ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture will discover the adaptive strategies underpinning productivity and resilience in diverse plants and deepen knowledge of the genetic and physiological networks driving key traits. Using novel quantitative and computational approaches, the Centre will link gene networks with traits across biological levels, giving breeders an unparalleled predictive capacity. The Centre wi ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture will discover the adaptive strategies underpinning productivity and resilience in diverse plants and deepen knowledge of the genetic and physiological networks driving key traits. Using novel quantitative and computational approaches, the Centre will link gene networks with traits across biological levels, giving breeders an unparalleled predictive capacity. The Centre will accelerate technologies to transfer successful networks into crops and build legal frameworks to secure this knowledge. With a uniquely multidisciplinary team, the Centre will deliver new strategies to address the problems of food security and climate change, establishing Australia as a global leader in these areas.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel signalling pathway for crop improvement. This project will dissect a newly identified signalling pathway in plants that regulates plant water use and carbon gain. It will deploy multiple techniques, including novel biosensors, to understand the links between the metabolism of plants and their environmental responses. The project will build partnerships with scientists at leading international institutions for enhanced outcomes, including access to specialised equipment and ....Investigating a novel signalling pathway for crop improvement. This project will dissect a newly identified signalling pathway in plants that regulates plant water use and carbon gain. It will deploy multiple techniques, including novel biosensors, to understand the links between the metabolism of plants and their environmental responses. The project will build partnerships with scientists at leading international institutions for enhanced outcomes, including access to specialised equipment and upskilling of our scientists. The generation of barley with the latest gene editing techniques aims to produce a non-GM crop with the potential for enhanced root C sequestration, lower water use and improved yield, three key goals for agricultural sustainability in the face of a drying Australian climate.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100908
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,815.00
Summary
Maximising the beneficial impacts of mycorrhizal fungi on grain nutrition. This project aims to determine the effects of beneficial soil fungi on wheat and rice grain quality for human nutrition using an innovative combination of physiological, molecular and agronomic techniques. The project expects to generate fundamental knowledge in sustainable agriculture, to improve grain quality and value. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying improve ....Maximising the beneficial impacts of mycorrhizal fungi on grain nutrition. This project aims to determine the effects of beneficial soil fungi on wheat and rice grain quality for human nutrition using an innovative combination of physiological, molecular and agronomic techniques. The project expects to generate fundamental knowledge in sustainable agriculture, to improve grain quality and value. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying improved grain quality, and the capacity to use soil fungi to increase grain micronutrient concentrations and bioavailability. This should provide significant environmental and societal benefits, such as promotion of the sustainable use of agricultural soils and more nutritious grain products for human consumption.Read moreRead less
Molecular adaptation of photosynthesis powered by long-wavelength light. Some photosynthetic organisms have a remarkable ability to accumulate long-wavelength absorbing photopigments, such as chlorophyll f, in response to the changed light and nutrient environments. The project aims to demonstrate that the structure and function of undefined chlorophyll f-binding proteins can be changed and controlled in desired light and nutrient conditions. The optimised photosynthesis strengthens their adapta ....Molecular adaptation of photosynthesis powered by long-wavelength light. Some photosynthetic organisms have a remarkable ability to accumulate long-wavelength absorbing photopigments, such as chlorophyll f, in response to the changed light and nutrient environments. The project aims to demonstrate that the structure and function of undefined chlorophyll f-binding proteins can be changed and controlled in desired light and nutrient conditions. The optimised photosynthesis strengthens their adaptation capability and challenges the long wavelength limits of photosynthesis. The research outcome will provide tools and a molecular blueprint for the adaptation of photosynthesis with optimised energy transfer pathway and efficiency for potential future molecular applications. Read moreRead less
Is the extreme phosphate sensitivity found among Australian plants a consequence of their adaptation to a severely phosphate-limited environment? The phosphorus (P)-impoverished soils of south-western Australia have allowed the evolution of many plants that are amazingly efficient at retrieving P from dying tissues. This project will contribute to the understanding of the mechanism determining P efficiency and will contribute significantly to the development of crops that are less reliant on non ....Is the extreme phosphate sensitivity found among Australian plants a consequence of their adaptation to a severely phosphate-limited environment? The phosphorus (P)-impoverished soils of south-western Australia have allowed the evolution of many plants that are amazingly efficient at retrieving P from dying tissues. This project will contribute to the understanding of the mechanism determining P efficiency and will contribute significantly to the development of crops that are less reliant on non-renewable P fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Alternative Oxidase to Optimise Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance. Biomass accumulation in plants is the balance of CO2 fixed into carbohydrates through photosynthesis and carbohydrate burned (respired), ~ 50% of fixed CO2, to fuel growth. Plants possess energy conserving and non-conserving respiratory pathways. The alternative energy non-conserving pathway appears wasteful but is necessary for plant tolerance to adverse growth conditions. Our research has achieved modification of the alternativ ....Alternative Oxidase to Optimise Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance. Biomass accumulation in plants is the balance of CO2 fixed into carbohydrates through photosynthesis and carbohydrate burned (respired), ~ 50% of fixed CO2, to fuel growth. Plants possess energy conserving and non-conserving respiratory pathways. The alternative energy non-conserving pathway appears wasteful but is necessary for plant tolerance to adverse growth conditions. Our research has achieved modification of the alternative respiratory pathway that positively impacts plant growth. We will dissect the mechanism(s) of how the alternative respiratory pathway stimulates growth, from a molecular level to whole plant physiology, answering a long-standing question of the role of the alternative respiratory pathway in plant cell biology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100059
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,790.00
Summary
Advanced high resolution biomolecular analysis facility for Tasmania. This project aims to establish an advanced, multi-purpose mass spectrometry platform for high-throughput and targeted biomolecular analysis, including proteomics and metabolomics. The purpose of the project is to provide a centralised state-of-the-art facility that supports research programs in plant science, agricultural research, food safety, animal and human health research and separation science. Potential benefits from th ....Advanced high resolution biomolecular analysis facility for Tasmania. This project aims to establish an advanced, multi-purpose mass spectrometry platform for high-throughput and targeted biomolecular analysis, including proteomics and metabolomics. The purpose of the project is to provide a centralised state-of-the-art facility that supports research programs in plant science, agricultural research, food safety, animal and human health research and separation science. Potential benefits from the project include increased agricultural productivity and food security, improved knowledge of age and injury-related changes in neurophysiology, helping to prevent the extinction of iconic Tasmanian wildlife and the development of advanced micro-electroseparation technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100510
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Manganese heavy metal toxicity in plants: new perspective on a neglected problem. This project addresses the current absence of Australian research into its agricultural problem of manganese (Mn) heavy metal toxicity. Novel Australian plants exhibiting extreme Mn tolerance, along with recent US findings on plant Mn toxicity will offer new insight benefiting agricultural research and the forecasting of climate change impacts.
Top-down rehydration: role of multiple water sources in mangrove function. This project aims to combine cutting-edge analytical and imaging techniques to assess contributions of atmospheric water sources to shoot-water balances, identify leaf traits associated with top-down rehydration, and determine the relative importance of different sources of water used by mangroves in maintenance of photosynthetic carbon assimilation along natural gradients in salinity and aridity. The capacity of shoots ....Top-down rehydration: role of multiple water sources in mangrove function. This project aims to combine cutting-edge analytical and imaging techniques to assess contributions of atmospheric water sources to shoot-water balances, identify leaf traits associated with top-down rehydration, and determine the relative importance of different sources of water used by mangroves in maintenance of photosynthetic carbon assimilation along natural gradients in salinity and aridity. The capacity of shoots to absorb atmospheric water could profoundly affect the diversity, survival and productivity of mangroves where high soil salinity limits water uptake by roots, particularly during hot, dry conditions.Read moreRead less
Role of top-down-rehydration in drought tolerance of mangroves. This project aims to understand the role of absorption and storage of atmospheric water (vapour, mist, rain, dew) by shoots in survival of mangroves where high soil salinity limits root water uptake, particularly during hot, dry conditions. This research will advance understanding of drought and salinity tolerance. The project outcomes will include identification of environmental conditions that limit drought survival and functional ....Role of top-down-rehydration in drought tolerance of mangroves. This project aims to understand the role of absorption and storage of atmospheric water (vapour, mist, rain, dew) by shoots in survival of mangroves where high soil salinity limits root water uptake, particularly during hot, dry conditions. This research will advance understanding of drought and salinity tolerance. The project outcomes will include identification of environmental conditions that limit drought survival and functional plant traits that enhance drought survival. These outcomes are fundamental to interpreting mechanisms underlying mangrove dieback under drought and will benefit the development of process-based models for better prediction of mangrove responses to climate change.Read moreRead less