Download CILR Information Booklet "Legumes - Vital for Life" (pdf)
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Active Research Projects |
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| Unravelling gene networks controlling stem cell identity in Legume Shoot Apical Meristem | ||
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Legumes, such as pea, chickpea, lupin and soybean, are of
fundamental importance for agricultural systems providing sustainable
pasture production and cereal rotation capabilities together with high
quality products such as vegetable oils, protein and nutriceuticals
(anti-oxidants, phytoestrogens and folate). Our main objective is to
understand control of meristem differentiation. Meristem provides a
reservoir of undifferentiated stem cells as well as a population of
proliferating cells that will produce the various tissues of a plant and
hence the general architecture of the plant. Our approach is to use
high-resolution transcriptomics to unravel complex gene regulatory
mechanisms that control dynamic cell organization and architecture of
shoot apical meristem in legumes. We are also interested in regulatory
networks controlling meristem transition from the vegetative to the
reproductive phase. For this, we have already prepared pea SAM cDNA
libraries and have obtained more than 3000 nucleotide sequences
representing genes expressed in shoot apical meristem. A 10,000 elements
"meristem" microarray as a tool to analyse genes that are developmentally
regulated in plant stem cells is in progress. We are also using Affymetrix
soybean chips to unravel gene networks responsible for stem cell
maintenance and regulation of cell differentiation in the legume apical
meristem
Download CILR Information Booklet "Legumes - Vital for Life" (pdf)
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| Genetic Engineering of Male Sterility for Hybrid Seed Production | |||||
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Brassica crops are of significant importance for vegetable and oil production. Brassica oil seed crops have become the world's third largest most important source of edible vegetable oil. The use of genetic engineering has potential to open new vistas for the production of novel varieties of oil crops. Male sterility is needed for the production of F1 hybrid seed. We have created nuclear male sterility through genetic engineering of anther specific gene, Bcp1. We have also shown that antisense RNA inactivation of this unique gene of plant origin leads to nuclear male sterility in Arabidopsis and Brassica vegetable cauliflower. We are extending the use of this technology to other vegetable and oil seed Brassica crops. |
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| DNA Fingerprinting Technology for Purity Analysis of Hybrid Seeds | |
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Hybrid breeding has been increasingly applied, especially to cabbage and cauliflower. Almost all the commercial F1 hybrids are produced by utilising the self-incompatibility system to ensure crossing between parental lines. However, in practice, some self- or sister-brother fertilisation within one or both parent lines occurs almost invariably, producing the so-called 'sib' seed contaminants. These sib plants are not desirable because they represent the weak female parent without the hybrid vigour. We are developing a rapid DNA marker based method for hybrid seed testing. This method will allow seed producers to introduce stringent quality control. |
| Pasture Grass Biotechnology | ||
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 Forage grass is of significant importance
in Australia for use as livestock feed. However, ryegrass is a host to a
range of cereal diseases and is the cause of annual ryegrass toxicity in
stock resulting in the annual loss of millions of dollars in Australia.
Its pollen is responsible for allergic asthma and hayfever in humans. To
improve quality of these grasses, we have developed an efficient gene delivery
system for grasses. This technology is now being used for transferring useful
genes such as those controlling disease resistance and allergenicity into
important forage crops. The introduction of these new genes is not feasible
by classical breeding approaches. |
A/Professor Mohan Singh and Dr. Prem Bhalla, inspecting transformed ryegrass. A/Professor Mohan Singh is expert in molecular biology of plant reproduction and molecular immunology of allergens. Dr. Prem Bhalla is expert in tissue culture and genetic engineering of pasture grasses and crop plants. | |
| Manipulating Pollen Allergen Genes for Improved Diagnosis and Immunotherapy of Hayfever and Allergic Asthma | |
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A substantial proportion (20-25%) of the human population living in temperate and sub-tropical climates suffers from allergic rhinitis and seasonal asthma. Pollen grains of grasses including rice are the major cause of hayfever and seasonal allergic asthma. We are the first in the world to identify and clone major pollen allergen genes of ryegrass and rice. These genes are being used to develop new diagnostic reagents and allergy therapeutics. |
| Molecular Control of Fertilization | |
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| Sexual reproduction is one of the important events in the life cycle of flowering plants. Isolation of male gamete (generative and sperm cell) specific genes and studying their role in sperm-egg interactions during fertilisation is one of the major goals of the group. This research is at the international forefront of this field. Our group is the first to identify male gamete specific genes and promoters in flowering plants. |
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| DNA Repair in Plants | |
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The expected increase in UV-B radiation at the earth's surface by the early 21st century is of considerable concern because UV causes damage to genetic material (DNA) in all living organisms. In the case of crop plants, unrepaired DNA damage may have penalty in yield losses. We have identified and isolated a gene from Arabadopsis that shows a high level of sequence homology with human nucleotide repair endonuclease, ERCC1. This protein plays a pivotal role in the DNA nucleotide excision repair process. This is the first report of a gene involved in DNA excision repair to be isolated from plants. Further studies on the mechanism of action of this gene and isolation of other genes in the pathway will not only significantly advance our knowledge on DNA repair in plants but also lead to design crops with high tolerance to environmental stresses for the future needs. |
| Horticulture Biotechnology: in vitro Propagation and Breeding of Ornamental Horticulture Plants | |
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| There is a great demand for Australian native flowers of different colours. The plants are generally propagated vegetatively. Breeding of new cultivars is difficult because of very low seed set in conventional cross breeding system. We are developing new in vitro technologies to produce desirable new flower types for the export market. We are also developing in vitro methods for clonal propagation of difficult to propagate hardwood Australian native plants, such as Callistemon. We have also developed novel color hybrids of the popular genus Scaevola of the family Goodeniaceae, which is prized for its unique fan shaped flowers. |  |
| Horticulture Biotechnology: in vitro Technology for Macadamia | ||
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Macadamia, the only Australian native commercialized crop is highly valued for its nuts. A dramatic increase in world production is forecast due to renewed efforts into improving yields, production methods and processing efficiencies giving hope of increased market shares for producer countries. Tissue culture technology has not been applied to macadamia, even though it has proven valuable in other fruit, nut and forest trees. Tissue culture technology developed will enhance the success of the breeding program by rapid introduction of new varieties to the Macadamia industry and it will give competitive edge in the international market. |   |
| Molecular Markers for Fingerprinting and Breeding of Ornamental Horticulture Plants | |
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RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers provide a powerful technique for studying genetic variability in Australian ornamental plants. Molecular markers are also being used to assist in intra- and inter-specific breeding of new cultivars of ornamental plants, including Scaevola, Pandorea, and Callistemon. |
| Rice Biotechnology | |
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 Rice is the world's most important
crop, being a primary staple food for more than one third of the world's
population. It is the only major cereal crop that is consumed almost exclusively
by humans. Our research program is focused on developing genetic transformation
of Australian rice varieties and to produce male sterile lines required
for hybrid seed production. We are also using rice as a model system for
isolation of useful genes and promoters, which we have used in other projects. |
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| Vaccine Production in Plants | ||
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Grass pollen allergy afflicts up to 20% of the population in cool temperate climates. Current allergy immunotherapy involving injections of a crude pollen (allergen) extract has the disadvantage that it can lead to severe and life threatening anaphylactic side effects. We recently produced non-allergenic forms of grass pollen allergens via site directed mutagenesis. Low toxicity, solubility and production of high amounts of correctly folded recombinant proteins at low cost are prerequisites for developing new vaccination strategies. We are developing plant-based expression system for modified (engineered) allergen potentially suitable for immunotherapy. |  |
