Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licen ....Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licensing of tests. There will also be economic and social returns to the broader rural community by better management and control of virus pathogens, and less reliance on environmentally undesirable chemical control measures. The project will provide expert training of two PhD students in practical and molecular plant virology. Read moreRead less
Cell wall invertase regulates fruit and seed development through sugar signals, sugar transporters and plasmodesmal gating. This project seeks to understand the molecular and cellular events controlling carbohydrate allocation in fruit and seed by focusing the coupling between sugar metabolism and transport using tomato as a model. The information generated may provide technological opportunities to improve fruit and seed development hence, crop yield.
Cellular and molecular interactions of rhabdoviruses with their plant hosts and insect vectors. Viruses cause significant economic losses in agriculture, but little information is available on how plant-adapted rhabdoviruses multiply in both their plant hosts and insect vectors. This project on the localisation, transport and host defence properties of essential viral proteins will identify novel targets for improved disease control.
Phytochemistry Of Thrips Resistance In Potato And Its Influence On Acquisition And Transmission Of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. TSWV causes multi-million dollar losses to the Australian potato industry, which is the countries largest and most valuable vegetable commodity and an important source of income and employment for rural communities. Development of TSWV epidemics relies on the activity of vector thrips acquiring virus from infected plants and transmitting it to healthy potatoes. Deployment ....Phytochemistry Of Thrips Resistance In Potato And Its Influence On Acquisition And Transmission Of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. TSWV causes multi-million dollar losses to the Australian potato industry, which is the countries largest and most valuable vegetable commodity and an important source of income and employment for rural communities. Development of TSWV epidemics relies on the activity of vector thrips acquiring virus from infected plants and transmitting it to healthy potatoes. Deployment of thrips resistant potato would greatly assist disease control. This project will determine the efficacy of thrips resistance in reducing TSWV epidemics and identify the chemical basis of resistance, which could be used as a screening tool for potato breeding, and could form the basis of a synthetic chemical tool for thrips prevention in potato and other crops.Read moreRead less
Cover crops that decrease phosphorus (P) transport from agricultural soils by increasing the efficiency of P fertiliser application. The aim of this project is to develop cover crop practices for the heavily fertilised potato cropping soils of the Robertson district that will minimise erosion and runoff of water potentially rich in phosphorus (P), thereby resulting in significant improvements in the environmental management of this sensitive catchment area. The cover crops will: (i) improve infi ....Cover crops that decrease phosphorus (P) transport from agricultural soils by increasing the efficiency of P fertiliser application. The aim of this project is to develop cover crop practices for the heavily fertilised potato cropping soils of the Robertson district that will minimise erosion and runoff of water potentially rich in phosphorus (P), thereby resulting in significant improvements in the environmental management of this sensitive catchment area. The cover crops will: (i) improve infiltration, decrease erosion, and off-site transport of P; (ii)increase access to accumulated soil P, making it available to a subsequent potato crop, thus decreasing the P loading of the soil; and (iii) have a biofumigation effect that will reduce the use of soil fumigants.
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Pathogen recognition and plant-defence activation by a novel Fusarium wilt-resistance protein from tomato. The devastating effects of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato is a threat to one of Australia's most economically important horticultural crops. Resistant tomato varieties offer the most effective means of control but the fundamental mechanisms underlying this resistance are yet to be understood. This research will increase our understanding of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. The knowledg ....Pathogen recognition and plant-defence activation by a novel Fusarium wilt-resistance protein from tomato. The devastating effects of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato is a threat to one of Australia's most economically important horticultural crops. Resistant tomato varieties offer the most effective means of control but the fundamental mechanisms underlying this resistance are yet to be understood. This research will increase our understanding of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. The knowledge gained will assist in the development of new robust, sustainable approaches to disease control, as well as the development of pre-emptive strategies to avert major outbreaks, which will ensure reliable productivity and minimal economic losses into the future.Read moreRead less
A systems approach to dissect the pathogenicity and host specificity of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes wilt disease in many plant species, including many that are important for Australian agriculture. Developing environmentally friendly disease protection strategies against this pathogen requires a clear understanding of infection strategies used by the fungus to invade its host. This project, along with a parallel project in host ....A systems approach to dissect the pathogenicity and host specificity of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes wilt disease in many plant species, including many that are important for Australian agriculture. Developing environmentally friendly disease protection strategies against this pathogen requires a clear understanding of infection strategies used by the fungus to invade its host. This project, along with a parallel project in host resistance mechanisms, will provide the basis for development of a world leading platform in mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity and virulence and plant disease resistance/susceptibility. Application of the knowledge gained in this project to other host-pathogen interactions will thereby provide opportunities for improved crop protection and biosecurity.Read moreRead less
Attract and reward: a novel approach to enhancing biological control of crop pests. Pests cause serious damage to Australia's agricultural crops. Current control relies heavily on synthetic pesticides. This project will develop novel products based on natural plant compounds to attract beneficial insects into crops where they will be supported with nectar, pollen and shelter to maximise their lifespan, reproduction, residency. This use of Australia's beneficial insect biodiversity will provide ....Attract and reward: a novel approach to enhancing biological control of crop pests. Pests cause serious damage to Australia's agricultural crops. Current control relies heavily on synthetic pesticides. This project will develop novel products based on natural plant compounds to attract beneficial insects into crops where they will be supported with nectar, pollen and shelter to maximise their lifespan, reproduction, residency. This use of Australia's beneficial insect biodiversity will provide novel pest control options to help transform the vegetable and grape industries. The work will reduce reliance on conventional pesticides; thereby contributing towards Australia's environmental sustainability and providing healthier foodstuffs. Read moreRead less
Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brass ....Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brassicae in routine seedling production and for management within the lettuce industry. These protocols will ensure that the spread of LBVD from contaminated lettuce nurseries to farms is prevented. It will also be a unique study of the establishment of a disease in new land with different soils and agricultural practices.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic prob ....Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic problems in agricultural production. We will use field-collected Diamondback moth (DBM), a major insect pest in canola and brassica vegetable crops, to investigate the genetic implications of inducible tolerance for the integrated management of DBM and for the design of new resistance management strategies.Read moreRead less