Understanding disease resistance gene evolution across the Brassicaceae. Pan genomes represent the diversity of a species, including structural and sequence variation, which cannot be provided by a reference genome alone. In this project we will characterise resistance gene diversity across the Brassicaceae pan genomes. Through comparison with resistance gene diversity in cultivated Brassica species we will understand selection underlying resistance gene evolution in wild species and subsequent ....Understanding disease resistance gene evolution across the Brassicaceae. Pan genomes represent the diversity of a species, including structural and sequence variation, which cannot be provided by a reference genome alone. In this project we will characterise resistance gene diversity across the Brassicaceae pan genomes. Through comparison with resistance gene diversity in cultivated Brassica species we will understand selection underlying resistance gene evolution in wild species and subsequent domestication and breeding. Knowledge on how variation affects disease susceptibility, especially to the devastating fungal pathogen blackleg, and contributes to phenotypic variation, will lead to improved plant protection strategies and increased crop resilience.Read moreRead less
The More the Merrier? Investigating copy number variation in Brassicas. This project intends to develop an understanding of how gene copy number variation affects disease susceptibility to help in the design of novel plant protection strategies. Gene copy number variants (CNVs) are segments of DNA that have been duplicated or lost in the genome of one individual or line with respect to another. CNVs have been shown to contribute significantly to phenotypic differences in humans, including diseas ....The More the Merrier? Investigating copy number variation in Brassicas. This project intends to develop an understanding of how gene copy number variation affects disease susceptibility to help in the design of novel plant protection strategies. Gene copy number variants (CNVs) are segments of DNA that have been duplicated or lost in the genome of one individual or line with respect to another. CNVs have been shown to contribute significantly to phenotypic differences in humans, including disease susceptibility, and the same seems to apply in plants. This project aims to apply the genome sequences for Brassica species to detect CNVs from re-sequencing data. Knowing how this variation affects an individual or line’s disease susceptibility, especially to the devastating fungal pathogen blackleg, could improve plant protection strategies and crop production.Read moreRead less
Characterising structural variation in the canola genome. Characterising structural variation in the canola genome. This project aims to develop and apply genomic tools to identify and characterise structural genome variation in canola, a major Australian export crop, to better understand genome evolution and accelerate canola breeding. Advances in DNA sequencing revolutionise our understanding of crop genomes, their evolution and impact on the inheritance on agronomic traits. Variation of genom ....Characterising structural variation in the canola genome. Characterising structural variation in the canola genome. This project aims to develop and apply genomic tools to identify and characterise structural genome variation in canola, a major Australian export crop, to better understand genome evolution and accelerate canola breeding. Advances in DNA sequencing revolutionise our understanding of crop genomes, their evolution and impact on the inheritance on agronomic traits. Variation of genome structure between individuals could be important in the inheritance of important agronomic traits. Recent advances in technology permit the detailed characterisation of structural variation on a previously unfeasible scale. Anticipated outcomes are enhanced global food security, supporting rural Australian economies, and accelerating the improvement of other major crops.Read moreRead less
Defining the Brassica pan-genome and establishing methods for gene conversion based crop improvement. Gene content varies between individual varieties. The project aims to apply novel genomic tools to identify and characterise the fixed and variable gene content in the important crop canola and use this to understand genome evolution as well as develop tools to accelerate canola breeding. The project team have developed and used a high-resolution genotyping approach to demonstrate that gene conv ....Defining the Brassica pan-genome and establishing methods for gene conversion based crop improvement. Gene content varies between individual varieties. The project aims to apply novel genomic tools to identify and characterise the fixed and variable gene content in the important crop canola and use this to understand genome evolution as well as develop tools to accelerate canola breeding. The project team have developed and used a high-resolution genotyping approach to demonstrate that gene conversions, short recombination events which lead to the non-reciprocal exchange of genomic regions during meiosis, are abundant in crop genomes. The project aims to develop methods and resources to characterise gene conversion in canola and establish a basis for gene conversion based crop improvement.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL230100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,320,000.00
Summary
A walk on the wild side: understanding disease resistance across plants. Plants are in constant battle with pests and pathogens. Wild species host genetic diversity, providing sources of disease resistance, while the narrow genetic base of crop varieties leads to an increasing reliance on the unsustainable application of chemical fungicides. Here I will apply the latest genomics approaches to characterise disease resistance gene diversity across the plant kingdom. Comparison of gene diversity wi ....A walk on the wild side: understanding disease resistance across plants. Plants are in constant battle with pests and pathogens. Wild species host genetic diversity, providing sources of disease resistance, while the narrow genetic base of crop varieties leads to an increasing reliance on the unsustainable application of chemical fungicides. Here I will apply the latest genomics approaches to characterise disease resistance gene diversity across the plant kingdom. Comparison of gene diversity within and between plant families will improve our understanding of resistance gene evolution in wild species and the impact of domestication and breeding on resistance gene diversity. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop productionRead moreRead less
Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utili ....Investigating a novel genetic strategy for insect resistance in crops. Plants are in a constant battle with insect pests and there is an increasing reliance on chemical inputs for control. However there are incoming bans on some pesticides, and new approaches are required for pest management. The aim of this project is to develop a new strategy which exploits the dependence of herbivorous insects on phytosterols. Here, we will apply the latest genomics technologies in plants to produce non-utilizable sterols which will not support insect growth and reproduction, but will still allow the plant to function normally. We will demonstrate this in the important crop canola. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop production.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100668
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
New Brassica crop species through evolutionary breeding. This projects aims to investigate natural mechanisms by which plants evolve into new species through hybridisation, using Brassica species (canola, cabbages and mustards) as a model. Understanding these processes will allow us to make new, widely adapted Brassica crop species for agricultural production.
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100025
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$747,126.00
Summary
Using the blackleg fungus as a model for maximising fungicide efficacy. Resistance to chemicals impacts the ability to control many diseases across many crops. This project aims to identify key epidemiological factors contributing to fungicide resistance in an emerging model system, blackleg disease of canola, using innovative approaches. The outcomes of this research will be management strategies for minimising the risk of evolution of fungicide resistance, a key industry need. This will also e ....Using the blackleg fungus as a model for maximising fungicide efficacy. Resistance to chemicals impacts the ability to control many diseases across many crops. This project aims to identify key epidemiological factors contributing to fungicide resistance in an emerging model system, blackleg disease of canola, using innovative approaches. The outcomes of this research will be management strategies for minimising the risk of evolution of fungicide resistance, a key industry need. This will also enhance interdisciplinary collaborations through combining field and molecular research. These management strategies will provide significant economic benefits by ensuring increased canola yields, whilst providing health and environmental benefits through minimisation of unnecessary use of fungicides.Read moreRead less
Building better Brassicas: Understanding disease resistance mechanisms across the Brassicaceae. Brassica species are important crops producing cooking oil, vegetables and biofuel, grown in diverse environments with a high economic and export value. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans, is the most important disease of brassica crops world-wide. The newly available brassica genome sequence provides the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. This pr ....Building better Brassicas: Understanding disease resistance mechanisms across the Brassicaceae. Brassica species are important crops producing cooking oil, vegetables and biofuel, grown in diverse environments with a high economic and export value. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans, is the most important disease of brassica crops world-wide. The newly available brassica genome sequence provides the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. This project will characterise the evolution and conservation of resistance genes in wild and cultivated brassicas, using next-generation sequencing technology, to assess their potential for crop improvement. An understanding of the evolution of genes responsible for resistance will lead to improved plant protection strategies for brassica crops.Read moreRead less
Establishing novel breeding methods for canola improvement. It is imperative to ensure reliable food production in the coming years of climate change and increasing population. Genomics offers the greatest potential to increase food production. This project will apply genomic selection methods to accelerate canola oilseed breeding to ensure continued increases in production of this important food and national export.