Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100443
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,971.00
Summary
Pyrethrum in half the time: genes and systems to annually crop a perennial. The capacity of the Australian pyrethrum industry, the global leader in the supply of the natural insecticide, is threatened by the profitability of the current 18-month crop cycle. The project aims to transform the crop to an annual production cycle by discovering genes that underpin flower timing and yield. The project will generate new knowledge on the genetic and physiological drivers of flowering and exploit these f ....Pyrethrum in half the time: genes and systems to annually crop a perennial. The capacity of the Australian pyrethrum industry, the global leader in the supply of the natural insecticide, is threatened by the profitability of the current 18-month crop cycle. The project aims to transform the crop to an annual production cycle by discovering genes that underpin flower timing and yield. The project will generate new knowledge on the genetic and physiological drivers of flowering and exploit these for the development of viable 10-month crops. Outcomes of the project include new protocols and germplasm for breeding and managing short cycle crops for optimum yield. This will provide significant benefits including an economically attractive crop option for growers and a more sustainable industry. Read moreRead less
Control of sucrose source/sink status by the plant immune system. This project aims to investigate the roles of plant malectin receptor kinases in pathogen recognition and response. The project will utilise molecular and cell biological tools to detect complex formation and changes in sugar import into cells. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of how pathogens manipulate plant cells to their benefit, and greater knowledge of which host molecules participate in this ....Control of sucrose source/sink status by the plant immune system. This project aims to investigate the roles of plant malectin receptor kinases in pathogen recognition and response. The project will utilise molecular and cell biological tools to detect complex formation and changes in sugar import into cells. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of how pathogens manipulate plant cells to their benefit, and greater knowledge of which host molecules participate in this process. This should provide significant benefits such as a new theoretical basis to engineer crop plants for resistance against devastating diseases.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100139
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,973,547.00
Summary
Processes of plant growth that impact agriculture and horticulture. The project aims to discover the genes and processes that control plant shoot architecture, which is a major driver of yield in field, horticultural and forestry crops. Shoot branching is the result of the complex interplay of genes, environment and crop management. By investigating cellular processes governing growth and development, as well as physiology and molecular genetics, this project will enhance Australian capacity and ....Processes of plant growth that impact agriculture and horticulture. The project aims to discover the genes and processes that control plant shoot architecture, which is a major driver of yield in field, horticultural and forestry crops. Shoot branching is the result of the complex interplay of genes, environment and crop management. By investigating cellular processes governing growth and development, as well as physiology and molecular genetics, this project will enhance Australian capacity and multidisciplinary innovation. An improved understanding of shoot branching and how it may be manipulated will improve our knowledge of plant sciences that could contribute to agricultural expansion and food security in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Improving plant reproductive success under heat stress: A sweet approach. This project aims to determine how genetic manipulation of cell wall invertase (CWIN) activity could regulate pollen germination, elongation and fruit set under heat stress using tomato as a model. Plant reproductive processes are highly susceptible to heat stress, which often leads to pollination failure and fruit and seed abortion, hence irreversible yield loss. Research has established that CWIN-mediated sugar metabolis ....Improving plant reproductive success under heat stress: A sweet approach. This project aims to determine how genetic manipulation of cell wall invertase (CWIN) activity could regulate pollen germination, elongation and fruit set under heat stress using tomato as a model. Plant reproductive processes are highly susceptible to heat stress, which often leads to pollination failure and fruit and seed abortion, hence irreversible yield loss. Research has established that CWIN-mediated sugar metabolism and signaling may play crucial roles in pollen growth and fruit set under heat stress. The intended outcome is the generation of critical knowledge that will advance understanding on reproductive development under heat stress, thereby providing significant benefits, such as novel ideas and solutions for improving crop yield.Read moreRead less
Channels for improved crop salt and water stress tolerance. Water and salt are critical factors for the Australian agricultural industry. Crops use proteins called aquaporins to move water across cell membranes, and a newly discovered subset of these proteins can also transport salts. This project aims to reveal the molecular pathways that regulate water and salt transport via aquaporins using multidisciplinary techniques in genetics, molecular biology and electrophysiology. These results will p ....Channels for improved crop salt and water stress tolerance. Water and salt are critical factors for the Australian agricultural industry. Crops use proteins called aquaporins to move water across cell membranes, and a newly discovered subset of these proteins can also transport salts. This project aims to reveal the molecular pathways that regulate water and salt transport via aquaporins using multidisciplinary techniques in genetics, molecular biology and electrophysiology. These results will provide novel insights into how plants coordinate and adapt to changing water and salt conditions, answering key questions in plant physiology. Benefits include an expanded, innovative range of targets for plant breeding programs to improve plant productivity in our changing climate.Read moreRead less
Deciphering how plants control water and salt co-transport. This project aims to increase our understanding of how plant cells regulate solute transport. Crop growth depends on water uptake and transport, and the rapid movement of water across plant cell membranes requires transporters such as aquaporins. Preliminary data indicates that a series of signals can switch aquaporins between functioning as highly selective water channels and salt transport channels. The project aims to reveal the mole ....Deciphering how plants control water and salt co-transport. This project aims to increase our understanding of how plant cells regulate solute transport. Crop growth depends on water uptake and transport, and the rapid movement of water across plant cell membranes requires transporters such as aquaporins. Preliminary data indicates that a series of signals can switch aquaporins between functioning as highly selective water channels and salt transport channels. The project aims to reveal the molecular pathways that regulate water and salt co-transport, using genetics, molecular biology, and electrophysiology data to decipher how plants regulate and coordinate aquaporin solute transport during growth and in osmotic adjustment. The project has the potential to lead to improvements in crop-plant solute transport traits, enhanced agricultural productivity, and yield stability in saline and water limited environments.Read moreRead less
Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that ....Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that enhance the nutritional composition of wheat grain and bread making products, resulting in higher-value agricultural commodities and breads. The project should benefit bread retailers and crop growers involved in Australia’s $4.7 billion bread market and reduce the environmental impacts of bread production.Read moreRead less
Pioneering seed solutions for the industrial hemp industry. This project aims to develop the next generation of elite industrial hemp cultivars, grown for their seed with high protein and oil contents, that are drought resistant and make minimal THC, teamed with research into their feminisation to provide a safer and better method of producing premium female seed to supply to growers. Project outcomes will include increased fundamental knowledge of drought tolerance, cannabinoid biosynthesis and ....Pioneering seed solutions for the industrial hemp industry. This project aims to develop the next generation of elite industrial hemp cultivars, grown for their seed with high protein and oil contents, that are drought resistant and make minimal THC, teamed with research into their feminisation to provide a safer and better method of producing premium female seed to supply to growers. Project outcomes will include increased fundamental knowledge of drought tolerance, cannabinoid biosynthesis and the feminisation process, converted to practical ways to manipulate these important agronomic traits. This will derisk the industrial hemp industry, encouraging increased cultivation of a nutritionally and economically valuable crop in Australia and create valuable intellectual property applicable globally.Read moreRead less
Superior Australian psyllium for functional foods. This project aims to establish a breeding program for Plantago ovata in Australia to provide a reliable supply of high quality, superior psyllium as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry, providing benefits to the industrial partner, growers in Australia and consumers. Target traits include better harvest index, reduced seed shattering and identification of lines carrying psyllium with novel properties or whole seeds that can be grou ....Superior Australian psyllium for functional foods. This project aims to establish a breeding program for Plantago ovata in Australia to provide a reliable supply of high quality, superior psyllium as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry, providing benefits to the industrial partner, growers in Australia and consumers. Target traits include better harvest index, reduced seed shattering and identification of lines carrying psyllium with novel properties or whole seeds that can be ground and used as flour that imparts less intense colour changes or effects on loaf structure, and which may be highly suitable for other baked gluten-free products. The fundamental knowledge gained from the genetic and biochemical anlayses of these lines will also broadly benefit seed biology research.Read moreRead less
Improving crops from the ground up: genetic solutions to optimise roots. This project aims to develop future crops with optimised root systems by overcoming genetic constraints that currently restrict their potential. Exploiting advances in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics and genome editing, this project expects to advance understanding of the biology and genetic controls of root development and responses to concurrent stressors, including drought, nutrient deficiency and soil-borne disea ....Improving crops from the ground up: genetic solutions to optimise roots. This project aims to develop future crops with optimised root systems by overcoming genetic constraints that currently restrict their potential. Exploiting advances in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics and genome editing, this project expects to advance understanding of the biology and genetic controls of root development and responses to concurrent stressors, including drought, nutrient deficiency and soil-borne disease. It is anticipated that project outcomes will support the development of crops equipped with novel root traits, enhancing resource-use efficiency and yield stability amid climate variability. This globally relevant research is designed to benefit the sustainability and profitability of the Australian grains industry.Read moreRead less