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
Developing biotechnology solutions for improving phosphate acquisition in plants using functional genomics in rice. Global supplies of the most currently used phosphate fertilisers are predicted to be exhausted in less than a century. These fertilisers are non-renewable resources based on phosphate rock deposits and their use are key drivers of both plant production costs and environmental damage in Australia and internationally. Using the power of genetic and functional genomics analyses in ric ....Developing biotechnology solutions for improving phosphate acquisition in plants using functional genomics in rice. Global supplies of the most currently used phosphate fertilisers are predicted to be exhausted in less than a century. These fertilisers are non-renewable resources based on phosphate rock deposits and their use are key drivers of both plant production costs and environmental damage in Australia and internationally. Using the power of genetic and functional genomics analyses in rice, this project will reveal key controllers of phosphate acquisition in plants. Hence, novel biotechnology based solutions can be implemented in a variety of cereal crops to aid reduced use of phosphate fertiliser in agriculture and unlock the large phosphate pool not used by plants in soil.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.
Mitochondrial Retrograde Signalling in Plants – New Models and Analytical Approaches. Mitochondria are essential organelles involved in energy production and various metabolic and biosynthetic pathways in plant cells. Signals from mitochondria act to regulate nuclear gene expression to coordinate mitochondrial activity with cellular activity, which is called mitochondrial retrograde signalling (MRS). To date our knowledge of the pathways and components involved in MRS is limited to a single mode ....Mitochondrial Retrograde Signalling in Plants – New Models and Analytical Approaches. Mitochondria are essential organelles involved in energy production and various metabolic and biosynthetic pathways in plant cells. Signals from mitochondria act to regulate nuclear gene expression to coordinate mitochondrial activity with cellular activity, which is called mitochondrial retrograde signalling (MRS). To date our knowledge of the pathways and components involved in MRS is limited to a single model system. This proposal seeks to identify additional MRS pathways, characterise components of these pathways and the signals involved. This new knowledge can be used in translational research as a basis to breed plants with altered stress and growth properties.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120103011
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Plant adaptation to extreme environments: a transcriptomic approach for crop improvement. Native Australian plants have evolved to thrive under multiple environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, and severely nutrient impoverished soils that define the Australian biomes. This project will reveal genetic components consistently found in such species, literally opening a new gateway to greener pastures for Australian agriculture.
Disorder as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function: an experimental study. Australia enjoys a world reputation in photosynthesis research, typified by hosting the 2001 International Photosynthesis Congress. It also has a claim to fame for theoretical work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics concerning production of disorder or entropy, yielding new insights into planetary climates. This experimental project investigates the novel relation between entropy/entropy production ....Disorder as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function: an experimental study. Australia enjoys a world reputation in photosynthesis research, typified by hosting the 2001 International Photosynthesis Congress. It also has a claim to fame for theoretical work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics concerning production of disorder or entropy, yielding new insights into planetary climates. This experimental project investigates the novel relation between entropy/entropy production and the structure/function of the solar powerhouse of plants (chloroplasts), and addresses fundamental questions at the interface of biology and physics. The research explores chloroplasts as a manifestation of the all-pervading Second Law of Thermodynamics, advancing Australia's contribution to basic science and helping to train researchers.Read moreRead less
Understanding plant uptake of organic and inorganic nitrogen for optimal fertiliser application in forestry. Nitrogen (N) in soils occurs in both organic and inorganic forms. Plants can take up inorganic N - nitrate and ammonium - but, on average, these account for only 5% of the soluble N in soils. Recent evidence suggests that plants may be able to tap into some of the 95% of N that occurs in organic forms. We will investigate the importance of organic N uptake for two plantation Eucalyptus sp ....Understanding plant uptake of organic and inorganic nitrogen for optimal fertiliser application in forestry. Nitrogen (N) in soils occurs in both organic and inorganic forms. Plants can take up inorganic N - nitrate and ammonium - but, on average, these account for only 5% of the soluble N in soils. Recent evidence suggests that plants may be able to tap into some of the 95% of N that occurs in organic forms. We will investigate the importance of organic N uptake for two plantation Eucalyptus species by tracing the uptake of different N forms by bacteria, fungi and eucalypts. This information will redefine what is meant by 'available N' and will guide the development of a new test for soil N status.Read moreRead less
Regulation of photosynthesis by phosphorus in Australia’s C3 and C4 tropical grasses. Tropical grasses with distinctly different photosynthetic biochemistry (C3 and C4) dominate Australia's vast tropical grasslands. The soils of this ancient landscape are chronically low in the mineral nutrient phosphorus that plays a crucial role in regulating photosynthesis. The project will use an integrated experimental approach and novel techniques such as metabolomics to unravel and define the intricate ....Regulation of photosynthesis by phosphorus in Australia’s C3 and C4 tropical grasses. Tropical grasses with distinctly different photosynthetic biochemistry (C3 and C4) dominate Australia's vast tropical grasslands. The soils of this ancient landscape are chronically low in the mineral nutrient phosphorus that plays a crucial role in regulating photosynthesis. The project will use an integrated experimental approach and novel techniques such as metabolomics to unravel and define the intricate mechanisms by which phosphorus regulates the complex photosynthetic biochemistry of C4 grasses. The new scientific knowledge generated by the project will be used for pasture management models to ensure that successful strategies are implemented to reduce soil loss from our fragile grasslands.Read moreRead less
A novel signalling pathway in plant cells: the phospholipase-microtubule link. Plant development is closely linked to a dynamic network of microtubules and associated proteins. The network responds to a variety of hormonal and environmental signals, although the details of the signalling mechanism are unclear. Recently we made an outstanding discovery - a unique phospholipase D, a key signal-transducing enzyme that links the plasma membrane to the microtubule network. This project aims to def ....A novel signalling pathway in plant cells: the phospholipase-microtubule link. Plant development is closely linked to a dynamic network of microtubules and associated proteins. The network responds to a variety of hormonal and environmental signals, although the details of the signalling mechanism are unclear. Recently we made an outstanding discovery - a unique phospholipase D, a key signal-transducing enzyme that links the plasma membrane to the microtubule network. This project aims to define the molecular details of this novel signal-transduction pathway and establish how external signals modulate developmental events or initiate protective responses such as resistance to drought or pathogen attack.Read moreRead less
Root aquaporins as sensors and regulators of plant water transport. The knowledge we will gain will benefit Australia by allowing better management of plant water use. Because such large quantities of water move through aquaporins in membranes, our understanding of the pores could enable us to manipulate plants to conserve or use water depending on predicted climatic conditions. Molecular aspects of the project will reveal potential novel ways of controlling root water uptake by shoot and root m ....Root aquaporins as sensors and regulators of plant water transport. The knowledge we will gain will benefit Australia by allowing better management of plant water use. Because such large quantities of water move through aquaporins in membranes, our understanding of the pores could enable us to manipulate plants to conserve or use water depending on predicted climatic conditions. Molecular aspects of the project will reveal potential novel ways of controlling root water uptake by shoot and root manipulation. High calibre PhD and Honours students will also be educated to maintain the momentum of international excellence within Australia in the field of plant water relations.Read moreRead less