Advanced cryobanking for propagation-recalcitrant and critically endangered plant species. This project aims to advance methods for the conservation of recalcitrant/threatened plant species to achieve best practice ecological restoration in areas of high biodiversity. In particular, the nature of freezing and dehydration damage to cell membranes at various stages of tissue culture and cryopreservation will be investigated to try to minimise deleterious effects. In addition, metabolic changes tha ....Advanced cryobanking for propagation-recalcitrant and critically endangered plant species. This project aims to advance methods for the conservation of recalcitrant/threatened plant species to achieve best practice ecological restoration in areas of high biodiversity. In particular, the nature of freezing and dehydration damage to cell membranes at various stages of tissue culture and cryopreservation will be investigated to try to minimise deleterious effects. In addition, metabolic changes that affect cryogenic survival will be assessed to provide further insight into the role of oxidative stress and the toxicity of cryopreservation processes. Ultimately, improved cryogenic protocols will be developed to maintain the integrity of long-term cryobanks of key species for ecological restoration, such as in post-mined areas.Read moreRead less
Mid-rotation diagnosis and management options for correction of water and nutrient deficiencies in plantation-grown eucalypts. This research will improve productivity of bluegum plantations by improving current diagnostic techniques (foliage and soil analysis) for nutrient disorders and the supply of water. Using a novel phloem sampling and analysis technique, we will develop a nutrient (e.g. N, P) and water diagnosis procedure that is quick, cheap, robust and reliable for field use. A major in ....Mid-rotation diagnosis and management options for correction of water and nutrient deficiencies in plantation-grown eucalypts. This research will improve productivity of bluegum plantations by improving current diagnostic techniques (foliage and soil analysis) for nutrient disorders and the supply of water. Using a novel phloem sampling and analysis technique, we will develop a nutrient (e.g. N, P) and water diagnosis procedure that is quick, cheap, robust and reliable for field use. A major innovation will be distinguishing the effects of shortages of water on growth from those of other growth influences. Overall, this project will provide a highly significant theoretical, conceptual and practical advance in mid-rotation, diagnostics for plantations with considerable commercial promise.Read moreRead less
Wandoo crown decline - an ecophysiological diagnosis. Eucalyptus wandoo forests and woodlands once covered a large area in SW Western Australia. Remnants of these ecosystems are now threatened by the Wandoo Crown Decline syndrome. We hypothesise that the progressive dieback of branches is due to drought stress, causing irreversible damage to water supply and/or predisposing trees to fungal disease. The project aims at identifying the physiological mechanism of Wandoo Crown Decline. This knowledg ....Wandoo crown decline - an ecophysiological diagnosis. Eucalyptus wandoo forests and woodlands once covered a large area in SW Western Australia. Remnants of these ecosystems are now threatened by the Wandoo Crown Decline syndrome. We hypothesise that the progressive dieback of branches is due to drought stress, causing irreversible damage to water supply and/or predisposing trees to fungal disease. The project aims at identifying the physiological mechanism of Wandoo Crown Decline. This knowledge is imperative for the assessment of risks for wandoo populations and for the formulation of management options.Read moreRead less
Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combi ....Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combinations; (ii) reveal a herbicide against which weeds outside of Japan have not evolved resistance to; and (iii) establish how best to make breakdown blockers. A benefit of using existing herbicides is the approaches are close to market, so with partner Nexgen Plants, its outcomes can be commercialised.Read moreRead less
Practical application of gene silencing: is delivery of long double stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) by plant cells efficient in conferring host resistance to parasitic nematodes? Nematode that attack plants cause $120 billion of crop losses worldwide. Chemicals used for their control are being phased out because of environmental concerns, and natural resistance is limited. The aim of this project is to use Australian IP to develop a new form of resistance to nematodes based on knowledge of th ....Practical application of gene silencing: is delivery of long double stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) by plant cells efficient in conferring host resistance to parasitic nematodes? Nematode that attack plants cause $120 billion of crop losses worldwide. Chemicals used for their control are being phased out because of environmental concerns, and natural resistance is limited. The aim of this project is to use Australian IP to develop a new form of resistance to nematodes based on knowledge of the host-pathogen interactions. A successful outcome could contribute an additional 5-20% increase in crop yields (depending on the crop) through inherent resistance of crops to nematode pests. This would benefit rural communities and the national economy, and could also generate international royalties.Read moreRead less
Understanding salt and water dynamics to enhance the quality of turfgrasses irrigated with saline water in a Mediterranean environment: an evaluation of four species. This project will elucidate quantitative relationships between growth and the levels of root-zone salts and water. The results will enable development of best practices for use of salt-tolerant turfgrass species, to (i) improve aesthetics of many rural and coastal towns faced with salinity, and (ii) enable use of saline groundwater ....Understanding salt and water dynamics to enhance the quality of turfgrasses irrigated with saline water in a Mediterranean environment: an evaluation of four species. This project will elucidate quantitative relationships between growth and the levels of root-zone salts and water. The results will enable development of best practices for use of salt-tolerant turfgrass species, to (i) improve aesthetics of many rural and coastal towns faced with salinity, and (ii) enable use of saline groundwater, and thus conserve precious potable water, reducing costs of water for irrigation. The project is also of relevance to saline agricultural areas, as the species investigated could also have applications in saltland pastures. The outcomes will contribute to National priorities dealing with salinity management and protection of water resources. Read moreRead less
Susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi and sensitivity to phosphorus in native Australian plants: why are they linked? Phytophthora cinnamomi is the cause of "Phytophthora dieback", recognised by the Federal Government as a major threat to Australia's biodiversity. This project will enhance our understanding of interactions between species belonging to two iconic Australian plant families (Proteaceae and Myrtaceae) and this serious threat. This understanding will underpin the development of ....Susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi and sensitivity to phosphorus in native Australian plants: why are they linked? Phytophthora cinnamomi is the cause of "Phytophthora dieback", recognised by the Federal Government as a major threat to Australia's biodiversity. This project will enhance our understanding of interactions between species belonging to two iconic Australian plant families (Proteaceae and Myrtaceae) and this serious threat. This understanding will underpin the development of new chemicals to be used in combating the pathogen. In addition, it will provide molecular markers for phosphorus insensitivity and Phytophthora resistance that will be vital for Australia's horticultural industry as well as for the successful rehabilitation of minesites in areas suffering from "Phytophthora dieback". Read moreRead less
Field based molecular diagnostics for identification of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematodes are economically important pests of many agricultural and commercially grown plants. We have shown 'proof-of-concept' that plant parasitic nematodes can be identified by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. In this project advanced techniques of proteomics and associated bioinformatics will be used to identify, isolate and characterise proteins that are specific to economically important ....Field based molecular diagnostics for identification of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematodes are economically important pests of many agricultural and commercially grown plants. We have shown 'proof-of-concept' that plant parasitic nematodes can be identified by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. In this project advanced techniques of proteomics and associated bioinformatics will be used to identify, isolate and characterise proteins that are specific to economically important nematode species and races, and to identify diagnostic proteins or epitopes. The diagnostic proteins will be used to generate specific monoclonal antibodies that will be incorporated into immunochemical 'Lateral Flow' devices. These will provide on-site tests to identify nematodes for growers and quarantine services. Read moreRead less
Race status, sources of resistance and mechanisms of resistance to Peronospora parasitica, a major threat to oilseed Brassica production in Australia. Through successful identification of mechanisms and molecular characterisation of resistance to Peronospora parasitica races and the identification of sources of host resistance against these races, breeders, for the first time, will be able to develop cultivars with resistance against the full spectrum of P. parasitica races occurring across sout ....Race status, sources of resistance and mechanisms of resistance to Peronospora parasitica, a major threat to oilseed Brassica production in Australia. Through successful identification of mechanisms and molecular characterisation of resistance to Peronospora parasitica races and the identification of sources of host resistance against these races, breeders, for the first time, will be able to develop cultivars with resistance against the full spectrum of P. parasitica races occurring across southern Australia. Benefits include prevention of severe losses in canola from downy mildew, and more viable and sustainable production with less reliance upon fungicides. This research addresses the National Research Priority 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia' and the Priority Goal of 'Transforming existing industries', and will particularly benefit southern Australian rural communities.Read moreRead less
DNA Method for Detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Soil and Plant Material. The need to impose strict quarantine procedures to prevent the spread of Jarrah Dieback disease hampers the activities of the mining, tourism, wildflower, nursery, and bee keeping industries. These procedures are time consuming and require a high degree of technical expertise. They result in false negatives facilitating the spread of the disease in asymptomatic material. This project will develop a DNA test for detec ....DNA Method for Detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Soil and Plant Material. The need to impose strict quarantine procedures to prevent the spread of Jarrah Dieback disease hampers the activities of the mining, tourism, wildflower, nursery, and bee keeping industries. These procedures are time consuming and require a high degree of technical expertise. They result in false negatives facilitating the spread of the disease in asymptomatic material. This project will develop a DNA test for detection of the pathogen in soil and plant material to make detection easier, quicker, and specific. The outcomes will be a test for detection of the dieback pathogen and technology to detect pathogens in soil samples.Read moreRead less