Cell type-specific transgene expression to increase Fe content in cereal grains. The grains industry forms a vital part of the Australian economy and farm sector. Increased iron concentrations of wheat and other cereal grains would greatly increase their nutritional value for people worldwide, thereby increasing their market value and profitability for farmers. High iron wheat would also lower the production costs of many Australian wheat products by reducing or eliminating the need for iron for ....Cell type-specific transgene expression to increase Fe content in cereal grains. The grains industry forms a vital part of the Australian economy and farm sector. Increased iron concentrations of wheat and other cereal grains would greatly increase their nutritional value for people worldwide, thereby increasing their market value and profitability for farmers. High iron wheat would also lower the production costs of many Australian wheat products by reducing or eliminating the need for iron fortification of wheat flour. High iron cereals promote healthy development of young Australians and can improve preventative healthcare by reducing the incidence of iron deficiency anaemia and biochemical deficiency.Read moreRead less
THE MECHANISMS OF PHOTOPROTECTION IN PLANTS - A GENOMICS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL APPROACH. Coping with adverse environmental conditions is central to plant survival in nature so understanding the photoprotective mechanisms of light acclimation is important for crop improvement. Therefore, effective acclimatory mechanisms at whole plant, cellular and molecular levels are essential to accommodate short and long-term exposure to potentially photodamaging full sunlight and environmental stresses, such as ....THE MECHANISMS OF PHOTOPROTECTION IN PLANTS - A GENOMICS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL APPROACH. Coping with adverse environmental conditions is central to plant survival in nature so understanding the photoprotective mechanisms of light acclimation is important for crop improvement. Therefore, effective acclimatory mechanisms at whole plant, cellular and molecular levels are essential to accommodate short and long-term exposure to potentially photodamaging full sunlight and environmental stresses, such as drought and temperature extremes that lead to plant death or greatly reduced crop yields due to free radical damage. This project brings together a unique cross-disciplinary expertise in biophysics, biochemistry, physiology and genomics to elucidate the known mechanisms and identify unknown factors in photoprotection.Read moreRead less