ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6422-3754
Current Organisation
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology | Mycology | Sociology and social studies of science and technology | Ecological applications | Soil Biology | Microbiology | Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests diseases and weeds)
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments | Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
Related Links
Publications
Improved Phytophthora resistance in commercial chickpea (Cicer arietinum ) varieties negatively impacts symbiotic gene signalling and symbiotic potential in some var
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.12757
Abstract: Breeding disease-resistant varieties is one of the most effective and economical means to combat soilborne diseases in pulse crops. Commonalities between pathogenic and mutualistic microbe colonization strategies, however, raises the concern that reduced susceptibility to pathogens may simultaneously reduce colonization by beneficial microbes. We investigate here the degree of overlap in the transcriptional response of the Phytophthora medicaginis susceptible chickpea variety 'Sonali' to the early colonization stages of either Phytophthora, rhizobial bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. From a total of 6476 genes differentially expressed in Sonali roots during colonization by any of the microbes tested, 10.2% were regulated in a similar manner regardless of whether it was the pathogenic oomycete or a mutualistic microbe colonizing the roots. Of these genes, 49.7% were oppositely regulated under the same conditions in the moderately Phytophthora resistant chickpea variety 'PBA HatTrick'. Chickpea varieties with improved resistance to Phytophthora also displayed lower colonization by rhizobial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi leading to an increased reliance on N and P from soil. Together, our results suggest that marker-based breeding in crops such as chickpea should be further investigated such that plant disease resistance can be tailored to a specific pathogen without affecting mutualistic plant:microbe interactions.
Role of plant-fungal nutrient trading and host control in determining the competitive success of ectomycorrhizal fungi
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-07-2017
Intra‐species genetic variability drives carbon metabolism and symbiotic host interactions in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-11-2021
Digging Deeper: In Search of the Mechanisms of Carbon and Nitrogen Exchange in Ectomycorrhizal Symbioses
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 14-01-2020
Root morphogenic pathways in Eucalyptus grandis are modified by the activity of protein arginine methyltransferases
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-03-2017
Chemical sensor based on a long-period fibre grating modified by a functionalized polydimethylsiloxane coating
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1039/B806129G
Abstract: A chemical sensor based on a coated long-period grating has been prepared and characterized. Designer coatings based on polydimethylsiloxane were prepared by the incorporation of diphenylsiloxane and titanium cross-linker in order to provide enhanced sensitivity for a variety of key environmental pollutants and optimal refractive index of the coating. Upon microextraction of the analyte into the polymer matrix, an increase in the refractive index of the coating resulted in a change in the attenuation spectrum of the long-period grating. The grating was interrogated using ring-down detection as a means to lify the optical loss and to gain stability against misalignment and power fluctuations. Chemical differentiation of cyclohexane and xylene was achieved and a detection limit of 300 ppm of xylene vapour was realized.
Using Detached Industrial Hemp Leaf Inoculation Assays to Screen for Varietal Susceptibility and Product Efficacy on Botrytis cinerea
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 15-09-2023
Nitrogen fertilization differentially affects the symbiotic capacity of two co-occurring ectomycorrhizal species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2022
Abstract: Forest trees rely on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi to obtain growth‐limiting nutrients. While addition of nitrogen (N) has the potential to disrupt these critical relationships, there is conflicting evidence as to the mechanism by which ECM:host mutualism may be affected. We evaluated how N fertilization altered host interactions and gene transcription between Eucalyptus grandis and Pisolithus microcarpus or Pisolithus albus , two closely related ECM species that typically co‐occur within the same ecosystem. Our investigation demonstrated species‐specific responses to elevated N: P. microcarpus maintained its ability to transport microbially sourced N to its host but had a reduced ability to penetrate into root tissues, while P. albus maintained its colonization ability but reduced delivery of N to its host. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that regulation of different suites of N‐transporters may be responsible for these species‐specific differences. In addition to N‐dependent responses, we were also able to define a conserved ‘core’ transcriptomic response of Eucalyptus grandis to mycorrhization that was independent of abiotic conditions. Our results demonstrate that even between closely related ECM species, responses to N fertilization can vary considerably, suggesting that a better understanding of the breadth and mechanisms of their responses is needed to support forest ecosystems into the future.
Comparative metabolomics implicates threitol as a fungal signal supporting colonization of Armillaria luteobubalina on eucalypt roots
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-12-2020
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.13672
Abstract: Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of trees and crops around the world. Despite being a widespread disease, little is known about the plant molecular responses towards the pathogenic fungi at the early phase of their interaction. With recent research highlighting the vital roles of metabolites in plant root-microbe interactions, we sought to explore the presymbiotic metabolite responses of Eucalyptus grandis seedlings towards Armillaria luteobuablina, a necrotrophic pathogen native to Australia. Using a metabolite profiling approach, we have identified threitol as one of the key metabolite responses in E. grandis root tips specific to A. luteobubalina that were not induced by three other species of soil-borne microbes of different lifestyle strategies (a mutualist, a commensalist, and a hemi-biotrophic pathogen). Using isotope labelling, threitol detected in the Armillaria-treated root tips was found to be largely derived from the fungal pathogen. Exogenous application of d-threitol promoted microbial colonization of E. grandis and triggered hormonal responses in root cells. Together, our results support a role of threitol as an important metabolite signal during eucalypt-Armillaria interaction prior to infection thus advancing our mechanistic understanding on the earliest stage of Armillaria disease development. Comparative metabolomics of eucalypt roots interacting with a range of fungal lifestyles identified threitol enrichment as a specific characteristic of Armillaria pathogenesis. Our findings suggest that threitol acts as one of the earliest fungal signals promoting Armillaria colonization of roots.
Order of microbial succession affects rhizobia-mediated biocontrol efforts against Phytophthora root rot
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Inorganic nitrogen availability alters Eucalyptus grandis receptivity to the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus but not symbiotic nitrogen transfer
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-12-2020
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.16322
Abstract: Forest trees are able to thrive in nutrient-poor soils in part because they obtain growth-limiting nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), through mutualistic symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Addition of inorganic N into these soils is known to disrupt this mutualism and reduce the ersity of ECM fungi. Despite its ecological impact, the mechanisms governing the observed effects of elevated inorganic N on mycorrhizal communities remain unknown. We address this by using a compartmentalized in vitro system to independently alter nutrients to each symbiont. Using stable isotopes, we traced the nutrient flux under different nutrient regimes between Eucalyptus grandis and its ectomycorrhizal symbiont, Pisolithus albus. We demonstrate that giving E. grandis independent access to N causes a significant reduction in root colonization by P. albus. Transcriptional analysis suggests that the observed reduction in colonization may be caused, in part, by altered transcription of microbe perception genes and defence genes. We show that delivery of N to host leaves is not increased by host nutrient deficiency but by fungal nutrient availability instead. Overall, this advances our understanding of the effects of N fertilization on ECM fungi and the factors governing nutrient transfer in the E. grandis-P. microcarpus interaction.
Abscisic acid supports colonization of Eucalyptus grandis roots by the mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-11-2022
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.17825
Abstract: The pathways regulated in ectomycorrhizal (EcM) plant hosts during the establishment of symbiosis are not as well understood when compared to the functional stages of this mutualistic interaction. Our study used the EcM host Eucalyptus grandis to elucidate symbiosis‐regulated pathways across the three phases of this interaction. Using a combination of RNA sequencing and metabolomics we studied both stage‐specific and core responses of E. grandis during colonization by Pisolithus microcarpus . Using exogenous manipulation of the abscisic acid (ABA), we studied the role of this pathway during symbiosis establishment. Despite the mutualistic nature of this symbiosis, a large number of disease signalling TIR‐NBS‐LRR genes were induced. The transcriptional regulation in E. grandis was found to be dynamic across colonization with a small core of genes consistently regulated at all stages. Genes associated to the carotenoid/ABA pathway were found within this core and ABA concentrations increased during fungal integration into the root. Supplementation of ABA led to improved accommodation of P. microcarpus into E. grandis roots. The carotenoid pathway is a core response of an EcM host to its symbiont and highlights the need to understand the role of the stress hormone ABA in controlling host–EcM fungal interactions.
Mycorrhizal effector PaMiSSP10b alters polyamine biosynthesis in Eucalyptus root cells and promotes root colonization
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-09-2020
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.16759
Abstract: Pathogenic microbes are known to manipulate the defences of their hosts through the production of secreted effector proteins. More recently, mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi have also been described as using these secreted effectors to promote host colonization. Here we characterize a mycorrhiza‐induced small secreted effector protein of 10 kDa produced by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus , PaMiSSP10b. We demonstrate that PaMiSSP10b is secreted from fungal hyphae, enters the cells of its host, Eucalyptus grandis, and interacts with an S‐adenosyl methionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) in the polyamine pathway. Plant polyamines are regulatory molecules integral to the plant immune system during microbial challenge. Using biochemical and transgenic approaches we show that expression of PaMiSSP10b influences levels of polyamines in the plant roots as it enhances the enzymatic activity of AdoMetDC and increases the biosynthesis of higher polyamines. This ultimately favours the colonization success of P. albus . These results identify a new mechanism by which mutualistic microbes are able to manipulate the host´s enzymatic pathways to favour colonization.
Species-level identity of Pisolithus influences soil phosphorus availability for host plants and is moderated by nitrogen status, but not CO2
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Fresh knowledge for an old relationship: new discoveries in molecular mycorrhizal research
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-11-2018
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.14875
The effect of elevated carbon dioxide on the interaction between Eucalyptus grandis and diverse isolates of Pisolithus sp. is associated with a complex shift in the root transcriptome
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-11-2015
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.13103
Abstract: Using the newly available genome for Eucalyptus grandis , we sought to determine the genome‐wide traits that enable this host to form mutualistic interactions with ectomycorrhizal ( ECM ) Pisolithus sp. and to determine how future predicted concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) will affect this relationship. We analyzed the physiological and transcriptomic responses of E. grandis during colonization by different Pisolithus sp. isolates under conditions of ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (650 ppm) CO 2 to tease out the gene expression profiles associated with colonization status. We demonstrate that E. grandis varies in its susceptibility to colonization by different Pisolithus isolates in a manner that is not predictable by geographic origin or the internal transcribed spacer ( ITS )‐based phylogeny of the fungal partner. Elevated concentrations of CO 2 alter the receptivity of E. grandis to Pisolithus , a change that is correlated to a dramatic shift in the transcriptomic profile of the root. These data provide a starting point for understanding how future environmental change may alter the signaling between plants and their ECM partners and is a step towards determining the mechanism behind previously observed shifts in Eucalypt‐ associated fungal communities exposed to elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 .
Long-period gratings in chemical sensing
Publisher: SPIE
Date: 18-06-2008
DOI: 10.1117/12.806722
Protein Arginine Methyltransferase Expression Affects Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis and the Regulation of Hormone Signaling Pathways
Publisher: Scientific Societies
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0007-R
Abstract: The genomes of all eukaryotic organisms, from small unicellular yeasts to humans, include members of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family. These enzymes affect gene transcription, cellular signaling, and function through the posttranslational methylation of arginine residues. Mis-regulation of PRMTs results in serious developmental defects, disease, or death, illustrating the importance of these enzymes to cellular processes. Plant genomes encode almost the full complement of PRMTs found in other higher organisms, plus an additional PRMT found uniquely in plants, PRMT10. Here, we investigate the role of these highly conserved PRMTs in a process that is unique to perennial plants—the development of symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi. We show that PRMT expression and arginine methylation is altered in the roots of the model tree Eucalyptus grandis by the presence of its ectomycorrhizal fungal symbiont Pisolithus albus. Further, using transgenic modifications, we demonstrate that E. grandis–encoded PRMT1 and PRMT10 have important but opposing effects in promoting this symbiosis. In particular, the plant-specific EgPRMT10 has a potential role in the expression of plant hormone pathways during the colonization process and its overexpression reduces fungal colonization success.
Untangling the effect of roots and mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi on soil metabolite profiles under ambient and elevated carbon dioxide
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP220103325
Start Date: 2022
End Date: 10-2025
Amount: $440,072.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityIndustrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC230100027
Start Date: 2023
End Date: 12-2027
Amount: $5,000,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity