A new signalling component in shoot architecture: trehalose 6-phosphate. This project aims to investigate the role of a new signalling pathway involved in shoot branching. New knowledge is expected on how plants regulate shoot branching via sugar or hormone levels and/or signalling. The aims to build on recent finding that trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P) promotes shoot branching and to investigate whether sucrose acts via Tre6P and what role sucrose and Tre6P have compared with plant hormones. S ....A new signalling component in shoot architecture: trehalose 6-phosphate. This project aims to investigate the role of a new signalling pathway involved in shoot branching. New knowledge is expected on how plants regulate shoot branching via sugar or hormone levels and/or signalling. The aims to build on recent finding that trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P) promotes shoot branching and to investigate whether sucrose acts via Tre6P and what role sucrose and Tre6P have compared with plant hormones. Significant benefits may include new genetic or management strategies to modify shoot architecture.Read moreRead less
Revealing Enigma of Salt Bladders to Help Crops Cope with Salinity. In this project, the key transport systems mediating salt sequestration in halophytes are planned to be characterised and linked with cell genetic and metabolic profiles. Salinity is a major environmental hurdle affecting crop production around the world. Halophytes (naturally salt-loving plants) use specialised structures, called salt bladders, to sequester excessive salt outside their metabolically active parts. This feature i ....Revealing Enigma of Salt Bladders to Help Crops Cope with Salinity. In this project, the key transport systems mediating salt sequestration in halophytes are planned to be characterised and linked with cell genetic and metabolic profiles. Salinity is a major environmental hurdle affecting crop production around the world. Halophytes (naturally salt-loving plants) use specialised structures, called salt bladders, to sequester excessive salt outside their metabolically active parts. This feature is not utilised by crops however, and no information is available about the molecular mechanisms by which salt is pumped into bladder cells. This knowledge will allow breeders to utilise this, previously unexplored, trait to improve crop performance under conditions of salinity.Read moreRead less
Why is the peribacteroid membrane transcription factor SAT1 required for legume nitrogen fixation and what is its role in other symbiotic systems? This project will investigate the functional activity of the plant membrane bound basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor SAT1 in both nitrogen fixing (Rhizobia) and phosphorus acquiring (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal) symbioses found in plants. The project will identify its regulation and downstream activities across both symbiosis using selected ....Why is the peribacteroid membrane transcription factor SAT1 required for legume nitrogen fixation and what is its role in other symbiotic systems? This project will investigate the functional activity of the plant membrane bound basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor SAT1 in both nitrogen fixing (Rhizobia) and phosphorus acquiring (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal) symbioses found in plants. The project will identify its regulation and downstream activities across both symbiosis using selected legumes and or cereals.Read moreRead less
Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the ....Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the transport systems mediating stomata function in halophytes and contribute to understanding the molecular and physiological basis of their operation. This should allow breeders to use this trait to improve crop performance under conditions of extreme salinity and drought.Read moreRead less
REdefining metabolic Schemes and Pathways In plant leaf REspiration. Leaf respiration-related metabolism in terrestrial vegetation liberates considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide into the atmosphere. Such gaseous losses are detrimental to biomass production but respiration also sustains nutrient assimilation and biosyntheses. This project aims to describe flux patterns in respiratory metabolism and disentangle interactions with other pathways such as photorespirat ....REdefining metabolic Schemes and Pathways In plant leaf REspiration. Leaf respiration-related metabolism in terrestrial vegetation liberates considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide into the atmosphere. Such gaseous losses are detrimental to biomass production but respiration also sustains nutrient assimilation and biosyntheses. This project aims to describe flux patterns in respiratory metabolism and disentangle interactions with other pathways such as photorespiration and nitrogen assimilation. It will exploit stable isotopes to quantify metabolic partitioning and show coordination between major processes. It will establish key mechanisms by which respiration dictates plant carbon balance and contributes to identifying metabolic bottle-necks in plant primary production.Read moreRead less
How do sunflowers make protein drugs in their seeds? We recently discovered in sunflower the origin of a small protein ring that chemists have used for a decade to base designed drugs upon. This project aims to know how sunflowers make it so we may manipulate other plants to manufacture ring-based drugs.
Genetic evolution of plant proteins with biomedical applications. This project will draw upon a unique combination of skills in plant genetics and biomedical research to demonstrate that plants are not just a source of novel drugs. The results will show that they also provide a powerful biotechnological platform for the discovery, understanding, design and production of new pharmaceuticals.