Improving heat and drought tolerance in canola through genomic selection in Brassica rapa. This project aims to improve heat and drought tolerance in canola by identifying stress tolerance genes in the genetically diverse turnip family. An effective large-scale screening test for heat and drought tolerance will be developed and a number of heat- and drought-tolerant lines will be identified for genomic breeding and selection.
Gene identification and functional characterization for metabolism-based herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum. Evolution of multiple herbicide resistance is widespread in Lolium rigidum in Australia. This resistance is very often endowed by enhanced rates of herbicide metabolism (metabolic resistance) involving cytochrome P450. This project aims to identify, clone and characterise important herbicide-metabolising P450 and other genes from multiple herbicide-resistant L. rigidum biotypes, and d ....Gene identification and functional characterization for metabolism-based herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum. Evolution of multiple herbicide resistance is widespread in Lolium rigidum in Australia. This resistance is very often endowed by enhanced rates of herbicide metabolism (metabolic resistance) involving cytochrome P450. This project aims to identify, clone and characterise important herbicide-metabolising P450 and other genes from multiple herbicide-resistant L. rigidum biotypes, and develop transcriptional and biochemical markers for metabolic resistance diagnosis. Herbicide-metabolising gene discovery, characterisation and marker development will greatly extend the currently limited knowledge and understanding of metabolic resistance and help achieve sustainable weed management.Read moreRead less
Sterol interference as a new approach to the control of insect pests of crops. This project aims to develop a new approach to control chewing insect pests of crops. This will be achieved by interfering with insect sterol metabolism so that they fail to grow and reproduce normally.
Revealing novel mechanisms conferring evolution of resistance to glufosinate and glyphosate in Eleusine indica. Glyphosate and its alternative glufosinate are the most important herbicides in world agriculture. The world’s first cases of glufosinate resistance in Eleusine indica have been recently reported. The aims of the proposed research is to identify the currently unknown biochemical and molecular mechanisms conferring glufosinate resistance, to unravel the novel molecular mechanism endowin ....Revealing novel mechanisms conferring evolution of resistance to glufosinate and glyphosate in Eleusine indica. Glyphosate and its alternative glufosinate are the most important herbicides in world agriculture. The world’s first cases of glufosinate resistance in Eleusine indica have been recently reported. The aims of the proposed research is to identify the currently unknown biochemical and molecular mechanisms conferring glufosinate resistance, to unravel the novel molecular mechanism endowing very high level glyphosate resistance, and to elucidate the evolutionary trajectory of glyphosate resistance in E. indica. This will advance our current knowledge and understanding of resistance evolution and have impact on resistance management.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100398
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,365.00
Summary
The Life And Death Of Plant Genes. My recent work has demonstrated that in contrast to animal genes, many plant genes show presence/absence variation within a species, with associated trait variation. In this project, I will explore models of gene birth and death by comparing genomes of Brassicaceae, including the model Arabidopsis and Brassica crop species. By comparing many genomes I will learn how new genes were born. I will build models that predict the likelihood of gene loss based on a gen ....The Life And Death Of Plant Genes. My recent work has demonstrated that in contrast to animal genes, many plant genes show presence/absence variation within a species, with associated trait variation. In this project, I will explore models of gene birth and death by comparing genomes of Brassicaceae, including the model Arabidopsis and Brassica crop species. By comparing many genomes I will learn how new genes were born. I will build models that predict the likelihood of gene loss based on a gene’s physical environment, function, and expression. The project will build on our understanding of plant genetic diversity. Expected outcomes of this research include the identification of key genomic elements in gene birth and loss and support strategies to improve plant cultivars.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utili ....Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utilizable sterols which will not support insect growth and reproduction, but will still allow the plant to function normally. We will demonstrate this in the important crop canola. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop production.Read moreRead less
Advancing our understanding of plant responses to low phosphorus availability beyond the transcriptome. Phosphorus is essential for plant growth. Plants have evolved mechanisms to cope with the poor availability of phosphorus in many soils. This project will improve Australia's knowledge of how plants alter the expression of genes and proteins to activate their mechanisms for coping with poor phosphorus availability in some soils.
Establishing novel breeding methods for canola improvement. It is imperative to ensure reliable food production in the coming years of climate change and increasing population. Genomics offers the greatest potential to increase food production. This project will apply genomic selection methods to accelerate canola oilseed breeding to ensure continued increases in production of this important food and national export.
Towards genome methylation based crop improvement. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation is a form of genetic control that regulates crop performance and the crop's response to the environment. Improving understanding of the inheritance of methylation in relation to crop performance will provide the basis for methylation based breeding for climate resilient crops.