Towards sustainable bioproduction systems: harnessing organic nitrogen for plant growth. It is of great concern that over 50% of nitrogen fertiliser applied to crops is lost to the environment, resulting in a large environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emission. Future farming systems have to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use but this threatens crop and biofuel production. Alternatives to man-made nitrogen fertilisers are crop residues and organic materials which are more stable in soils but l ....Towards sustainable bioproduction systems: harnessing organic nitrogen for plant growth. It is of great concern that over 50% of nitrogen fertiliser applied to crops is lost to the environment, resulting in a large environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emission. Future farming systems have to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use but this threatens crop and biofuel production. Alternatives to man-made nitrogen fertilisers are crop residues and organic materials which are more stable in soils but less available to plants. How plants can best access organic nitrogen will be explored, based on our recent discovery that plants can use protein as a nitrogen source for growth. The project will produce essential knowledge for nitrogen-efficient bioproduction.Read moreRead less
Co-evolution of the host pathogen interaction between Leptosphaeria maculans and Brassica species. Brassica canola is Australia's third largest export crop, producing 13% of the world's canola oil. However, blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans leads to annual yield losses of 15%, with 100% loss associated with breakdown of resistance. International investment has provided novel genome resources for Brassica and L. maculans. Applying these resources to understand the co-ev ....Co-evolution of the host pathogen interaction between Leptosphaeria maculans and Brassica species. Brassica canola is Australia's third largest export crop, producing 13% of the world's canola oil. However, blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans leads to annual yield losses of 15%, with 100% loss associated with breakdown of resistance. International investment has provided novel genome resources for Brassica and L. maculans. Applying these resources to understand the co-evolution of this plant-fungal interaction could prevent the current boom-bust cycle of canola production in Australia. This study will also provide a model and knowledge base for applications in other species, leading to enhanced crops with increased plant protection and robust, reliable productivity.Read moreRead less
The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cance ....The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cancer agents in humans. Flavonoids, another pathway regulated in our shoot branching lines, also benefit human health. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will gain skills in research management, design, ethics and experimental methods pertinent to the growing biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Feasting on protein? Strategies of organic nitrogen acquisition by plant roots. Crops require large amounts of nitrogen for growth. Application of nitrogen fertiliser enhances yield, but causes off-site nitrogen pollution, a main threat to ecosystem integrity. Most nitrogen in soil occurs as organic complexes that are broken down by soil organism into small compounds, which are taken up roots or lost from the soil. This project will generate fundamental knowledge of how an Australian species and ....Feasting on protein? Strategies of organic nitrogen acquisition by plant roots. Crops require large amounts of nitrogen for growth. Application of nitrogen fertiliser enhances yield, but causes off-site nitrogen pollution, a main threat to ecosystem integrity. Most nitrogen in soil occurs as organic complexes that are broken down by soil organism into small compounds, which are taken up roots or lost from the soil. This project will generate fundamental knowledge of how an Australian species and a crop species with unusual root specialisations access soil organic nitrogen, thus increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use and reducing nitrogen loss. The research employs cutting-edge techniques for sustainable resource use, improved efficiency of crops and farming systems, and preservation of Australia's biodiversity.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101570
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,000.00
Summary
Inducible hyper-expression as a tool for metabolic engineering. This project aims to develop methods to improve plant natural products yields and diversify the products manufactured from a wide array of plant species. Valuable plant metabolites, including chemotherapeutics and opiates, are usually synthesised in minute amounts and can be so complex they can’t be chemically manufactured, limiting their use and affordability. This project aims to develop an inducible system that confers hyper-elev ....Inducible hyper-expression as a tool for metabolic engineering. This project aims to develop methods to improve plant natural products yields and diversify the products manufactured from a wide array of plant species. Valuable plant metabolites, including chemotherapeutics and opiates, are usually synthesised in minute amounts and can be so complex they can’t be chemically manufactured, limiting their use and affordability. This project aims to develop an inducible system that confers hyper-elevated levels of gene expression and independent control of multiple genes involved in metabolite synthesis in the same host. This technology is expected to enable flexible multi-trait bio-factories to be developed.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop Development . The Centre will create a new generation of leaders in the implementation of advanced gene and field technologies for the benefit of the Australian agriculture industry. We will build the workforce and foundations that will drive translation of breakthroughs in advanced breeding, phenotyping and genetic technologies into higher-yielding crops. This will increase productivity across the sector and create new markets. Our technical trai ....ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop Development . The Centre will create a new generation of leaders in the implementation of advanced gene and field technologies for the benefit of the Australian agriculture industry. We will build the workforce and foundations that will drive translation of breakthroughs in advanced breeding, phenotyping and genetic technologies into higher-yielding crops. This will increase productivity across the sector and create new markets. Our technical training programs for graduates, trainees and industry will interface with best evidence-based practices in the wider socio-economic, regulatory and environmental contexts. Coupled with community and stakeholder engagement, the Centre will redefine and secure Australia’s future in agriculture. Read moreRead less
Genomic strategies for reducing losses during processing and improving the nutritional value of wheat in human diets. Wheat breeding requires efficient tools to allow selection of varieties with both high grain yield and good functional and nutritional value. Whole genome analysis will be used to develop screening methods to deliver wheat varieties with novel processing and nutritional properties for human diets contributing to global food and nutritional security.
Australia's native sorghums: a model for testing plant adaptation theories. This proposal tests an emerging theory that allocation of resources by plants to growth or defence are interrelated, not alternatives as currently assumed. Like many crops, sorghum produces toxic cyanide, especially during droughts but its wild relatives make much less. This project aims to discover why cyanide is so common in domesticated plants and why levels increase with stress. This has important implications for de ....Australia's native sorghums: a model for testing plant adaptation theories. This proposal tests an emerging theory that allocation of resources by plants to growth or defence are interrelated, not alternatives as currently assumed. Like many crops, sorghum produces toxic cyanide, especially during droughts but its wild relatives make much less. This project aims to discover why cyanide is so common in domesticated plants and why levels increase with stress. This has important implications for developing crops that are high yielding and also climate resilient. Expected outcomes include full genome sequences for all of Australia’s unique native sorghums, confirmation of new theories on the interrelationships between defence and growth and identification of new traits vital for developing the crops of the future. Read moreRead less
Novel oxygen sensing tools for monitoring the effects of dredging on Australian seagrass communities. Seagrass meadows sustain marine biodiversity and the fishing industries on Australian coasts. Dredging of ports and shipping channels is contributing to their rapid global decline. The project will use state-of-the-art technologies in bio-optics and genomics to create a toolkit for seagrass managers to make informed decisions to safeguard seagrass meadows.