Transcriptome profiling of Phytophthora pathogenicity genes: regulation of cell wall degrading enzyme synthesis during plant infection. This project will catalogue the repertoire of enzymes produced by plant pathogens to break down plant cell walls during initial penetration and later establishment of disease. This project will determine how production of these enzymes is regulated and how their function is optimised to achieve successful plant infection.
Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limi ....Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limited knowledge of their deployment and specificity. This project will produce an in-depth understanding of the identity, regulation and role of plant inhibitors that combat attack by destructive pathogens in the genus Phytophthora. It will not only address the serious problem of Phytophthora diseases in Australia but will also apply to plant defence against other pathogens.Read moreRead less
A novel role for phytochrome in dormancy release inhibition. Seed dormancy contributes to the persistence of weeds in agriculture by enabling seeds to remain viable in the soil for many years, and is a major reason why annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) has become the most economically damaging weed in Australian agriculture. Recently we discovered a new way to control dormancy release and germination in these seeds. This project to identify the changes occurring within the seeds during dormancy r ....A novel role for phytochrome in dormancy release inhibition. Seed dormancy contributes to the persistence of weeds in agriculture by enabling seeds to remain viable in the soil for many years, and is a major reason why annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) has become the most economically damaging weed in Australian agriculture. Recently we discovered a new way to control dormancy release and germination in these seeds. This project to identify the changes occurring within the seeds during dormancy release will underpin our efforts to manipulate emergence timing in order to improve the efficacy of current weed control practices and contribute to sustainable farming systems.Read moreRead less
Global change in the sub-antarctic - Temperature response of vascular plant species from Macquarie and Heard Islands. The aim is to understand how subantarctic and alpine plant species that have evolved, respectively, in equable and highly variable temperature regimes will respond to increase in temperature resulting from global warming and climate change. The proposed project will identify species that are likely to benefit from, or are vulnerable to, rising temperatures. Processes underlying a ....Global change in the sub-antarctic - Temperature response of vascular plant species from Macquarie and Heard Islands. The aim is to understand how subantarctic and alpine plant species that have evolved, respectively, in equable and highly variable temperature regimes will respond to increase in temperature resulting from global warming and climate change. The proposed project will identify species that are likely to benefit from, or are vulnerable to, rising temperatures. Processes underlying adaptation and acclimation of plant growth to increasing temperature will also be identified. These results will be significant for conservation of biodiversity and management of Australia's unique subantarctic and alpine flora.Read moreRead less
Discovery of the physiological and molecular modes of action of butenolides in promoting seed germination and vigour in plants. The Australian discovery of butenolides opens up a new scientific frontier and new opportunities for land management, plant conservation and agriculture. Butenolides will be used to promote seed germination and plant growth in land reclamation, in conservation of species, to break dormancy in weeds so that they can be eradicated, and to promote germination and vigour in ....Discovery of the physiological and molecular modes of action of butenolides in promoting seed germination and vigour in plants. The Australian discovery of butenolides opens up a new scientific frontier and new opportunities for land management, plant conservation and agriculture. Butenolides will be used to promote seed germination and plant growth in land reclamation, in conservation of species, to break dormancy in weeds so that they can be eradicated, and to promote germination and vigour in crops. Realising the full potential of butenolides demands that we understand how they work so that creative approaches can be developed that may not even require use of the chemical. Crucially by achieving these aims ahead of international competitors we can ensure that Australia gains maximum benefit.Read moreRead less
My enemy’s enemy is my friend: The genetics of major plant pathogen killers. Fungi are devastating agents of crop diseases. These plant pathogens, in turn, are often parasitized by other fungi in the field. The project will focus on such interactions between powdery mildews, important pathogens of many crops and wild plants, and their common fungal parasites (Ampelomyces spp.) that have already been utilised as
biocontrol agents in crop protection. Genetic and genomic tools will be used to deter ....My enemy’s enemy is my friend: The genetics of major plant pathogen killers. Fungi are devastating agents of crop diseases. These plant pathogens, in turn, are often parasitized by other fungi in the field. The project will focus on such interactions between powdery mildews, important pathogens of many crops and wild plants, and their common fungal parasites (Ampelomyces spp.) that have already been utilised as
biocontrol agents in crop protection. Genetic and genomic tools will be used to determine if these parasites evolved by switching host from plants to plant pathogens. The project has the potential to make a ground-breaking discovery in this field, and also establish the starting point for new innovative methods to protect a wide diversity
of crops using these fungi or specific compounds derived from them.Read moreRead less
The roles of pathogen effectors in promoting rust diseases of plants. Rust diseases threaten global food security. This cross-institutional project aims to discover how proteins secreted by rust fungi promote disease following their translocation into plant cells. It will use the interaction between flax and the flax rust fungus as a powerful model system to test the hypothesis that manipulation of host RNA metabolism is a fundamental mechanism underpinning rust pathogenesis. This research is in ....The roles of pathogen effectors in promoting rust diseases of plants. Rust diseases threaten global food security. This cross-institutional project aims to discover how proteins secreted by rust fungi promote disease following their translocation into plant cells. It will use the interaction between flax and the flax rust fungus as a powerful model system to test the hypothesis that manipulation of host RNA metabolism is a fundamental mechanism underpinning rust pathogenesis. This research is intended to dramatically improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by rust fungi to establish infection. The knowledge gained is expected to facilitate the development of new strategies for rust disease management in food crops by identifying pathogenic processes that can be targeted for intervention.Read moreRead less
Peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex: unravelling the unique photosynthetic apparatus of dinoflagellates in response to climatic variation. Dinoflagellates sustain the food chain. They live in coral and in ice, and also create toxic algal blooms. This project will dissect the unique photosynthetic machinery of these organisms to learn how they adapt and thrive in extreme environments. This new knowledge will predict how dinoflagellate-based ecosystems will respond to future climate change.
In touch with the environment: dissecting early tactile responses in plants. This project aims to identify the regulatory mechanisms that control touch-responses in plants. Although plants cannot relocate in the face of danger, they are able to sense mechanical manipulations from the environment. These could be caused by pathogens, herbivores, rain or even wind. This touch-responsiveness of plants is essential for pathogen resistance and for triggering architectural changes to overcome obstacles ....In touch with the environment: dissecting early tactile responses in plants. This project aims to identify the regulatory mechanisms that control touch-responses in plants. Although plants cannot relocate in the face of danger, they are able to sense mechanical manipulations from the environment. These could be caused by pathogens, herbivores, rain or even wind. This touch-responsiveness of plants is essential for pathogen resistance and for triggering architectural changes to overcome obstacles and prevent mechanical damage. Using a comprehensive tool set of genetics, genomics and proteomics, this project aims to identify the upstream regulators that control touch responses. Furthermore, it is expected to expand our understanding of the physiological impacts of touch-responses on growth and stress tolerance.Read moreRead less
Putting new herbicide targets on the table. This project aims to discover plant processes and plant proteins that can be the target for new herbicides. Australia's food security is being threatened by a rise in resistance to herbicides, the chemicals relied on to control weeds. In over 20 years a truly new herbicide has not appeared. This project aims to provide validated new targets to engage agrochemical industry and accelerate the rate farmers get tools to manage problematic weeds, the major ....Putting new herbicide targets on the table. This project aims to discover plant processes and plant proteins that can be the target for new herbicides. Australia's food security is being threatened by a rise in resistance to herbicides, the chemicals relied on to control weeds. In over 20 years a truly new herbicide has not appeared. This project aims to provide validated new targets to engage agrochemical industry and accelerate the rate farmers get tools to manage problematic weeds, the major yield penalty for both developed and developing world agriculture. The project expects enable effective collaboration with industry to develop new herbicides.Read moreRead less