle of maize. This information will provide novel insight into the genetic control of nitrogen use in maize and other cereal crops.
Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combi ....Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combinations; (ii) reveal a herbicide against which weeds outside of Japan have not evolved resistance to; and (iii) establish how best to make breakdown blockers. A benefit of using existing herbicides is the approaches are close to market, so with partner Nexgen Plants, its outcomes can be commercialised.Read moreRead less
Molecular characterisation of the fungal disease defence response in tropical sandalwood (Santalum album). The tropical sandalwood industry in Australia is a highly profitable and expanding enterprise; however this cannot be taken for granted. Fungal diseases in tropical plantations are of increasing concern to growers and left unchecked could result in substantial economic loss and an unsustainable industry. This research seeks to understand the defence response of the tree in order to develop ....Molecular characterisation of the fungal disease defence response in tropical sandalwood (Santalum album). The tropical sandalwood industry in Australia is a highly profitable and expanding enterprise; however this cannot be taken for granted. Fungal diseases in tropical plantations are of increasing concern to growers and left unchecked could result in substantial economic loss and an unsustainable industry. This research seeks to understand the defence response of the tree in order to develop tools to combat fungal disease by rapid selection of highly resistant trees. Essential oil production is also linked to the defence response. Understanding this response as well as exploring chemical means of increasing both disease resistance and oil production will deliver a substantial economic benefit to the expanding tropical sandalwood industry.Read moreRead less
Functional network analysis of plant metabolism in response to salinity and temperature through targeted proteomics. This project will measure changes in plant metabolism and provide methods and a pipeline for quantification and modelling. It will assess nitrogen linked metabolism under environmental stress experienced in Australian wheat cropping systems and build fundamental knowledge of changes in networks of nitrogen metabolism in model plants.
Novel methods for the production of micronutrient-enriched rice. The increasingly productive Australian rice industry generated AUD$1 billion revenue in 2012. By targeting a rice gene that we recently identified as a key regulator of iron uptake and transport, this project will produce high value, micronutrient-enriched rice grain to improve the nutritional health of people in Australia and throughout the world.
Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that ....Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that enhance the nutritional composition of wheat grain and bread making products, resulting in higher-value agricultural commodities and breads. The project should benefit bread retailers and crop growers involved in Australia’s $4.7 billion bread market and reduce the environmental impacts of bread production.Read moreRead less
Crop improvement using peptide regulators of growth and N demand signalling. This project aims to reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilisers without reducing crop yield. Global food security relies on using high-yielding grain varieties and nitrogen-based fertilisers. Since 1950, fertiliser use has increased 20-fold but the yield benefits of this use are declining. Crops only absorb 30–50 per cent of the applied fertiliser and the unused nitrogen causes environmental damage which is costly to mitig ....Crop improvement using peptide regulators of growth and N demand signalling. This project aims to reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilisers without reducing crop yield. Global food security relies on using high-yielding grain varieties and nitrogen-based fertilisers. Since 1950, fertiliser use has increased 20-fold but the yield benefits of this use are declining. Crops only absorb 30–50 per cent of the applied fertiliser and the unused nitrogen causes environmental damage which is costly to mitigate. The novel technology platform of the project aims to develop new crops with more expansive root systems that use applied nitrogen fertiliser more efficiently and new legume varieties that symbiotically fix more nitrogen in an ecologically-sustainable way.Read moreRead less
Predictive ichthyotoxicity, diagnostics and risk assessment of harmful algal blooms impacting on the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry. We aim to define through a combination of laboratory culture exposure and live cage bioassay experiments the minimum cell concentrations of harmful microalgae (Karenia, Heterosigma, Noctiluca, Chaetoceros) that can cause salmonid mortalities or are a factor in compromising fish health or reducing fish farm productivity. The diagnostic pathology and fish be ....Predictive ichthyotoxicity, diagnostics and risk assessment of harmful algal blooms impacting on the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry. We aim to define through a combination of laboratory culture exposure and live cage bioassay experiments the minimum cell concentrations of harmful microalgae (Karenia, Heterosigma, Noctiluca, Chaetoceros) that can cause salmonid mortalities or are a factor in compromising fish health or reducing fish farm productivity. The diagnostic pathology and fish behaviour caused by different harmful algal taxa will be carefully documented to assist fish health inspectors in the routine diagnosis of algal toxicosis ot compromised fish health. Ultimately, this information will be integrated into a risk assessment strategy for the Tasmanian salmonid industry to manage fish stocks during times of harmful algal bloom events.Read moreRead less
Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse wit ....Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse with climate change. Low-cyanide plants developed by us using non-GM methods grow fast, but accumulate nitrate instead which is also toxic. This is a waste of expensive fertiliser too. We aim to develop plants that divert resources to growth instead of toxins in order to reduce fertiliser use and help prepare for the future. The fast growing plants may also be useful as a biofuel crop.Read moreRead less