Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100123
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Agro-ecosystem sensor capability for elevated CO2 free air research facility. Agro-ecosystem sensor capability for elevated carbon dioxide-free air research facility: This project will provide infrastructure upgrades to the Australian Grains Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (AGFACE) facility, globally the only FACE facility in low rainfall, non-irrigated agri-ecosystems. Low rainfall, non-irrigated agriculture systems play a very significant role in global crop production and are predicted to ....Agro-ecosystem sensor capability for elevated CO2 free air research facility. Agro-ecosystem sensor capability for elevated carbon dioxide-free air research facility: This project will provide infrastructure upgrades to the Australian Grains Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (AGFACE) facility, globally the only FACE facility in low rainfall, non-irrigated agri-ecosystems. Low rainfall, non-irrigated agriculture systems play a very significant role in global crop production and are predicted to be negatively affected by climate changes. The requested infrastructure will enable direct, plot scale measurements of crop water balance and water status, including crucial influence factors such as root growth and architecture and crop canopy temperatures, and allow manipulation experiments to develop adaptation options to improve crop resource use efficiencies. Read moreRead less
Tailoring physiologically-based nanomaterial fertilisers for the biofortification of zinc in broadacre crops. Soil zinc deficiency is a global issue causing low crop yield and malnutrition. This project will develop a new class of fertiliser formulations by combining advanced chemistry techniques with plant physiology knowledge and nanomaterial manufacturing. These products will be designed for enhanced agronomic efficiency and environmental safety.
Small molecules with large effect: The dual role of nitrogen-containing metabolites in stress tolerance and nutrient recycling. The main objective of this project is to identify drought and nutrient-deficiency responsive pathways in tolerant wheat and to provide markers to breeding programs that facilitate selection of superior breeding lines. This project builds on a pilot study conducted in rice in which tolerant-specific metabolites were identified which are representative of pathways relevan ....Small molecules with large effect: The dual role of nitrogen-containing metabolites in stress tolerance and nutrient recycling. The main objective of this project is to identify drought and nutrient-deficiency responsive pathways in tolerant wheat and to provide markers to breeding programs that facilitate selection of superior breeding lines. This project builds on a pilot study conducted in rice in which tolerant-specific metabolites were identified which are representative of pathways relevant for the protection of cells from damage through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and for nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, sugars) recycling under stress. Available data suggest that these pathways are also relevant in wheat. Quantitative metabolomics, genetics, and molecular tools will be used to deliver either DNA-based or metabolomics markers to breeders.Read moreRead less
A novel reversible male sterility system for hybrid seed production in canola, cotton and oilseed mustard. Demand for grains, fibre and other agricultural products has recently increased significantly. Hence, the security of food production is emerging as a critical global issue. We have identified a central component (AtMYB103) controlling tapetum and thus pollen development and designed a novel reversible male sterility system using AtMYB103. The efficient hybrid seed production systems develo ....A novel reversible male sterility system for hybrid seed production in canola, cotton and oilseed mustard. Demand for grains, fibre and other agricultural products has recently increased significantly. Hence, the security of food production is emerging as a critical global issue. We have identified a central component (AtMYB103) controlling tapetum and thus pollen development and designed a novel reversible male sterility system using AtMYB103. The efficient hybrid seed production systems developed in this project for canola, cotton and mustard will increase the productivity of the Australian oilseed and fibre industries. AtMYB103 gene is conserved among many crop plants. Hence, the new technologies and knowledge gained will be applicable to a wide range of crop plants and have important implications for the agricultural and food industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668294
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,000.00
Summary
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Facility for Nitrogen and Water Analysis in Plants. Continual improvement to agricultural plant production is key to maintaining future sustainable growth in Australian agriculture. Our respective research teams are focussed on improving how plants utilise both nitrogen and water. Many questions remain with respect to where, how and when plants use and or access these important nutrients. The proposed facility will enable plant scientists to begin in-depth anal ....Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Facility for Nitrogen and Water Analysis in Plants. Continual improvement to agricultural plant production is key to maintaining future sustainable growth in Australian agriculture. Our respective research teams are focussed on improving how plants utilise both nitrogen and water. Many questions remain with respect to where, how and when plants use and or access these important nutrients. The proposed facility will enable plant scientists to begin in-depth analysis of both nitrogen transport mechanisms and the ability to model root development and water allocation in crop species. This research will ultimately lead to improved knowledge on how plants respond to their environment and where modifications can be made to generate sustainable crops suited to Australian agriculture.Read moreRead less
Precision Pollination: Data-driven enhancements to boost crop yield. The project aims to transform industrial crop pollination from an intuitive domain to one where decisions are based on sound data and best-practice principles. It proposes to achieve this modernisation of global pollination practice by developing novel technologies to operate a three-stage loop: honeybee pollination monitoring, simulation-based forecasting, and management. This is intended to ensure that the capability of honey ....Precision Pollination: Data-driven enhancements to boost crop yield. The project aims to transform industrial crop pollination from an intuitive domain to one where decisions are based on sound data and best-practice principles. It proposes to achieve this modernisation of global pollination practice by developing novel technologies to operate a three-stage loop: honeybee pollination monitoring, simulation-based forecasting, and management. This is intended to ensure that the capability of honeybees to provide essential ecosystem services is informed by transferable, standardised data acquisition and management techniques that maintain bee health and maximise pollination. The anticipated outcomes are higher fruit yields and quality, and a beneficial step-change in industry productivity and profitability.Read moreRead less
Genetic and environmental basis for endosperm hardness in malting barley. Barleys with a hard endosperm do not malt as well as other barleys, leading to under-modified malt. While malts may appear to be satisfactory by bulk chemical analysis, even relatively small amounts of under-modified malt causes problems in the brewing industry, such as slow filtration rates and increasing haze formation. We aim to examine two new procedures potentially useful in determining heterogeneity in barley hardn ....Genetic and environmental basis for endosperm hardness in malting barley. Barleys with a hard endosperm do not malt as well as other barleys, leading to under-modified malt. While malts may appear to be satisfactory by bulk chemical analysis, even relatively small amounts of under-modified malt causes problems in the brewing industry, such as slow filtration rates and increasing haze formation. We aim to examine two new procedures potentially useful in determining heterogeneity in barley hardness by examining single kernels, and investigating the role of barley variety and growing conditions on hardness.This project will aid in the production and selection of more uniform barleys for the malting and brewing industries.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
Symbiotic transport proteins in legumes. Some plants 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 wh ....Symbiotic transport proteins in legumes. Some plants 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.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775534
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality ....A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality through minimising the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses, and a reduced dependence on inputs (eg fertilisers) leading to environmentally sustainable production systems. Ultimately this will result in enhanced food quality and analytical methods to monitor quality and safety characteristics of food.Read moreRead less