Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, ear ....Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying energy organelles could generate valuable intellectual property to be applied within Australia's large plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich intellectual environment for the training of research students and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
Plant Mitochondrial Signalling and Regulation. Plant energy production is essential for successful growth and development and is essential for processes such as seedling establishment and germination. This research project intends to expand our understanding of energy regulation within the plant using advanced technologies. Such studies can provide direct benefits to the Australian agriculture community through novel targets for genetic improvements. The capacity to create such advantages is eco ....Plant Mitochondrial Signalling and Regulation. Plant energy production is essential for successful growth and development and is essential for processes such as seedling establishment and germination. This research project intends to expand our understanding of energy regulation within the plant using advanced technologies. Such studies can provide direct benefits to the Australian agriculture community through novel targets for genetic improvements. The capacity to create such advantages is economically vital for the industry and the development of such expertise within Australia will ensure we are well placed to exploit future advances in agricultural improvements and provide the capacity to further generate novel biotechnological applications.Read moreRead less
Genome Approaches to Investigate Metabolic Coordination in Plant Cells. Metabolism of C and N in legume nodules requires interaction between the symbiotic bacteria and plant organelles, particularly metabolism in plastids and mitochondria. Fixed N is assimilated through the de novo synthesis of purines in both plastids and mitochondria. However, each of the nine pathway enzymes is encoded by a single gene, indicating each protein is targeted to both organelles. Purine metabolism will provide ....Genome Approaches to Investigate Metabolic Coordination in Plant Cells. Metabolism of C and N in legume nodules requires interaction between the symbiotic bacteria and plant organelles, particularly metabolism in plastids and mitochondria. Fixed N is assimilated through the de novo synthesis of purines in both plastids and mitochondria. However, each of the nine pathway enzymes is encoded by a single gene, indicating each protein is targeted to both organelles. Purine metabolism will provide a model to assess the more general occurrence of dual-targeted proteins in plants. The aim is to identify and eventually exploit the signalling mechanism(s) that mediate communication between plastids and mitochondria.Read moreRead less
Role of intracellular calcium homeostasis and aluminium transport across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Aluminium is the most important yield-limiting factor in acid soils throughout the world. The problem of aluminium toxicity is aggravated by continuous acidification of arable land. Mechanisms of aluminium toxicity in plant cells are poorly understood. The present project seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of the interaction between intracellular calcium homeostasis, ....Role of intracellular calcium homeostasis and aluminium transport across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Aluminium is the most important yield-limiting factor in acid soils throughout the world. The problem of aluminium toxicity is aggravated by continuous acidification of arable land. Mechanisms of aluminium toxicity in plant cells are poorly understood. The present project seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of the interaction between intracellular calcium homeostasis, cytosolic pH and aluminium uptake across the plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Knowledge of primary triggers of aluminium toxicity will pay off in a breeding programme aimed at selecting crop genotypes with increased resistance to aluminium toxicity.Read moreRead less
Discovery of the molecular mode of action of karrikins in plants. Karrikins are a newly-discovered family of naturally-occurring plant growth regulators that stimulate seed germination and seedling vigour. They were discovered in smoke and while they are centrally important in fire ecology they have far wider significance since species from non-fire-prone regions also respond to karrikins. Our research will discover how karrikins work at the molecular level in plant cells. Our discoveries will b ....Discovery of the molecular mode of action of karrikins in plants. Karrikins are a newly-discovered family of naturally-occurring plant growth regulators that stimulate seed germination and seedling vigour. They were discovered in smoke and while they are centrally important in fire ecology they have far wider significance since species from non-fire-prone regions also respond to karrikins. Our research will discover how karrikins work at the molecular level in plant cells. Our discoveries will be applied to improve growth of crop plants, to stimulate germination of weeds so that they can be eradicated, and in restoration ecology to revegetate degraded land such as minesites. Australia's world-leading position in this new important research area will be enhanced.Read moreRead less
Protein Complexes and Supercomplexes of Plant Organelles. Ample parts of plant primary metabolism occur in subcellular structures called mitochondria, plastids and peroxisomes. They are vital for plant growth and development and are central to the early success of germinating and growing seedlings. This project intends to analyze the protein complexes and supercomplexes within these organelles using state of the art instrumentation and technologies. Findings from this research have the potential ....Protein Complexes and Supercomplexes of Plant Organelles. Ample parts of plant primary metabolism occur in subcellular structures called mitochondria, plastids and peroxisomes. They are vital for plant growth and development and are central to the early success of germinating and growing seedlings. This project intends to analyze the protein complexes and supercomplexes within these organelles using state of the art instrumentation and technologies. Findings from this research have the potential to directly flow into the plant biotechnology industry and could assist the future development of Australian agriculture through genetic improvements. The expertise developed by this work will ensure that Australia is well placed to meet future needs and to generally improve agricultural technology. Read moreRead less
Molecular analysis of the symbiotic interface of nitrogen-fixing legumes. Some legumes form a symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia) that convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia which is then supplied to the plant. This enables legumes to grow without application of nitrogen-based fertilizer, avoiding environmental problems such as run-off and land degradation, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture practise. We will investigate the interactions between plant and rhizobia, focusing on ....Molecular analysis of the symbiotic interface of nitrogen-fixing legumes. Some legumes form a symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia) that convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia which is then supplied to the plant. This enables legumes to grow without application of nitrogen-based fertilizer, avoiding environmental problems such as run-off and land degradation, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture practise. We will investigate the interactions between plant and rhizobia, focusing on identifying genes and proteins which govern nutrient exchange between the partners and development of the special structures in the roots that house the bacteria. Subsequent manipulation of these genes and proteins may allow us to identify control points and enhance nitrogen fixation.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and evaluation of labelled germination stimulants for determining the role of butenolide in promoting seed germination. The discovery of the germination promotive agent in smoke (a butenolide) represents a major and internationally significant scientific discovery for Australia and provides exciting opportunities for benefits in agriculture, natural lands management and restoration sciences. The activity demonstrated with a broad range of species shows that the butenolide has general a ....Synthesis and evaluation of labelled germination stimulants for determining the role of butenolide in promoting seed germination. The discovery of the germination promotive agent in smoke (a butenolide) represents a major and internationally significant scientific discovery for Australia and provides exciting opportunities for benefits in agriculture, natural lands management and restoration sciences. The activity demonstrated with a broad range of species shows that the butenolide has general applicability worldwide. This study now provides a unique opportunity for Australian research to establish a world-leading position in understanding the butenolide mode of action within plant seeds which will result in a significant advance in our understanding of the processes that regulate seed dormancy in many plant species. Read moreRead less
Does plant phosphorus economy determine ecological status in biodiverse Australian communities? The phosphorus (P)-impoverished nature of the soils of south-western Australia has allowed the evolution of many plant species that are amazingly efficient at acquiring and utilising P. Among the most P efficient are species of the Proteaceae, which produce cluster roots. We will explore why less efficient species can co-occur with the very efficient Proteaceae. A deep and thorough understanding of th ....Does plant phosphorus economy determine ecological status in biodiverse Australian communities? The phosphorus (P)-impoverished nature of the soils of south-western Australia has allowed the evolution of many plant species that are amazingly efficient at acquiring and utilising P. Among the most P efficient are species of the Proteaceae, which produce cluster roots. We will explore why less efficient species can co-occur with the very efficient Proteaceae. A deep and thorough understanding of the mechanism determining P efficiency of these species will contribute significantly to our basic understanding of P nutrition in plants and to our understanding of the P-impoverished ecosystems of the southwest. It will also assist in developing crops that are more efficient at acquiring and/or utilising P.Read moreRead less
Using modelling to optimise the structure and function of crop root systems for dryland agriculture. The crop root systems are poorly suited to harsh conditions in Australian agriculture, especially as climate is getting drier. Poor water-use efficiency lowers crop yields below the potential yield; moreover, unutilised water and nutrients contribute to environmental problems, eg salinity and eutrophication. This project will use our simulation model to develop computer-aided design of 3-D root s ....Using modelling to optimise the structure and function of crop root systems for dryland agriculture. The crop root systems are poorly suited to harsh conditions in Australian agriculture, especially as climate is getting drier. Poor water-use efficiency lowers crop yields below the potential yield; moreover, unutilised water and nutrients contribute to environmental problems, eg salinity and eutrophication. This project will use our simulation model to develop computer-aided design of 3-D root structure and function (water and nutrient uptake) tailored to particular environments. Modelling will also link suitable root traits to genetic markers in well-characterised lupin germplasm. The blueprint developed here will be adaptable to other crops. The project will enhance breeding for increased water- and nutrient-use efficiency.Read moreRead less