Regulation of seed development in grain legumes. The seeds of grain legumes are the edible portion of the crop, but it is not understood how seed size and composition are regulated. This project will determine the mechanisms by which plant hormones affect seed development, providing a basis for improving yields.
Hormonal regulation of plant growth. Plant architecture is a key characteristic in determining crop success. This project will determine how plant architecture is regulated by plant hormones and their interactions, to ensure optimal adaptation of crops to environmental and agronomic changes.
Are plants wasting water in the dark? This project aims to measure stomatal conductance to water vapour in the dark in economically important species to understand how conductance is regulated in the dark, and its adaptive significance. Leaves of most plants continue to lose water in the dark because stomata remain open. No photosynthetic carbon fixation can occur in the dark so water-use efficiency is reduced, and this reduction influences crop yield, forest growth, catchment water yield and c ....Are plants wasting water in the dark? This project aims to measure stomatal conductance to water vapour in the dark in economically important species to understand how conductance is regulated in the dark, and its adaptive significance. Leaves of most plants continue to lose water in the dark because stomata remain open. No photosynthetic carbon fixation can occur in the dark so water-use efficiency is reduced, and this reduction influences crop yield, forest growth, catchment water yield and climate feedback. Existing mechanistic models of stomatal conductance will be extended to include responses in the dark, and aim to be used to predict the reduction in potential daytime water loss (which is coupled to carbon gain) due to nocturnal stomatal conductance for crops and forests.Read moreRead less
Discovering the activity of novel CLE peptide hormones that regulate legume nodulation. This project aims to functionally characterise novel peptide hormones that regulate the number of nitrogen-fixing root nodules that legumes form. Findings will enhance the current nodulation model and could help to alleviate our reliance on expensive, often polluting, nitrogen-fertilisers by helping to optimise the nodulation process in agriculture.
Discovery of the systemic regulator of legume nodulation. This project aims to discover the novel, shoot-derived factor that legumes produce to regulate the number of nitrogen-fixing root nodules they form. Outcomes will enhance the current nodulation model and could help optimise the process in agriculture, which would help alleviate current reliance on nitrogen-fertilisers that are expensive and pollute.
Leaves in 3D: photosynthesis and water-use efficiency. This project aims to develop leaf anatomical ideotypes with improved photosynthesis and water-use efficiency for wheat, rice, chickpea and cotton using novel three dimensional imaging and modelling techniques. This project expects to generate new understanding of the role of leaf anatomy on leaf function. Expected outcomes of this project include the world's first 3D spatially-explicit, anatomically accurate model of leaves of crop plants to ....Leaves in 3D: photosynthesis and water-use efficiency. This project aims to develop leaf anatomical ideotypes with improved photosynthesis and water-use efficiency for wheat, rice, chickpea and cotton using novel three dimensional imaging and modelling techniques. This project expects to generate new understanding of the role of leaf anatomy on leaf function. Expected outcomes of this project include the world's first 3D spatially-explicit, anatomically accurate model of leaves of crop plants to allow virtual experiments identifying optimized anatomy for improved photosynthetic performance. Benefits to the agricultural industry include increased crop productivity and water-use efficiency to meet future global food demand and to make the most of Australia's limited water resourcesRead moreRead less
Carbon flux and its regulation in metabolic networks. Allocation of photo-assimilates throughout metabolic networks are central to a plants ability to cope with changes in its environment. This project will combine the use of quantitative molecular, chemical and imaging techniques to characterise the flux of resources and its regulation through metabolic networks of Australian native and crop plants.
The role of plant hormones in legume symbioses. Soil microbes can give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients through symbioses. Legumes are unique as they form symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This proposal will investigate the role of the plant hormones (small, mobile, potent growth regulators) in the formation of these symbiotic relationships across legume genera. An insight into the commo ....The role of plant hormones in legume symbioses. Soil microbes can give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients through symbioses. Legumes are unique as they form symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This proposal will investigate the role of the plant hormones (small, mobile, potent growth regulators) in the formation of these symbiotic relationships across legume genera. An insight into the common and divergent roles of hormones in these symbioses is essential to provide researchers and breeders with new tools to maximise nutrient acquisition by legumes, important crops contributing an estimated one billion Australian dollars per year to the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Decoding the signals in legume symbioses: investigating the role of plant hormones. Plants form intimate relationships with soil microbes that give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients. Legumes are major Australian crops for fodder, grain and nutrients, and are unique in forming symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This project aims to determine the role of plant hormones (small, mobile, potent ....Decoding the signals in legume symbioses: investigating the role of plant hormones. Plants form intimate relationships with soil microbes that give plants access to previously unavailable but essential nutrients. Legumes are major Australian crops for fodder, grain and nutrients, and are unique in forming symbioses with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and with mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients such as phosphate. This project aims to determine the role of plant hormones (small, mobile, potent growth regulators) in the formation of these relationships. In particular, the role of interactions between hormones and other novel plant signals will be determined. An insight into the common and divergent roles of hormones in these symbioses is essential to provide new tools to maximise nutrient acquisition.Read moreRead less
New genetic mechanisms linking flowering, growth habit and yield in legumes. This project aims to investigate the genetic control of flowering and flowering-related traits in legumes, an important group of crop plants. The regulation of flowering by environmental factors has a major influence on plant yield and is important for adaptation in natural and agricultural settings. However, it is poorly understood at the molecular level. This project aims to use induced genetic variation and transcrip ....New genetic mechanisms linking flowering, growth habit and yield in legumes. This project aims to investigate the genetic control of flowering and flowering-related traits in legumes, an important group of crop plants. The regulation of flowering by environmental factors has a major influence on plant yield and is important for adaptation in natural and agricultural settings. However, it is poorly understood at the molecular level. This project aims to use induced genetic variation and transcriptome analysis to define new genes and genetic mechanisms through which flowering is regulated by day length and temperature, and to explore the molecular links between flowering and other developmental processes including seed development. This should extend our understanding of how plant architecture, reproduction and yield are regulated by the environment, and address several agronomic issues.Read moreRead less