Advanced solar powered hydrogen production systems based on green algal cells. This project aims to enhance the efficiency of solar powered hydrogen production from water and will facilitate the co-production of H2 and oil through microalgal biofuel systems. This frontier science project will therefore deliver a process with high solar conversion efficiency and will deliver multiple product streams increasing profitability.
Deciphering the role of microRNAs during pathogen attack: new concepts for disease resistance in plants. Small non-coding RNAs called ‘microRNAs’ regulate diverse pathways in plants including plant defence against pathogens. This project will investigate the roles of plant microRNAs in response to four economically important viruses and compare these to a bacterial and a fungal pathogen. The aim is to dissect the underlying molecular mechanism of microRNA-based gene regulation during pathogen in ....Deciphering the role of microRNAs during pathogen attack: new concepts for disease resistance in plants. Small non-coding RNAs called ‘microRNAs’ regulate diverse pathways in plants including plant defence against pathogens. This project will investigate the roles of plant microRNAs in response to four economically important viruses and compare these to a bacterial and a fungal pathogen. The aim is to dissect the underlying molecular mechanism of microRNA-based gene regulation during pathogen infection and specifically identify common microRNAs which have evident impact during virus attack. This study is crucial due to its focus on virus diseases that cause severe damage to many crop plants; a global issue with strong implications for food security. This project is expected to provide basic new concepts for disease resistance in plants.Read moreRead less
The tree legume Pongamia pinnata on coal mine spoil: an integrated and sustainable rehabilitation, bioenergy and carbon farming production system. This project aims to assess the growth performance of the tree legume Pongamia pinnata on coal mine overburden. The expected growth of Pongamia on what is regarded as poor quality soil will lead to the development of an integrated production system that will provide benefits through rehabilitation of lands, biofuel feedstock, and carbon farming.
Engineering the defence-vigour balance for increased crop yield. This project aims to investigate a novel hypothesis to increase seed yield and vigour. Translating from a model system it will test whether the deliberate inactivation of a gene in tomato and banana, by RNA interference or genome editing, enhances performance. A dysfunctional gene in the viral defence pathway of the model plant species N. benthamiana boosted its seed yield and vigour. This project will investigate the enhancement, ....Engineering the defence-vigour balance for increased crop yield. This project aims to investigate a novel hypothesis to increase seed yield and vigour. Translating from a model system it will test whether the deliberate inactivation of a gene in tomato and banana, by RNA interference or genome editing, enhances performance. A dysfunctional gene in the viral defence pathway of the model plant species N. benthamiana boosted its seed yield and vigour. This project will investigate the enhancement, determine the consequences to the plant's defences, measure the balance between defence and vigour, and examine the risk of disease to such yield-enhanced crops. This is a radical departure from conventional approaches to crop improvement but if successful would provide an additional solution to the problem of future food security.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL160100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,715,383.00
Summary
Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. This project aims to fully understand how a plant distinguishes self from non-self genes and to develop ways of precisely enhancing, repairing, updating, and/or redirecting genetic traits in harmony with the genome. The world’s food security relies on modern crops that are continually updated with genetic traits for higher yield and protection against changing environmental stresses. A crop plant’s genes determin ....Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. This project aims to fully understand how a plant distinguishes self from non-self genes and to develop ways of precisely enhancing, repairing, updating, and/or redirecting genetic traits in harmony with the genome. The world’s food security relies on modern crops that are continually updated with genetic traits for higher yield and protection against changing environmental stresses. A crop plant’s genes determine its growth, development, survival and agronomic fitness. The ability to precisely edit genes in crop plants is tantalizingly close but significant barriers must be overcome. Anticipated outcomes are safer, higher yielding and more sustainable crops.Read moreRead less