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
Applying behavioural insights to the tax system in Australia. Applying behavioural insights to the tax system in Australia. This project aims to improve compliance and payment in the Australian tax system. It aims to tackle debts of individuals and businesses, the most challenging aspect of tax systems, by applying behavioural insights to design innovative payment interventions and conducting rigorous randomised controlled trials to evaluate their effects. An empirical analysis will account for ....Applying behavioural insights to the tax system in Australia. Applying behavioural insights to the tax system in Australia. This project aims to improve compliance and payment in the Australian tax system. It aims to tackle debts of individuals and businesses, the most challenging aspect of tax systems, by applying behavioural insights to design innovative payment interventions and conducting rigorous randomised controlled trials to evaluate their effects. An empirical analysis will account for heterogeneity in treatment responses, and the findings will be combined with a study of regulatory and administrative processes to support the ultimate goal of a legitimate, fair, cost-effective and responsive tax system.Read moreRead less
Super Financial Security: Improving Flexibility, Trust and Communication. This project aims to address the significant worldwide challenge of how to safeguard financial wellbeing at older ages. In doing so it aims to investigate three important and interconnected influences on retirement preparation: flexible choice architecture, trust formation and effective communication. The project aims to use a combination of innovative modelling, experimental and field-based approaches. The principal expec ....Super Financial Security: Improving Flexibility, Trust and Communication. This project aims to address the significant worldwide challenge of how to safeguard financial wellbeing at older ages. In doing so it aims to investigate three important and interconnected influences on retirement preparation: flexible choice architecture, trust formation and effective communication. The project aims to use a combination of innovative modelling, experimental and field-based approaches. The principal expected outcomes are insights into the factors that guide superannuation choice, build trust with superannuation providers, and ensure clear and effective communication with members.Read moreRead less
Protecting the Australian chickpea industry through knowledge of the current Ascochyta rabiei fungal population and risk to resistance breeding strategies. Australian chickpea is highly vulnerable to epidemics of Ascochyta blight, which may cause total crop failure. This project will help to maintain Australia's position as a major global chickpea producer through maximising the life span of current resistance genes to A. rabiei. and determining the applicability of other potential resistance so ....Protecting the Australian chickpea industry through knowledge of the current Ascochyta rabiei fungal population and risk to resistance breeding strategies. Australian chickpea is highly vulnerable to epidemics of Ascochyta blight, which may cause total crop failure. This project will help to maintain Australia's position as a major global chickpea producer through maximising the life span of current resistance genes to A. rabiei. and determining the applicability of other potential resistance sources. The knowledge that will be generated regarding the pathogen's potential to overcome host resistance is imperative for developing future disease management strategies, especially since more aggressive isolates exist outside Australia. The project findings will feed directly into the National Australian Chickpea Breeding Program.Read moreRead less
Enhancement of Novel Flower Colours. The demand for novel colours and varieties of cutflowers is the most important driver for the floriculture industry. This project will increase the understanding of the factors that regulate flower colour and produce flowers with novel colours. This novelty is a consumer trait, and is likely to translate into increased sales and revenue to the Industry Partner, with income from these worldwide sales translating directly into the employment of research and dev ....Enhancement of Novel Flower Colours. The demand for novel colours and varieties of cutflowers is the most important driver for the floriculture industry. This project will increase the understanding of the factors that regulate flower colour and produce flowers with novel colours. This novelty is a consumer trait, and is likely to translate into increased sales and revenue to the Industry Partner, with income from these worldwide sales translating directly into the employment of research and development staff in Australia. This project will maintain Australian expertise in the production of horticultural commodities and provide research training to a post-graduate student with industry experience.Read moreRead less
Pathophysiological mechanisms in equine dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis). Dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis) is a developmental orthopaedic disease of horses, which causes significant wastage within the Thoroughbred racing industry. The disease affects growth cartilage beneath joint surfaces in such a way that cartilage fails to be replaced by bone, resulting in defects in the joint surface and lameness. This project will identify differences in gene expression between normal cartilage and ea ....Pathophysiological mechanisms in equine dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis). Dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis) is a developmental orthopaedic disease of horses, which causes significant wastage within the Thoroughbred racing industry. The disease affects growth cartilage beneath joint surfaces in such a way that cartilage fails to be replaced by bone, resulting in defects in the joint surface and lameness. This project will identify differences in gene expression between normal cartilage and early dyschondroplastic lesions, in order to identify the sequence of molecular events leading to induction of disease. The basic understanding of joint development obtained from this work will assist in the development of strategies to prevent and diagnose dyschondroplasia in horses.Read moreRead less
Continuous combinatorial order processing In financial markets. This project aims to develop an order processing capability that eliminates execution risk underlying portfolio rebalancing in financial markets. The proposed market design is expected to lower transaction costs for investors, lower funding costs for firms and governments and enhance liquidity in markets that are naturally thin. The market design is expected to have a significant impact on an economy like Australia’s, which through ....Continuous combinatorial order processing In financial markets. This project aims to develop an order processing capability that eliminates execution risk underlying portfolio rebalancing in financial markets. The proposed market design is expected to lower transaction costs for investors, lower funding costs for firms and governments and enhance liquidity in markets that are naturally thin. The market design is expected to have a significant impact on an economy like Australia’s, which through its superannuation savings system depends on well-operating financial markets for savings and investments. The project is expected to result in lower costs of funding for firms and government, benefitting employment and the enhancement of Australia’s expertise in fintech and its capacity to export cutting-edge financial information technology. Read moreRead less
Novel biological and genetic disease control tools for the barley industry. This project places Australian barley breeders at the forefront of disease resistance by providing them with novel tools to develop varieties with enhanced protection against fungal diseases. The aims are to produce fungal strains with multiple virulence genes for fast and cost-effective testing of barley lines, untangle the fungal/host gene interaction for resistance breeding and identify new sources of resistance. The ....Novel biological and genetic disease control tools for the barley industry. This project places Australian barley breeders at the forefront of disease resistance by providing them with novel tools to develop varieties with enhanced protection against fungal diseases. The aims are to produce fungal strains with multiple virulence genes for fast and cost-effective testing of barley lines, untangle the fungal/host gene interaction for resistance breeding and identify new sources of resistance. The outcomes will lead to the commercialisation by Australian breeding companies of barley varieties with durable fungal resistance. This will benefit the Australian economy by providing sustainability and protection for barley breeding thereby significantly reducing crop losses for this important global agricultural commodity.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of antifungal resistance in blackleg disease of canola. This project aims to determine how fungicide resistance evolves in the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, the major pathogen of the oilseed crop canola. Global food production has become more reliant on the use of antifungal agents to protect crops, however these advances are now threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant microbes. The knowledge generated by this project will be used to reduce the risk of resistance evolving in po ....Mechanisms of antifungal resistance in blackleg disease of canola. This project aims to determine how fungicide resistance evolves in the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, the major pathogen of the oilseed crop canola. Global food production has become more reliant on the use of antifungal agents to protect crops, however these advances are now threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant microbes. The knowledge generated by this project will be used to reduce the risk of resistance evolving in populations of the blackleg fungus. This will have economic benefits through ensuring increased canola yields, while providing health and environmental benefits through minimisation of use of fungicides.Read moreRead less
The roles viruses play in the decline of terrestrial orchids in Australia’s hotspot of global biodiversity. Plant viruses play both positive and negative roles in native plant health and population viability. This study will use deep sequencing and plant physiology approaches to elucidate how threatened terrestrial orchids respond to infection by exotic and indigenous viruses, allowing more informed management of critically-important ecosystems.