Engineering plants via modified microtubule dynamics. The plant microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in many economically important functions such as controlling growth and development, cellulose deposition, and responses to pathogens and salinity. This project will increase our understanding of how the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton affects these processes and move us nearer to achieving economically important goals, such as the development of crop plants with improved traits. Thi ....Engineering plants via modified microtubule dynamics. The plant microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in many economically important functions such as controlling growth and development, cellulose deposition, and responses to pathogens and salinity. This project will increase our understanding of how the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton affects these processes and move us nearer to achieving economically important goals, such as the development of crop plants with improved traits. This project will also help maintain Australia's position at the forefront of plant cell and molecular biology.Read moreRead less
Why does phosphite protect some plants against Phytophthora but not others? Plant diseases caused by Phytophthora pose a major threat to Australia's biodiversity, horticulture and agriculture. The systemic chemical potassium phosphite is a key component of management strategies, but its effectiveness varies on different plant species. We will use molecular and biochemical techniques to understand why some plant species are protected against Phytophthora dieback by phosphite while others are not. ....Why does phosphite protect some plants against Phytophthora but not others? Plant diseases caused by Phytophthora pose a major threat to Australia's biodiversity, horticulture and agriculture. The systemic chemical potassium phosphite is a key component of management strategies, but its effectiveness varies on different plant species. We will use molecular and biochemical techniques to understand why some plant species are protected against Phytophthora dieback by phosphite while others are not. This will improve the options for managing bushland affected by dieback and will also expand our knowledge of plant disease resistance.Read moreRead less
Re-engineering rice root architecture to maximise water use efficiency. This project aims to discover gene networks responsible for producing deeper and more branched roots in rice plants. The roots of plants are the primary mechanism for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. Manipulating roots to penetrate deeper with greater branching allows plants to thrive with less water and less nutrients. The project will identify key genes and proteins responsible for this process, and alter their ....Re-engineering rice root architecture to maximise water use efficiency. This project aims to discover gene networks responsible for producing deeper and more branched roots in rice plants. The roots of plants are the primary mechanism for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. Manipulating roots to penetrate deeper with greater branching allows plants to thrive with less water and less nutrients. The project will identify key genes and proteins responsible for this process, and alter their expression in order to assess the role of these regulatory elements in root development in rice plants. The project expects to provide new, more sustainable varieties of rice which will help provide enhanced food security.Read moreRead less
Cell-cell signaling in the regulation of cell polarity in plants. This project aims to investigate how plants cells communicate with each other to coordinate their growth and directionality. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of plant developmental biology. Expected outcomes include a new mechanistic framework, built from the cellular level, for understanding and manipulating plant growth and the building of new international collaborations. The project should provide ....Cell-cell signaling in the regulation of cell polarity in plants. This project aims to investigate how plants cells communicate with each other to coordinate their growth and directionality. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of plant developmental biology. Expected outcomes include a new mechanistic framework, built from the cellular level, for understanding and manipulating plant growth and the building of new international collaborations. The project should provide an enhanced ability to modify crop architecture to improve agricultural output.Read moreRead less