Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the env ....Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the environment in intact plants through the generation and analysis of transgenic plants with altered guard cell function. This will aid in the development of strategies for direct manipulation of stomatal function.Read moreRead less
Are flavonoids metabolic regulators of plant development? This project will investigate the mechanisms of action of flavonoids, which are abundant and diverse plant products contained in all fruits and vegetables. We have very little knowledge on the range of activities this large class of natural compounds has in plants. This research will investigate the role of flavonoids in regulating plant development to identify flavonoids and their target proteins and genes that could alter plant develo ....Are flavonoids metabolic regulators of plant development? This project will investigate the mechanisms of action of flavonoids, which are abundant and diverse plant products contained in all fruits and vegetables. We have very little knowledge on the range of activities this large class of natural compounds has in plants. This research will investigate the role of flavonoids in regulating plant development to identify flavonoids and their target proteins and genes that could alter plant development in specific ways to create improved crops. This project will also strengthen Australia's expertise in proteomics, an important tool for the advancement of knowledge and application in biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an e ....Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an enormous "phenotypic plasticity". This project will use two model plant systems to investigate how different external signals are "translated" by the plant into different developmental regimes. This knowledge is crucial to understanding how the plasticity of root development is modulated in response to changing environmental factors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668487
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,000.00
Summary
Plant Phenomics Imaging and Analysis Facility. The Australian plant science community faces a major challenge in being able to comprehensively characterise the performance or phenotype of plants in a high throughput manner necessary for post-genomic era science with model plant species, smart-breeding of crop plants and to assess plant-environment interactions. Our capacity to accurately 'phenotype' either a new mutant or a new variety has fallen behind out capacity to generate novel genetic mat ....Plant Phenomics Imaging and Analysis Facility. The Australian plant science community faces a major challenge in being able to comprehensively characterise the performance or phenotype of plants in a high throughput manner necessary for post-genomic era science with model plant species, smart-breeding of crop plants and to assess plant-environment interactions. Our capacity to accurately 'phenotype' either a new mutant or a new variety has fallen behind out capacity to generate novel genetic material. This facility will significantly boost research outputs across a range of disciplines pivotal to Australia's future agricultural plant productivity and environmental sustainability. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,808.00
Summary
Molecular interaction between tomato and Fusarium oxysporum. This project aims to develop fungus-resistant crops. Fungal pathogens of crop plants threaten food production food security. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum is the fifth most notorious fungal pathogens of crop plants. This project will use the tomato–Fusarium oxysporum pathosystem to discover how Fusarium manipulates plants to infect them and how plants can resist Fusarium infection. Anticipated outcomes include reduced yield loss in tom ....Molecular interaction between tomato and Fusarium oxysporum. This project aims to develop fungus-resistant crops. Fungal pathogens of crop plants threaten food production food security. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum is the fifth most notorious fungal pathogens of crop plants. This project will use the tomato–Fusarium oxysporum pathosystem to discover how Fusarium manipulates plants to infect them and how plants can resist Fusarium infection. Anticipated outcomes include reduced yield loss in tomato and other crop plants by using genome-editing techniques to develop Fusarium-resistant cultivars.Read moreRead less
Transcriptome profiling of Phytophthora pathogenicity genes: regulation of cell wall degrading enzyme synthesis during plant infection. This project will catalogue the repertoire of enzymes produced by plant pathogens to break down plant cell walls during initial penetration and later establishment of disease. This project will determine how production of these enzymes is regulated and how their function is optimised to achieve successful plant infection.
Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limi ....Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limited knowledge of their deployment and specificity. This project will produce an in-depth understanding of the identity, regulation and role of plant inhibitors that combat attack by destructive pathogens in the genus Phytophthora. It will not only address the serious problem of Phytophthora diseases in Australia but will also apply to plant defence against other pathogens.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100066
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,000.00
Summary
Uncovering how rust fungi cause devastating plant diseases. This project aims to generate a new understanding of how rust fungi infect plant cells using single-cell sequencing technologies and data-driven investigations. This project expects to discover conserved rust infection strategies and the first characterisations of mechanisms that transfer virulence proteins from the fungus to the plant. Innovations and new knowledge from this project will be of high-impact and of benefit to the Australi ....Uncovering how rust fungi cause devastating plant diseases. This project aims to generate a new understanding of how rust fungi infect plant cells using single-cell sequencing technologies and data-driven investigations. This project expects to discover conserved rust infection strategies and the first characterisations of mechanisms that transfer virulence proteins from the fungus to the plant. Innovations and new knowledge from this project will be of high-impact and of benefit to the Australian and international community through knowledge discovery about conserved rust infection mechanisms. This project expects to deliver strategies for effective rust disease management that will in the future lessen the impact of rust diseases on agriculture and natural ecosystems in Australia.Read moreRead less
Protecting tomato crops from Fusarium wilt through the efficient application of new genetic resources. The tomato industry is a major horticultural industry in Australia, and Queensland is the major producer of tomatoes for the fresh food market. In Queensland, the tomato industry has expanded in the face of the threat that Fusarium wilt could re-emerge as a major disease problem. This research will ensure that measures can be taken quickly and efficiently to protect existing genetic resources u ....Protecting tomato crops from Fusarium wilt through the efficient application of new genetic resources. The tomato industry is a major horticultural industry in Australia, and Queensland is the major producer of tomatoes for the fresh food market. In Queensland, the tomato industry has expanded in the face of the threat that Fusarium wilt could re-emerge as a major disease problem. This research will ensure that measures can be taken quickly and efficiently to protect existing genetic resources used to control Fusarium wilt. It will also improve our knowledge about the mechanisms plants use to defend themselves against Fusarium wilt diseases.Read moreRead less
New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-r ....New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-resilient root systems. Importantly, we have discovered specific molecules that either promote or inhibit blood vessel formation. A better understanding of how these molecules work could lead to novel treatments for cancer or cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less