Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanis ....Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying male germ line initiation and development in plants. Switching off male gamete development in some crop plants will create male sterile lines, which, when crossed with genetically distinct lines, will have the potential to produce hybrids that yield 20-30 percent more crop without additional inputs. Read moreRead less
Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The o ....Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The outcomes of this proposal will enhance Australia's international lead in this field and will pave the way toward the development of new approaches for sustaining and enhancing crop productivity under changing environmental conditions. Read moreRead less
The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use o ....The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use of the limited water resources, reducing soil erosion, reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilisers and producing more nutritious fruits, vegetables and grains.Read moreRead less
Systemic control of nodule proliferation. We aim to clone and characterize the functions of the supernodulation (NTS-1) locus of soybean using positional cloning and functional genomics approaches. Supernodulation fascinatingly results from a mutant Nts-1 gene functioning in the shoot, although the phenotype is expressed as excessive nodule proliferation in the root. The cloned gene will be used to monitor expression changes after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, treatment with nitrate, nod-fac ....Systemic control of nodule proliferation. We aim to clone and characterize the functions of the supernodulation (NTS-1) locus of soybean using positional cloning and functional genomics approaches. Supernodulation fascinatingly results from a mutant Nts-1 gene functioning in the shoot, although the phenotype is expressed as excessive nodule proliferation in the root. The cloned gene will be used to monitor expression changes after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, treatment with nitrate, nod-factor, xylem exudates and phytohormones. We will use RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation and reporter gene expression in transgenic plants. Microarray analysis of soybean ESTs (4200 arrayed) will analyse concurrent gene expression changes in both root and shoot.Read moreRead less
Genetic and molecular analysis of long-distance gene silencing in Arabidopsis. Gene silencing is a surveillance mechanism in plants and animals to ensure that all genes are switched on or off at the right time. It is also a defence mechanism against viruses. Perturbation of gene silencing can be a cause of genetic diseases, and conversely, gene silencing has immense potential as a therapeutic tool for correcting genetic diseases and curing viral diseases. When silencing is triggered against a ge ....Genetic and molecular analysis of long-distance gene silencing in Arabidopsis. Gene silencing is a surveillance mechanism in plants and animals to ensure that all genes are switched on or off at the right time. It is also a defence mechanism against viruses. Perturbation of gene silencing can be a cause of genetic diseases, and conversely, gene silencing has immense potential as a therapeutic tool for correcting genetic diseases and curing viral diseases. When silencing is triggered against a gene or virus in plants, genetic signals are transmitted throughout the organism to systemically switch off the specific gene or virus. Expected long-term national/community benefits from understanding gene silencing are wide-ranging, from improved crops through to drugs and gene therapy.Read moreRead less
Isolation and characterization of genes regulating female reproductive organ development in plants. Genes that regulate female reproductive organ development are of immense value for Australia as tools for seed improvement. Those from our preliminary screen have convinced our industry partners that they can be agents for engineering of apomixis or creation of fertile seed without fertilisation. This will allow the capture of hybrid vigour in wheat and rice, for which commercial hybrid seed prod ....Isolation and characterization of genes regulating female reproductive organ development in plants. Genes that regulate female reproductive organ development are of immense value for Australia as tools for seed improvement. Those from our preliminary screen have convinced our industry partners that they can be agents for engineering of apomixis or creation of fertile seed without fertilisation. This will allow the capture of hybrid vigour in wheat and rice, for which commercial hybrid seed production is not currently available. In wheat alone, apomixis presents for Australia an economic value of more than Aus$ ½ billion per annum. Furthermore, controlled apomixis will accelerate breeding programs that will bring drought resistance and minimal fertiliser requiring varieties to the farmer.Read moreRead less
Accelerating the genetic improvement of grain legumes for Australia by developing doubled haploid technology for field pea and chickpea. Doubled haploid technology is used in many broad acre crop species to accelerate cultivar development and create homozygous populations for genetic mapping. Field pea and chickpea have been unresponsive to this technique but a recent breakthrough by UWA researchers has resulted in haploid pro-embryos from in vitro cultured immature pollen. A barrier to further ....Accelerating the genetic improvement of grain legumes for Australia by developing doubled haploid technology for field pea and chickpea. Doubled haploid technology is used in many broad acre crop species to accelerate cultivar development and create homozygous populations for genetic mapping. Field pea and chickpea have been unresponsive to this technique but a recent breakthrough by UWA researchers has resulted in haploid pro-embryos from in vitro cultured immature pollen. A barrier to further embryo maturation has been identified, which we propose to overcome using powerful microscopy tools to elucidate haploid embryology processes. This information will be applied to develop world-first in vitro doubled haploid protocols for these species, which will facilitate the development and accelerated delivery to industry of better adapted, high yielding cultivars.Read moreRead less
Identifying potential barriers to transplanting modified forms of the CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, into plants. Improving the ability of crops to use water, light and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. It is thought that such improvements can be made by enhancing the efficiency of the photosynthetic protein, Rubisco, which fixes most of the CO2 in the biosphere. The research proposed here uses unique ....Identifying potential barriers to transplanting modified forms of the CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, into plants. Improving the ability of crops to use water, light and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. It is thought that such improvements can be made by enhancing the efficiency of the photosynthetic protein, Rubisco, which fixes most of the CO2 in the biosphere. The research proposed here uses unique Rubisco transplantation capabilities that I have developed to improve our fundamental understanding of how Rubisco is processed and its activity regulated in plants. This will pave the way for our ongoing efforts to engineer and transplant more efficient Rubisco into crops.Read moreRead less
Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a nov ....Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a novel NUE technology that when transferred to plants significantly improves NUE. We will define the phenotype at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels to maximise its adoption to other agricultural crops such as wheat, barley and maize.Read moreRead less
Optimization of Transgene Expression in Sugarcane. Sugarcane is one of Australia's most important crops. However, worldwide competition and declining sugar prices threaten the long term economic sustainability of this industry unless alternative markets for sugarcane are created. Biotechnology holds the greatest promise for the development of an economically sustainable sugarcane industry through the production of varieties that can be used for cellulosic ethanol or as biofactories for high-valu ....Optimization of Transgene Expression in Sugarcane. Sugarcane is one of Australia's most important crops. However, worldwide competition and declining sugar prices threaten the long term economic sustainability of this industry unless alternative markets for sugarcane are created. Biotechnology holds the greatest promise for the development of an economically sustainable sugarcane industry through the production of varieties that can be used for cellulosic ethanol or as biofactories for high-value alternative products. In addition, cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane has the potential to substantially decrease the cost of biofuel production and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The research proposed here will advance our ability to improve sugarcane through biotechnology.Read moreRead less