FERTILIZATION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS. Using reproductive technology previously undeveloped in Australian marsupials this study addresses the most significant question still unresolved in marsupial reproductive biology - 'How does fertilization occur?' We propose to investigate the morphological and functional characteristics of fertilisation and its roles in early development in marsupials, the uniqueness of these events and their evolutionary significance. These findings ....FERTILIZATION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS. Using reproductive technology previously undeveloped in Australian marsupials this study addresses the most significant question still unresolved in marsupial reproductive biology - 'How does fertilization occur?' We propose to investigate the morphological and functional characteristics of fertilisation and its roles in early development in marsupials, the uniqueness of these events and their evolutionary significance. These findings will not only further our knowledge of reproduction in marsupials and shed light on the evolutionary factors underlying sperm and egg design but will provide tools for assisted breeding programs for threatened wildlife and for the regulation of over abundant species.Read moreRead less
Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse wit ....Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse with climate change. Low-cyanide plants developed by us using non-GM methods grow fast, but accumulate nitrate instead which is also toxic. This is a waste of expensive fertiliser too. We aim to develop plants that divert resources to growth instead of toxins in order to reduce fertiliser use and help prepare for the future. The fast growing plants may also be useful as a biofuel crop.Read moreRead less
Mechanistic characterisation of genotype x environment interactions in sorghum and arabidopsis. Sorghum is an economically important cereal crop for Australia. In Australia, sorghum is used as a staple animal feed and it is very important for the live stock industry. With the predicted changes of temperature and rainfall patterns due to climate change, negative effects on sorghum yield are expected, which can have adverse effects on Australian economy. Our studies will identify and mark genes th ....Mechanistic characterisation of genotype x environment interactions in sorghum and arabidopsis. Sorghum is an economically important cereal crop for Australia. In Australia, sorghum is used as a staple animal feed and it is very important for the live stock industry. With the predicted changes of temperature and rainfall patterns due to climate change, negative effects on sorghum yield are expected, which can have adverse effects on Australian economy. Our studies will identify and mark genes that regulate flowering and seed production in sorghum in response to changes in temperature and light interactions. These studies will help to develop novel sorghum varieties with desirable characters through plant-breeding programmes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775534
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality ....A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality through minimising the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses, and a reduced dependence on inputs (eg fertilisers) leading to environmentally sustainable production systems. Ultimately this will result in enhanced food quality and analytical methods to monitor quality and safety characteristics of food.Read moreRead less
Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. U ....Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. Using new, non-GM technology we will identify novel genetically altered sorghum lines with negligible prussic acid. Lines with enhanced levels could be used as soil biofumigants. Breeders can use this germplasm to develop varieties tailored for increasingly dry Australian conditions. The new varieties with controlled dhurrin content will be suitable for export.Read moreRead less