Role of organic matter and soil biota in optimising crop nutrition in sustainable farming systems. Australian grain producers face increasing competition on the world market from countries with cheap production costs (China, Argentina, Brazil). This project will develop biological farming systems based on improving soil health and enhancing soil microflora and nutrient cycling. Western Australia and other states are currently defining certification guidelines for sustainable farming systems (inc ....Role of organic matter and soil biota in optimising crop nutrition in sustainable farming systems. Australian grain producers face increasing competition on the world market from countries with cheap production costs (China, Argentina, Brazil). This project will develop biological farming systems based on improving soil health and enhancing soil microflora and nutrient cycling. Western Australia and other states are currently defining certification guidelines for sustainable farming systems (including biological ones). Selling grain produced in certified biological farming system will attract market premium, therefore enhancing the position of Australian farmers. This project will produce fertiliser recommendation systems incorporating organic fertilisers, thus decreasing costs of production and maintaining clean and healthy environment.Read moreRead less
Role of intracellular calcium homeostasis and aluminium transport across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Aluminium is the most important yield-limiting factor in acid soils throughout the world. The problem of aluminium toxicity is aggravated by continuous acidification of arable land. Mechanisms of aluminium toxicity in plant cells are poorly understood. The present project seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of the interaction between intracellular calcium homeostasis, ....Role of intracellular calcium homeostasis and aluminium transport across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Aluminium is the most important yield-limiting factor in acid soils throughout the world. The problem of aluminium toxicity is aggravated by continuous acidification of arable land. Mechanisms of aluminium toxicity in plant cells are poorly understood. The present project seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of the interaction between intracellular calcium homeostasis, cytosolic pH and aluminium uptake across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Knowledge of primary triggers of aluminium toxicity will pay off in a breeding programme aimed at selecting crop genotypes with increased resistance to aluminium toxicity.Read moreRead less
Aluminium uptake across the root-cell plasma membrane. Aluminium toxicity limits crop growth in acid soils that occupy about 24 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia. Liming can increase pH of the surface soil, but is frequently too expensive in the low-input Australian agriculture. Surface-applied lime is poorly effective in ameliorating subsoil acidity, and incorporating lime deep into the profile is prohibitively expensive and technically difficult. Hence, Al-resistant crop culti ....Aluminium uptake across the root-cell plasma membrane. Aluminium toxicity limits crop growth in acid soils that occupy about 24 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia. Liming can increase pH of the surface soil, but is frequently too expensive in the low-input Australian agriculture. Surface-applied lime is poorly effective in ameliorating subsoil acidity, and incorporating lime deep into the profile is prohibitively expensive and technically difficult. Hence, Al-resistant crop cultivars are important part of sustainable farming in Australia. This project will characterise early triggers of Al toxicity in plants, providing a foundation for increasing Al resistance in crop cultivars. Understanding the physiological basis of Al toxicity will lead to improved crop breeding strategies.Read moreRead less
Role of stubble management in improving soil fertility. In highly-weathered nutrient-poor soils of the south-western Australia, the amount of nutrients in stubble is critical in nutrient cycling as well as in determining optimal amounts of fertilisers to be applied. Stubble management is therefore an integral part of crop fertilisation and nutrient management. We will characterise nutrient cycling in the stubble-soil-crop continuum in a range of cropping situations. Computer modelling will be us ....Role of stubble management in improving soil fertility. In highly-weathered nutrient-poor soils of the south-western Australia, the amount of nutrients in stubble is critical in nutrient cycling as well as in determining optimal amounts of fertilisers to be applied. Stubble management is therefore an integral part of crop fertilisation and nutrient management. We will characterise nutrient cycling in the stubble-soil-crop continuum in a range of cropping situations. Computer modelling will be used to extend applicability of results over space and time. This project will provide the knowledge required for improving fertiliser recommendations to take into account changes in the cropping systems that have occurred in the last 10-20 years.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561161
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,000.00
Summary
Joint Facility for Genome Analysis of Nutrient Transport Proteins. The joint facility for genome analysis of nutrient transport proteins is a new initiative between the University of Adelaide, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, and the University of Western Australia to use a high throughput Xenopus oocyte expression system to screen plant cDNA/cRNA collections for genes encoding nutrient transport proteins. The facility will also provide a platform to rapidly accelerate our p ....Joint Facility for Genome Analysis of Nutrient Transport Proteins. The joint facility for genome analysis of nutrient transport proteins is a new initiative between the University of Adelaide, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, and the University of Western Australia to use a high throughput Xenopus oocyte expression system to screen plant cDNA/cRNA collections for genes encoding nutrient transport proteins. The facility will also provide a platform to rapidly accelerate our present capacity for Xenopus oocyte expression analysis of nutrient transport proteins. This facility will greatly aid our current research quantum in this field and allow for new discoveries related to nutrient transport in plants.Read moreRead less
Defining the evolutionary processes of resistance to the new mode of action herbicide, pyroxasulfone. The sustainability of the Australin grains industry is threatened by the continuing evolution and widespread expansion of herbicide resistant weed populations across the crop production regions. The resulting loss in herbicide efficacy is forcing producers away from the environmentally friendly practices of stubble retention and reduced tillage in an effort to control herbicide resistant weed po ....Defining the evolutionary processes of resistance to the new mode of action herbicide, pyroxasulfone. The sustainability of the Australin grains industry is threatened by the continuing evolution and widespread expansion of herbicide resistant weed populations across the crop production regions. The resulting loss in herbicide efficacy is forcing producers away from the environmentally friendly practices of stubble retention and reduced tillage in an effort to control herbicide resistant weed populations. This research is aimed at conserving a novel mode of action herbicide with efficacy on resistant Lolium rigidum populations. The success of this project will inevitably lead the pesticide industry to adopt this approach for future product development. Read moreRead less
Protein Complexes and Supercomplexes of Plant Organelles. Ample parts of plant primary metabolism occur in subcellular structures called mitochondria, plastids and peroxisomes. They are vital for plant growth and development and are central to the early success of germinating and growing seedlings. This project intends to analyze the protein complexes and supercomplexes within these organelles using state of the art instrumentation and technologies. Findings from this research have the potential ....Protein Complexes and Supercomplexes of Plant Organelles. Ample parts of plant primary metabolism occur in subcellular structures called mitochondria, plastids and peroxisomes. They are vital for plant growth and development and are central to the early success of germinating and growing seedlings. This project intends to analyze the protein complexes and supercomplexes within these organelles using state of the art instrumentation and technologies. Findings from this research have the potential to directly flow into the plant biotechnology industry and could assist the future development of Australian agriculture through genetic improvements. The expertise developed by this work will ensure that Australia is well placed to meet future needs and to generally improve agricultural technology. Read moreRead less
Gene identification and genetic marker analysis of herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum. Herbicide resistance threatens the vibrant, export-focused Australian cropping industry and environmental sustainability. The Australian herbicide resistance problem is far greater than elsewhere in the world. Herbicide resistance must be avoided, managed and reversed to ensure profitable agriculture and an environmentally sustainable landscape. This research will contribute to the national wealth through ....Gene identification and genetic marker analysis of herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum. Herbicide resistance threatens the vibrant, export-focused Australian cropping industry and environmental sustainability. The Australian herbicide resistance problem is far greater than elsewhere in the world. Herbicide resistance must be avoided, managed and reversed to ensure profitable agriculture and an environmentally sustainable landscape. This research will contribute to the national wealth through helping ensure the profitability of vital Australian export agricultural industries and the sustainability of the soil/land resource. This proposal will ensure that Australia leads international herbicide resistance research and will enable the capture of intellectual property and commercial opportunities. Read moreRead less
Adaptations of plant mitochondria during cold acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana: towards an understanding of plant cold acclimation. Frost damage is a major cost to agricultural producers and some crop plant species needlessly adapt to cold, when they are grown in temperate regions or in glasshouses, which leads to decreased production. The principal outcome of this project will be to greatly extend our knowledge about plant mitochondrial responses to environmental cold stress and what role th ....Adaptations of plant mitochondria during cold acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana: towards an understanding of plant cold acclimation. Frost damage is a major cost to agricultural producers and some crop plant species needlessly adapt to cold, when they are grown in temperate regions or in glasshouses, which leads to decreased production. The principal outcome of this project will be to greatly extend our knowledge about plant mitochondrial responses to environmental cold stress and what role they have in helping plants adapt to environmental change. An understanding of cold acclimation may allow the production of plants with altered cold acclimation phenotypes and greater frost tolerance.Read moreRead less
Molecular analysis of the symbiotic interface of nitrogen-fixing legumes. Some legumes form a symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia) that convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia which is then supplied to the plant. This enables legumes to grow without application of nitrogen-based fertilizer, avoiding environmental problems such as run-off and land degradation, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture practise. We will investigate the interactions between plant and rhizobia, focusing on ....Molecular analysis of the symbiotic interface of nitrogen-fixing legumes. Some legumes form a symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia) that convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia which is then supplied to the plant. This enables legumes to grow without application of nitrogen-based fertilizer, avoiding environmental problems such as run-off and land degradation, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture practise. We will investigate the interactions between plant and rhizobia, focusing on identifying genes and proteins which govern nutrient exchange between the partners and development of the special structures in the roots that house the bacteria. Subsequent manipulation of these genes and proteins may allow us to identify control points and enhance nitrogen fixation.Read moreRead less