Improving production of essential oils from Australian trees. Production of essential oils from eucalypts and tea tree is an important rural industry in Australia but we are only a minor producer worldwide. Using new genetic discoveries about how plants make oils, this project will help the industry improve the yield and profitability from both eucalypts and tea tree and contribute new technologies to rural industry.
Australian plague locust population genetics and migratory behaviour. The project will allow improved monitoring and forecasting of locusts in Australia and thereby help prevent locust outbreaks. Benefits will arise directly through greater effectiveness in reducing locust damage to crops, and indirectly to Australian rural industry generally through the economic benefits of reduced losses and locust control costs. Environmental and social benefits will also arise from reduced, better targeted u ....Australian plague locust population genetics and migratory behaviour. The project will allow improved monitoring and forecasting of locusts in Australia and thereby help prevent locust outbreaks. Benefits will arise directly through greater effectiveness in reducing locust damage to crops, and indirectly to Australian rural industry generally through the economic benefits of reduced losses and locust control costs. Environmental and social benefits will also arise from reduced, better targeted use of chemical insecticides. This in turn can produce secondary economic benefits, e.g. through enhanced growth and profitability of the organic beef industry within the main locust-outbreak area. Read moreRead less
Re-evaluating the nature, origins and roles of terpenes in Eucalyptus. Terpenes give eucalypts their characteristic smell and mediate many interactions between trees and the environment. Studies of the genome show that eucalypts have more genes to make terpenes than any other plant. Our knowledge of the chemistry and roles of these terpenes is confined to leaves but almost half of the genes occur in roots, wood and bark and there is little idea what their roles are. This project will conduct the ....Re-evaluating the nature, origins and roles of terpenes in Eucalyptus. Terpenes give eucalypts their characteristic smell and mediate many interactions between trees and the environment. Studies of the genome show that eucalypts have more genes to make terpenes than any other plant. Our knowledge of the chemistry and roles of these terpenes is confined to leaves but almost half of the genes occur in roots, wood and bark and there is little idea what their roles are. This project will conduct the first comprehensive study of terpenes in Eucalyptus to identify where and how they are made in the plant, how the major compounds evolved and how terpenes contribute to defence against insects, atmospheric emissions and the composition of soil.Read moreRead less