Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combi ....Rethinking and revitalising herbicides to counter resistance. Weeds and increasingly herbicide resistant weeds are the major yield penalty for agriculture. This project aims to develop innovative ways to overcome resistance. This project expects to (i) make herbicides work more efficiently, (ii) reveal a new mode of action for an under-used herbicide and (iii) assign breakdown pathways to herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project are to (i) to find rare, but truly synergistic herbicide combinations; (ii) reveal a herbicide against which weeds outside of Japan have not evolved resistance to; and (iii) establish how best to make breakdown blockers. A benefit of using existing herbicides is the approaches are close to market, so with partner Nexgen Plants, its outcomes can be commercialised.Read moreRead less
Protecting tomato crops from Fusarium wilt through the efficient application of new genetic resources. The tomato industry is a major horticultural industry in Australia, and Queensland is the major producer of tomatoes for the fresh food market. In Queensland, the tomato industry has expanded in the face of the threat that Fusarium wilt could re-emerge as a major disease problem. This research will ensure that measures can be taken quickly and efficiently to protect existing genetic resources u ....Protecting tomato crops from Fusarium wilt through the efficient application of new genetic resources. The tomato industry is a major horticultural industry in Australia, and Queensland is the major producer of tomatoes for the fresh food market. In Queensland, the tomato industry has expanded in the face of the threat that Fusarium wilt could re-emerge as a major disease problem. This research will ensure that measures can be taken quickly and efficiently to protect existing genetic resources used to control Fusarium wilt. It will also improve our knowledge about the mechanisms plants use to defend themselves against Fusarium wilt diseases.Read moreRead less
Assessing plant virus threats to indigenous Western Australian flora: implications for biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem reclamation and the wildflower industry. Australia's unique flora is a valuable asset, not only in terms of aesthetic value, ecotourism, commercial floriculture, the environment and rural communities, but also in relation to water quality, a sink for carbon, and a source for novel medicinal chemicals. The threat posed by plant viruses to native flora has largely been igno ....Assessing plant virus threats to indigenous Western Australian flora: implications for biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem reclamation and the wildflower industry. Australia's unique flora is a valuable asset, not only in terms of aesthetic value, ecotourism, commercial floriculture, the environment and rural communities, but also in relation to water quality, a sink for carbon, and a source for novel medicinal chemicals. The threat posed by plant viruses to native flora has largely been ignored, but with global climate change, virus infection will become increasingly important. This study will document the role of plant viruses in the sustainability of Australia's floral heritage and industries, and develop strategies to limit virus spread through plant nurseries, rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and conservation of threatened species.Read moreRead less
Membrane transporters mediating 2,4-D resistance in wild radish. This project aims to identify the membrane transporter protein(s) that endows resistance to the herbicide 2,4-D in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Wild radish is a particular problem in Australia due to its high competitiveness with crops and widespread resistance to other herbicides. 2,4-D resistance is rapidly increasing and threatening crop production in Australia and the United States. The anticipated outcome of the projec ....Membrane transporters mediating 2,4-D resistance in wild radish. This project aims to identify the membrane transporter protein(s) that endows resistance to the herbicide 2,4-D in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Wild radish is a particular problem in Australia due to its high competitiveness with crops and widespread resistance to other herbicides. 2,4-D resistance is rapidly increasing and threatening crop production in Australia and the United States. The anticipated outcome of the project is to identify strategies to minimise 2,4-D resistance in wild radish by interfering with the specific transporters that confer resistance and by taking advantage of the fitness cost associated with resistance in some populations. It is expected that this will help to improve crop yields and preserve 2,4-D as an effective herbicide.Read moreRead less