Discovering the activity of novel CLE peptide hormones that regulate legume nodulation. This project aims to functionally characterise novel peptide hormones that regulate the number of nitrogen-fixing root nodules that legumes form. Findings will enhance the current nodulation model and could help to alleviate our reliance on expensive, often polluting, nitrogen-fertilisers by helping to optimise the nodulation process in agriculture.
Discovery of the systemic regulator of legume nodulation. This project aims to discover the novel, shoot-derived factor that legumes produce to regulate the number of nitrogen-fixing root nodules they form. Outcomes will enhance the current nodulation model and could help optimise the process in agriculture, which would help alleviate current reliance on nitrogen-fertilisers that are expensive and pollute.
Transition from phosphate mining to an economically, environmentally and socially viable agricultural industry on Christmas Island. The main industry on Christmas Island is mining of rock phosphate, but supplies will run out between 2025 and 2030. Consequently, there is an urgent and compelling need to develop other economic industries to support the resident island population by the time mining ceases. This project aims to utilise the project team’s extensive knowledge on legumes, nitrogen fixi ....Transition from phosphate mining to an economically, environmentally and socially viable agricultural industry on Christmas Island. The main industry on Christmas Island is mining of rock phosphate, but supplies will run out between 2025 and 2030. Consequently, there is an urgent and compelling need to develop other economic industries to support the resident island population by the time mining ceases. This project aims to utilise the project team’s extensive knowledge on legumes, nitrogen fixing bacteria and plant growth promoting bacteria to establish the basis for a viable agricultural industry on the Island. The project aims to provide: reliable and sustainable food sources for the local population; potential food export opportunities to southeast Asia; environmental benefits from the improvement of soils; and economic development of allied agricultural industries.Read moreRead less
Carbon flux and its regulation in metabolic networks. Allocation of photo-assimilates throughout metabolic networks are central to a plants ability to cope with changes in its environment. This project will combine the use of quantitative molecular, chemical and imaging techniques to characterise the flux of resources and its regulation through metabolic networks of Australian native and crop plants.
Identification of novel plant transporters responsible for sucrose efflux. This project aims to clone and functionally characterise previously unknown membrane proteins that facilitate high rates of sucrose efflux from cells located at key transport bottlenecks regulating sucrose transport throughout the plant body and hence plant productivity. These aims will be realised through employing systems specifically designed to clone and functionally characterise sucrose efflux proteins encoded in pla ....Identification of novel plant transporters responsible for sucrose efflux. This project aims to clone and functionally characterise previously unknown membrane proteins that facilitate high rates of sucrose efflux from cells located at key transport bottlenecks regulating sucrose transport throughout the plant body and hence plant productivity. These aims will be realised through employing systems specifically designed to clone and functionally characterise sucrose efflux proteins encoded in plant genomes. Expected outcomes will be an understanding of sucrose transport throughout the plant body, build a valuable international partnership and open up new biotechnological opportunities to improve crop yield.Read moreRead less
Molecular dissection of systemic regulation of nodulation in legumes. This project aims to discover and characterise critical new factors that control legume nodule numbers. Legume plants can increase crop productivity and improve agricultural sustainability by forming specialised root nodules that house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. The project will use a multidisciplinary approach to identify the elusive Shoot Derived Inhibitor molecule and define its interaction with novel genes, microRN ....Molecular dissection of systemic regulation of nodulation in legumes. This project aims to discover and characterise critical new factors that control legume nodule numbers. Legume plants can increase crop productivity and improve agricultural sustainability by forming specialised root nodules that house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. The project will use a multidisciplinary approach to identify the elusive Shoot Derived Inhibitor molecule and define its interaction with novel genes, microRNAs and phytohormones in nodulation control. Findings will considerably enhance the current nodulation models and will benefit strategies to generate new compounds and crop varieties that mitigate fertiliser requirements, improve soil conditions and increase food security.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100800
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,693.00
Summary
Legume meristem signalling peptides: an untapped niche. This project aims to characterise novel signalling peptides regulating legume stem cell niches to enhance molecular-genetic networks and uncover potential key targets for crop improvement. Legumes represent agricultural sustainability through their decreased fertiliser requirements resulting in reduced carbon and nitrogen footprints. However, their unique gene signalling networks are poorly understood in comparison to traditional cereal cro ....Legume meristem signalling peptides: an untapped niche. This project aims to characterise novel signalling peptides regulating legume stem cell niches to enhance molecular-genetic networks and uncover potential key targets for crop improvement. Legumes represent agricultural sustainability through their decreased fertiliser requirements resulting in reduced carbon and nitrogen footprints. However, their unique gene signalling networks are poorly understood in comparison to traditional cereal crops. The proposed research intends to generate new knowledge in peptide signalling, plant development and legume symbiosis using multidisciplinary techniques. Expected project outcomes will increase understanding of peptide signalling in legume growth and adaption with useful findings for crop enhancement.Read moreRead less
The role of the ammonium transport bHLHm1/AMF1 regulatory loci in plants. This project aims to investigate the role of a regulatory locus in the regulation of ammonium transport in plants and the interacting genetic and biochemical signalling promoting the interaction. Ammonium is an important nutrient source for plant growth and development. It has been recently identified that a new transport mechanism (AMF1 ) mediates ammonium transport across legume root nodule cellular membranes. AMF1 was i ....The role of the ammonium transport bHLHm1/AMF1 regulatory loci in plants. This project aims to investigate the role of a regulatory locus in the regulation of ammonium transport in plants and the interacting genetic and biochemical signalling promoting the interaction. Ammonium is an important nutrient source for plant growth and development. It has been recently identified that a new transport mechanism (AMF1 ) mediates ammonium transport across legume root nodule cellular membranes. AMF1 was identified through a transcriptional interaction with a membrane localised bHLHm1 transcription factor. Both bHLHm1 and AMF1 belong to a unique chromosomal regulatory locus common across sequenced dicot plant species.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH140100013
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,972,614.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture. ARC Research Hub for Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture. This research hub aims to provide Australian growers and industrial stakeholders with improved plant materials to maximise production, environmental sustainability and profitability. In particular, the research aims to improve the nitrogen delivery capacity of legumes and their resilience to abiotic stress, which will be an important consideration as our climate changes. Grain legu ....ARC Research Hub for Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture. ARC Research Hub for Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture. This research hub aims to provide Australian growers and industrial stakeholders with improved plant materials to maximise production, environmental sustainability and profitability. In particular, the research aims to improve the nitrogen delivery capacity of legumes and their resilience to abiotic stress, which will be an important consideration as our climate changes. Grain legumes are often grown in rotation with cereal crops for their high nutritional seed value and their unique ability to develop a self-sufficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with soil bacteria. Maintaining legume productivity against the challenges of climate change and the need for increased food production is important to the future of Australian agriculture.Read moreRead less