Genome-wide determination of Puccinia psidii s.l. rust resistance in eucalypts. Recently, guava rust was detected in Australia, posing significant risks to native flora, plantations, and timber exports. Scientists from The University of Melbourne and Victorian Department of Primary Industries together with tree breeders, forest growers and forest managers aim to use tree genomics rust resistance breeding to enable management and operational responses and inform policy development.
Development of molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola. Canola (Brassica napus) is a valuable oil seed crop grown in many parts of the world and contributes annually $A450 million to the Australian economy. The overall aim of this project is to develop molecular markers for blackleg resistance using Australian germplasm along with evaluation in Australian disease nurseries which are regarded worlwide to develop the highest levels of disease pressu ....Development of molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola. Canola (Brassica napus) is a valuable oil seed crop grown in many parts of the world and contributes annually $A450 million to the Australian economy. The overall aim of this project is to develop molecular markers for blackleg resistance using Australian germplasm along with evaluation in Australian disease nurseries which are regarded worlwide to develop the highest levels of disease pressure. Once molecular marker systems are developed and evaluated, they will be applied to facilitate the selection of Nugrain's (Industry Partner) canola breeding programs. Any molecular markers and QTL developed for Australian cultivars would find commercial application in breeding programmes.Read moreRead less
Identification of genes controlling wood fibre properties in Eucalyptus nitens. Australian forestry is shifting to high intensity eucalypt plantations and increasingly focussing on development of breeds and clones with superior wood and pulp traits. Many of these traits are under moderate to strong genetic control and DNA markers have helped identify regions on eucalypt chromosomes that influence these traits. This project aims to identify the genes at these chromosomal locations that influence ....Identification of genes controlling wood fibre properties in Eucalyptus nitens. Australian forestry is shifting to high intensity eucalypt plantations and increasingly focussing on development of breeds and clones with superior wood and pulp traits. Many of these traits are under moderate to strong genetic control and DNA markers have helped identify regions on eucalypt chromosomes that influence these traits. This project aims to identify the genes at these chromosomal locations that influence wood fibre development and which have a strong influence on major commercial traits. The project will increase our understanding of wood and fibre development in eucalypts, and facilitate development of genetic markers to track superior genes during breeding.Read moreRead less
Genetic association studies of fundamental wood fibre components in Pinus radiata resource populations. Radiata pine is Australia's premiere softwood plantation species occupying in excess of one million hectares, contributing over $18 billion to Australia's GNP and providing employment to 130,000 Australians. With a trade deficit in forest and forest products of $1.85 billion, current massive plantation establishment efforts are in train to reverse this trend. These have to be backed by researc ....Genetic association studies of fundamental wood fibre components in Pinus radiata resource populations. Radiata pine is Australia's premiere softwood plantation species occupying in excess of one million hectares, contributing over $18 billion to Australia's GNP and providing employment to 130,000 Australians. With a trade deficit in forest and forest products of $1.85 billion, current massive plantation establishment efforts are in train to reverse this trend. These have to be backed by research into the factors that determine the base resource's quality, growth and sustainability. Results will lead to improved resource quality, increased productivity and new industrial opportunities, directly improving our trade position and releasing pressure on our native forest resources.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and selection of phytocompound and physical seed quality characters of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). To develop and expand both value and volume of the Australian market share for chickpea. Retention and expansion of existing markets will occur through improved seed physical traits such as size, colour and processing efficiency, whilst creation of new markets will be achieved through enhancing novel traits such as the level of phytocompounds. In collaboration with Victoria's Dep ....Characterisation and selection of phytocompound and physical seed quality characters of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). To develop and expand both value and volume of the Australian market share for chickpea. Retention and expansion of existing markets will occur through improved seed physical traits such as size, colour and processing efficiency, whilst creation of new markets will be achieved through enhancing novel traits such as the level of phytocompounds. In collaboration with Victoria's Department of Primary Industry staff, genes governing chickpea quality traits will be characterised through applying novel combinations of selection and analytical methods. A multidsciplinary team of plant breeders, grains chemists and molecular biologists will advance chickpea breeding in Australia by applying cutting-edge technologies.Read moreRead less
Models for Australian Electricity Derivatives. Electricity derivatives, such as electricity futures and options are used to manage the risk associated with volatility in prices of electricity. This project aims to develop models for pricing electricity derivatives specifically suited for Australia. Because of the non-storable nature of electricity the standard option pricing principle of "no-arbitrage" does not apply to electricity options, such as caps and floors, but applies to options on elec ....Models for Australian Electricity Derivatives. Electricity derivatives, such as electricity futures and options are used to manage the risk associated with volatility in prices of electricity. This project aims to develop models for pricing electricity derivatives specifically suited for Australia. Because of the non-storable nature of electricity the standard option pricing principle of "no-arbitrage" does not apply to electricity options, such as caps and floors, but applies to options on electricity futures. Therefore a specific model is needed that takes into account the pricing principle of "no-arbitrage" and combines it with other factors that drive electricity prices. The novel element in this proposal is incorporation of the weather forecasts into the models for electricity options. As a result of this study appropriate models for electricity derivatives for various geographical regions in Australia will be developed.Read moreRead less
Seed quality and disease resistance trait mapping in lentil (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris). To protect and increase our world lentil market share, the mission of the Australian lentil breeders is to develop lentil varieties with superior seed qualities. Three highly desirable seed quality traits are; fatter and larger shape, better splitting efficiency and resistance to blemishing by ascochyta blight infection. To speed up the development of varieties with these traits, the genetic loci governi ....Seed quality and disease resistance trait mapping in lentil (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris). To protect and increase our world lentil market share, the mission of the Australian lentil breeders is to develop lentil varieties with superior seed qualities. Three highly desirable seed quality traits are; fatter and larger shape, better splitting efficiency and resistance to blemishing by ascochyta blight infection. To speed up the development of varieties with these traits, the genetic loci governing them will be characterised and closely associated molecular markers identified. Markers will be validated for their use in marker-assisted breeding programs via back-crossing and field and glass house testing.Read moreRead less
Pyramiding ascochyta blight (A. rabiei) resistance in chickpea. Ascochyta blight (A. rabiei) is the most devastating disease that affects chickpea production in Australia. This project will produce enhanced chickpea breeding germplasm with sustainable resistance to ascochyta blight. This will be achieved through the enrichment of highly informative genome linkage maps and the development of molecular markers closely associated with novel resistance genes. Markers will be used to screen backcross ....Pyramiding ascochyta blight (A. rabiei) resistance in chickpea. Ascochyta blight (A. rabiei) is the most devastating disease that affects chickpea production in Australia. This project will produce enhanced chickpea breeding germplasm with sustainable resistance to ascochyta blight. This will be achieved through the enrichment of highly informative genome linkage maps and the development of molecular markers closely associated with novel resistance genes. Markers will be used to screen backcrossed populations for novel resistance in order to pyramid the genes involved. The most resistant lines, to all of the A. rabiei pathotypes, will be selected for use in future resistance breeding programs.Read moreRead less
Helping Central Banks Measure Unobserved Variables Using Real-time Forecasts. The project addresses structural measurement problems confronted routinely by central bankers. The techniques developed, and the estimates provided, will aid directly the Partner Organisations (the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Norges Bank) and other central banks in formulating monetary policy. The analysis will allow interest rates in Australia and elsewhere to be set with greater pre ....Helping Central Banks Measure Unobserved Variables Using Real-time Forecasts. The project addresses structural measurement problems confronted routinely by central bankers. The techniques developed, and the estimates provided, will aid directly the Partner Organisations (the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Norges Bank) and other central banks in formulating monetary policy. The analysis will allow interest rates in Australia and elsewhere to be set with greater precision. The techniques developed in this project will facilitate the understanding and communication of monetary policy within the central banks concerned, and enhance communication of monetary policy strategy to the public.Read moreRead less
Innovative Technology for At-Scene Forensic Analysis using Microfluidics and Chemiluminescence. The major outcome of this project will be innovative reagents and strategies optimised for the detection of priority analytes such as drugs, explosives and chemical warfare agents. These will utilise a new technology platform based upon laboratory on a chip/microfluidics to enable the development of analytical methodologies suitable for use at crime scenes.This programme of research falls within a Nat ....Innovative Technology for At-Scene Forensic Analysis using Microfluidics and Chemiluminescence. The major outcome of this project will be innovative reagents and strategies optimised for the detection of priority analytes such as drugs, explosives and chemical warfare agents. These will utilise a new technology platform based upon laboratory on a chip/microfluidics to enable the development of analytical methodologies suitable for use at crime scenes.This programme of research falls within a National Research Priority namely 'Protecting Australia from terrorism and crime'. Through our current forensic science research collaboration the outcomes will build significantly on Australia's existing strengths in rapid detection using new analytical technologies.Read moreRead less