Quantitative genetics of Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalypt plantations in Australia have expanded rapidly over the last decade. With increasing market competition from overseas plantations for both pulp and solid wood products, Australia must maintain a competitive edge through efficiencies in production and product quality. Breeding and deployment of genetically superior planting stock is part of the solution. With global climate chance and requirements for re-afforestation in drier zones, there ....Quantitative genetics of Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalypt plantations in Australia have expanded rapidly over the last decade. With increasing market competition from overseas plantations for both pulp and solid wood products, Australia must maintain a competitive edge through efficiencies in production and product quality. Breeding and deployment of genetically superior planting stock is part of the solution. With global climate chance and requirements for re-afforestation in drier zones, there is an increasing requirement to genetically improve drought tolerance. This project will provide genetic information and strategies to back Eucalyptus globulus breeding and deployment programs for traditional as well as drier environments. Read moreRead less
Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and dis ....Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and disease suppression, aimed at preventing extinction. It will strengthen ongoing conservation programs carried out by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and will help publicise the plight of the devil both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the relationship between growth and wood properties in temperate eucalypts. The most important biological traits affecting profit in eucalypt plantations grown for pulpwood are growth, wood density and pulp yield. Shrinkage and collapse are important for timber production. Little information is available on the size and direction of the correlations between these traits, yet they are important in determining selection response in breeding as well as environmental impacts on pulp and ....Unravelling the relationship between growth and wood properties in temperate eucalypts. The most important biological traits affecting profit in eucalypt plantations grown for pulpwood are growth, wood density and pulp yield. Shrinkage and collapse are important for timber production. Little information is available on the size and direction of the correlations between these traits, yet they are important in determining selection response in breeding as well as environmental impacts on pulp and sawlog yield. The collaborating growers and breeders have brought together a unique base of Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens field trials that will allow an integrated quantitative and molecular genetic study of the interrelationships amongst these key profit traits.Read moreRead less
Cellular genomic approach to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This project compares the levels of gene usage in two important immune cell types between patients with multiple sclerosis and people who do not have the disease. It aims to identify the molecular basis for the disease, in order to identify new diagnostic, preventative and treatment options.
Will genetic rescue save the Tasmanian devil? This project aims to measure the long-term genetic impacts of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s ‘Wild Devil Recovery’ initiative. The project will determine whether supplementing small populations with individuals that are genetically diverse reduces inbreeding depression. The project will also monitor the impact of supplementation on the evolutionary trajectory of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The project will train a cohort of conservation scie ....Will genetic rescue save the Tasmanian devil? This project aims to measure the long-term genetic impacts of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s ‘Wild Devil Recovery’ initiative. The project will determine whether supplementing small populations with individuals that are genetically diverse reduces inbreeding depression. The project will also monitor the impact of supplementation on the evolutionary trajectory of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The project will train a cohort of conservation scientists to translate genetic data into management actions. The outputs will directly inform the management actions of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries Parks, Water and the Environment and will help shape other species recovery programs.Read moreRead less
Selection and deployment of browsing resistant Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens. Marsupial browsing is a significant problem for eucalypt plantation establishment in Australia. To date, browsing control has relied on the use of 1080 pesticide, but through political and social pressure this will cease in Tasmanian State Forests by December 2005. To develop new approaches to integrated pest management, we will explore the use of natural plant resistance to marsupial browsers. We will dete ....Selection and deployment of browsing resistant Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens. Marsupial browsing is a significant problem for eucalypt plantation establishment in Australia. To date, browsing control has relied on the use of 1080 pesticide, but through political and social pressure this will cease in Tasmanian State Forests by December 2005. To develop new approaches to integrated pest management, we will explore the use of natural plant resistance to marsupial browsers. We will determine the genetic and chemical basis of seedling resistance in Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens, and investigate the stability of resistance though tree development and across different sites. Resistant germplasm will be identified and tested in operational plantings.Read moreRead less
Assessing the risk of genetic pollution from Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia plantations. We will provide the biological information necessary to assess the risk of genetic pollution of native eucalypt forest from plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia torelliana. Key biological factors that can act as barriers to hybridisation including flowering time, pollen and seed dispersal distances, crossability, hybrid fitness and the potential for backcrossing will be identified and used to de ....Assessing the risk of genetic pollution from Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia plantations. We will provide the biological information necessary to assess the risk of genetic pollution of native eucalypt forest from plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia torelliana. Key biological factors that can act as barriers to hybridisation including flowering time, pollen and seed dispersal distances, crossability, hybrid fitness and the potential for backcrossing will be identified and used to develop strategies to reduce the risk of genetic pollution. The molecular differentiation between populations of the E. globulus complex, including plantations, will be studied to provide a genetic framework for the management of the genepool of this most important hardwood plantation species.Read moreRead less
Breeding for improved Australian hop varieties by induced mutations. Hop (Humulus lupulus) plants are vital to the brewing industry. Their main commercial products are alpha-acids and oils, which contribute to the bitter taste and aroma of beer. Hops possess different alpha-acids, including humulone (desirable) and cohumulone (non-desirable), and different oils, including humulene (desirable). Recently, beta-acids have been identified as useful compounds for emerging markets. Induced mutagen ....Breeding for improved Australian hop varieties by induced mutations. Hop (Humulus lupulus) plants are vital to the brewing industry. Their main commercial products are alpha-acids and oils, which contribute to the bitter taste and aroma of beer. Hops possess different alpha-acids, including humulone (desirable) and cohumulone (non-desirable), and different oils, including humulene (desirable). Recently, beta-acids have been identified as useful compounds for emerging markets. Induced mutagenesis will be used to alter the genetic make-up of hops, to obtain varieties with: (i) higher humulone; (ii) lower cohumulone; (iii) higher humulene; and (iv) higher beta-acids. This research will greatly assist the Australian hop industry by short-cutting traditional breeding performed by crossing.Read moreRead less
Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance t ....Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance this problem by undertaking research to determine how seedling establishment, tree growth, carbon storage and water use are influenced by landscape setting, management history, climate change, species type and local varieties. This research will provide a much needed evidence to devise ecologically sustainable tree-plantings in southern Australia.Read moreRead less
Ecology, impacts and management of wild dogs in urbanising coastal landscapes of the wet tropics, Queensland. All management agencies and local governments in north Queensland identify wild dogs as a significant threat and a complex problem for management, and are in the process of developing wild dog management plans. However, these plans tend to be reactive and short-term, because too little is known to develop effective long-term management strategies. This project will provide a sound basis ....Ecology, impacts and management of wild dogs in urbanising coastal landscapes of the wet tropics, Queensland. All management agencies and local governments in north Queensland identify wild dogs as a significant threat and a complex problem for management, and are in the process of developing wild dog management plans. However, these plans tend to be reactive and short-term, because too little is known to develop effective long-term management strategies. This project will provide a sound basis for the development of such strategies. The results of the study will also inform wild dog management in many other parts of Australia that face similar problems.Read moreRead less