Why are many fungicide lead compounds active against pathogens in axenic culture but inactive when applied to infected plants? It is much cheaper and easier to screen compounds for fungicidal activity in vivo (that is against the fungus grown in axenic culture) than to test in planta. However, it is commonly observed that compounds active in in vivo screens do not subsequently prove to be active in planta. The aim of this project is to investigate the physiological, biochemical and genetics basi ....Why are many fungicide lead compounds active against pathogens in axenic culture but inactive when applied to infected plants? It is much cheaper and easier to screen compounds for fungicidal activity in vivo (that is against the fungus grown in axenic culture) than to test in planta. However, it is commonly observed that compounds active in in vivo screens do not subsequently prove to be active in planta. The aim of this project is to investigate the physiological, biochemical and genetics basis of this discrepancy and to attempt to provide tools that circumvent the problem. It is expected the project will generate novel information on the environment in the plant experienced by the fungus.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
A novel method of broad-acre weed seedbank management using a naturally occuring germination stimulant. The discovery of a novel butenolide that promotes seed germination has potential to provide significant economic benefits for Australia's agricultural sector, providing a vehicle to move towards minimum-weed agricultural systems achieved through broad-acre stimulation of the weed seedbank. Our aim is for butenolide to promote uniform release of weed seed dormancy, increased germination, and gr ....A novel method of broad-acre weed seedbank management using a naturally occuring germination stimulant. The discovery of a novel butenolide that promotes seed germination has potential to provide significant economic benefits for Australia's agricultural sector, providing a vehicle to move towards minimum-weed agricultural systems achieved through broad-acre stimulation of the weed seedbank. Our aim is for butenolide to promote uniform release of weed seed dormancy, increased germination, and greater synchrony in early stage seedling growth and thus more effective knock-down following herbicide applications.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and manipulation of seed dormancy maintenance in annual ryegrass and other weed species. A better understanding of seed dormancy in annual ryegrass will lead to a greater variety of management options for removal of this weed from cropping zones, focusing on diminishing the weed seed bank. Additionally, the knowledge gained from the study of ryegrass could be applied to native species in terms of optimising germination of difficult species and conservation of seeds of rare species.
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
Combinatorial controlled gene expression delivering crops resistant to nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause US$130 billion crop losses worldwide pa, and at least AUS$ 450 pa in Australia. Current control methods involve fumigation, chemicals (mainly carbamates and organophosphates), natural plant resistance and biological control. The fumigants (eg methyl bromide) are being phased out because they damage the ozone layer, most of the non-fumigants are being banned because of environmental damag ....Combinatorial controlled gene expression delivering crops resistant to nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause US$130 billion crop losses worldwide pa, and at least AUS$ 450 pa in Australia. Current control methods involve fumigation, chemicals (mainly carbamates and organophosphates), natural plant resistance and biological control. The fumigants (eg methyl bromide) are being phased out because they damage the ozone layer, most of the non-fumigants are being banned because of environmental damage and persistence in groundwater, and biological control has had limited success. These problems are addressed in this project with development of synthetic plant resistance to nematodes, which will benefit horticultural and broadacre farming by reducing pathogen losses and improving quality.Read moreRead less
Benign strategies to engineer nematode resistance in plant crops. Applications to other plant pests. Control of plant pests relies on the heavy use of chemical insecticides that cause an extraordinary impact on the environment. Some insect pests have been controlled by the production of toxins (like BT) by the plant. We will combine newly discovered RNA interference and genomics methods to develop innovative solutions to nematode resistance and insect control. Our methods can be tailored to any ....Benign strategies to engineer nematode resistance in plant crops. Applications to other plant pests. Control of plant pests relies on the heavy use of chemical insecticides that cause an extraordinary impact on the environment. Some insect pests have been controlled by the production of toxins (like BT) by the plant. We will combine newly discovered RNA interference and genomics methods to develop innovative solutions to nematode resistance and insect control. Our methods can be tailored to any pest with wide or narrow spectrum of action and does not require the production of toxins by the plant. The novelty of our approach will generate a large amount of intellectual property.Read moreRead less
Role of organic matter and soil biota in optimising crop nutrition in sustainable farming systems. Australian grain producers face increasing competition on the world market from countries with cheap production costs (China, Argentina, Brazil). This project will develop biological farming systems based on improving soil health and enhancing soil microflora and nutrient cycling. Western Australia and other states are currently defining certification guidelines for sustainable farming systems (inc ....Role of organic matter and soil biota in optimising crop nutrition in sustainable farming systems. Australian grain producers face increasing competition on the world market from countries with cheap production costs (China, Argentina, Brazil). This project will develop biological farming systems based on improving soil health and enhancing soil microflora and nutrient cycling. Western Australia and other states are currently defining certification guidelines for sustainable farming systems (including biological ones). Selling grain produced in certified biological farming system will attract market premium, therefore enhancing the position of Australian farmers. This project will produce fertiliser recommendation systems incorporating organic fertilisers, thus decreasing costs of production and maintaining clean and healthy environment.Read moreRead less
Accelerated Domestication of Australian Grass Species Using Molecular Tools. The development of new food crops from the Australian flora will provide opportunities for new sustainable agricultural and food industries in Australia. The project targets the accelerated domestication of native species with lower tillage and fertiliser requirements, better water use efficiencies and increased salt, shade, frost and/or drought tolerances than the current introduced cereal and fodder crops. This will ....Accelerated Domestication of Australian Grass Species Using Molecular Tools. The development of new food crops from the Australian flora will provide opportunities for new sustainable agricultural and food industries in Australia. The project targets the accelerated domestication of native species with lower tillage and fertiliser requirements, better water use efficiencies and increased salt, shade, frost and/or drought tolerances than the current introduced cereal and fodder crops. This will directly benefit regional Australia. The technologies developed in the project will have wide application to accelerated domestication of other Australian plants (for agriculture and food production in Australia and internationally) and to plants found in other parts of the world.Read moreRead less
Coal-ash as a resource for sustainable soil-management in plant production systems. Acidification and salinisation are major causes of land degradation in Australia, costing $1-2 billion to combat. Farmers used 1.9M t of lime and 1.0M t of gypsum to manage their soils in 2000. Power stations annually produce 12M t of coal-ash that have functional characteristics of lime and gypsum and can potentially ameliorate degraded land. Presently only 43% of the ash is used and almost entirely for constr ....Coal-ash as a resource for sustainable soil-management in plant production systems. Acidification and salinisation are major causes of land degradation in Australia, costing $1-2 billion to combat. Farmers used 1.9M t of lime and 1.0M t of gypsum to manage their soils in 2000. Power stations annually produce 12M t of coal-ash that have functional characteristics of lime and gypsum and can potentially ameliorate degraded land. Presently only 43% of the ash is used and almost entirely for construction with the rest going into landfills. This project will determine the sustainable use of coal-ash to improve structure and nutritive properties of the soil and to raise crop yield across several sites in Australia.Read moreRead less