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
Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the env ....Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the environment in intact plants through the generation and analysis of transgenic plants with altered guard cell function. This will aid in the development of strategies for direct manipulation of stomatal function.Read moreRead less
IMPROVING NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN CROP PLANTS: ROLE OF THE AMMONIUM TRANSPORT FAMILY AMT. Improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants will reduce the use of environmentally damaging nitrogen fertilisers that threaten through leaching the sustainability of Australia's agricultural sector and local water ecosystems. Plants contain genes that encode transport proteins required for the uptake of nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) from the soil. We will identify the in planta activity of the A ....IMPROVING NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN CROP PLANTS: ROLE OF THE AMMONIUM TRANSPORT FAMILY AMT. Improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants will reduce the use of environmentally damaging nitrogen fertilisers that threaten through leaching the sustainability of Australia's agricultural sector and local water ecosystems. Plants contain genes that encode transport proteins required for the uptake of nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) from the soil. We will identify the in planta activity of the AMT family of ammonium transporters and associated signalling pathways which control the uptake and assimilation of ammonium in plants. This project will confirm the mechanisms involved in ammonium uptake from the soil and lead to the development of ammonium-nitrogen efficient crop plants.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347746
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$199,000.00
Summary
Circular-dichroism stopped-flow spectrometer for rapid molecular interactions and membrane transport. A stopped-flow spectroscope is requested that can capture the rapid kinetics of changes in conformation of biopolymers, macromolecules and chiral catalysts as they interact with other molecules. This includes measurement of rapid transport of solutes through membrane proteins in lipid membranes. The versatile instrument can also determine circular dichroism spectra of peptides, proteins, tannins ....Circular-dichroism stopped-flow spectrometer for rapid molecular interactions and membrane transport. A stopped-flow spectroscope is requested that can capture the rapid kinetics of changes in conformation of biopolymers, macromolecules and chiral catalysts as they interact with other molecules. This includes measurement of rapid transport of solutes through membrane proteins in lipid membranes. The versatile instrument can also determine circular dichroism spectra of peptides, proteins, tannins, pigment complexes and chiral catalysts that is required within several existing collaborations to understand the tertiary structures, stability and interactions between the complex molecules. The instrument will significantly strengthen research on macromolecules and polymers that have applications in the wine industry, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Comparative Biophysical Studies on Photosystem II of Higher Plants and Cyanobacteria. Photosystem II (PS-II) is one of two light trapping protein assemblies involved in the conversion of light into metabolic energy in all plants and algae. The manganese containing active site of PS-II is responsible for oxygen formation from water. The organisation and functioning of this centre and the detailed mechanism of photochemical energy conversion are not understood. This project will employ a combinati ....Comparative Biophysical Studies on Photosystem II of Higher Plants and Cyanobacteria. Photosystem II (PS-II) is one of two light trapping protein assemblies involved in the conversion of light into metabolic energy in all plants and algae. The manganese containing active site of PS-II is responsible for oxygen formation from water. The organisation and functioning of this centre and the detailed mechanism of photochemical energy conversion are not understood. This project will employ a combination of powerful biophysical techniques to probe the structure and mechanism of PS-II as a knowledge base for eventual genetic manipulation of plants and stategies for artificial photosynthesis.Read moreRead less
The genes and pathways regulated by the AMYB80 network are involved in Arabidopsis pollen development. Tapetum is the inner layer of an anther essential for pollen formation. The project will study tapetal AtMYB80 network regulating pollen development. Knowledge of the network will be important in developing means to protect crop yields against cold and drought. Regulation of AtMYB80 activity is being used to create hybrid crops of high productivity.
Unlocking a new hormone signalling system to increase plant performance. This project seeks to discover new ways to improve crop productivity by investigating a recently identified chemical signalling pathway in plants that affects seed germination, seedling growth, leaf development and water use. The aims are to identify unknown signalling compounds that work through this pathway, to discover the molecular regulators of the pathway, and to examine how it operates in different plant species. The ....Unlocking a new hormone signalling system to increase plant performance. This project seeks to discover new ways to improve crop productivity by investigating a recently identified chemical signalling pathway in plants that affects seed germination, seedling growth, leaf development and water use. The aims are to identify unknown signalling compounds that work through this pathway, to discover the molecular regulators of the pathway, and to examine how it operates in different plant species. The project also plans to exploit this pathway to find inhibitors of premature seed germination that afflict crops such as wheat and barley. The intended outcomes are a better understanding of how plants grow and new strategies for boosting plant performance in the field. Specific potential applications include reducing plant water use, regulating seed germination, and encouraging early seedling establishment. Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of acclimation of coralline algae to ocean acidification. This project aims to investigate the biological and ecological mechanisms by which reef-building coralline algae may have survived past ocean acidification and warming events and may acclimate to future changes. Coralline algae play critical roles in coral reef ecology but are sensitive to human-induced ocean acidification. However, the abundant geological record coincident with past acidification events is inconsistent with th ....Mechanisms of acclimation of coralline algae to ocean acidification. This project aims to investigate the biological and ecological mechanisms by which reef-building coralline algae may have survived past ocean acidification and warming events and may acclimate to future changes. Coralline algae play critical roles in coral reef ecology but are sensitive to human-induced ocean acidification. However, the abundant geological record coincident with past acidification events is inconsistent with their sensitivity to high carbon dioxide. Acclimation and adaptation is therefore possible but in ways we do not yet understand. The project expects to provide insights to the ability of key marine organisms to acclimate to rapid environmental change and provide information critical for the conservation of valuable marine systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Purchase of an ultra-performance liquid chromatograph - triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The diverse research supported by the proposed instrument group addresses several national research priorities. It will lead to a better fundamental understanding of the hormonal control of plant growth, improved catalysts for organic synthesis including pharmaceuticals and improved food safety. In forestry it will help to increase forest productivity through mitigating losses from insect and mamm ....Purchase of an ultra-performance liquid chromatograph - triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The diverse research supported by the proposed instrument group addresses several national research priorities. It will lead to a better fundamental understanding of the hormonal control of plant growth, improved catalysts for organic synthesis including pharmaceuticals and improved food safety. In forestry it will help to increase forest productivity through mitigating losses from insect and mammalian pests and enhancing wood quality. In pharmaceutics, improved treatments for asthma are expected. This facility will provide the infrastructure essential for many researchers to maintain internationally competitive profiles in their areas and continue to offer postgraduate training and postdoctoral opportunities.Read moreRead less
Discovering the molecular mechanisms and origins of karrikin and strigolactone signalling in plants. Understanding how hormones control plant growth has transformed plant biology and driven major advances in crop production. This project will study genes responsible for the action of two new growth regulators, strigolactones and karrikins, and, by uncovering their action mechanisms, will obtain crucial knowledge to stimulate yet further advances in plant science.