Research Approach

Research scientists at the ACPFG uses functional genomics and related technologies such as proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, to identify genes that are involved in plant growth under normal and stressful conditions. For definitions of scientific terms see the ACPFG glossary.

Research will focus on wheat and barley as they are the most important cereal crops grown in Australia. Model species such as rice and Arabidopsis will be used where appropriate.

To identify genes, scientists will challenge adapted varieties of wheat, barley and their relatives with various abiotic stresses.

Their responses will be monitored and compared with the non-stressed plants at the transcript, protein and metabolite levels.

Genes that control tolerence to abiotic stresses in grasses will also be investigated. This group of plants are naturally adapted to live in harsh environments and have evolved a range of strategies to enable them to survive in adverse environmental conditions.

Once their mechanisms of adaption and the corresponding genes are identified, the desirable characteristics can be transferred into cereals to improve their yield and quality when grown under stressful conditions.

Why Conduct the Research?

Abiotic stresses are a major cause of crop yield and productivity loss throughout the world. Developing varieties that are tolerant to these stresses has been a major challenge faced by plant breeders.

Although conventional breeding has had great successes, cultivated cereals do not have the range and extremes of stress tolerance as seen in wild grasses.

With the use of functional genomics, scientists can define and manipulate plant response systems to abiotic stresses. This will allow breeders to have an increased understanding of the nature and behaviour of a plant's genome.

Research outcomes will address two major issues: can tolerance to multiple stresses be achieved in a single variety? And, can yield stability to growers be guaranteed?

Research Outcomes

With the use of emerging functional genomics technologies scientists can define and manipulate plant response systems to abiotic stresses. The research will enable scientists to:

•	Understand the role of each gene or group of genes in wheat and barley
•	Investigate and isolate genes that are specifically involved in the tolerance or resistance to abiotic stresses
•	Investigate and search for novel variants of genes that control tolerance to abiotic stresses in both cereal crops and plants naturally adapted to harsh environments.

This research is leading to new diagnostic markers for genes controlling stress tolerance. These will be valuable selection tools in wheat and barley breeding programs as they will allow breeders to use only the genes of interest in breeding programs, increasing the efficiency and speed of releasing new improved varieties.

In the longer term, scientists will isolate stress resistance genes from higher plants. Once these genes have been isolated, scientists will develop gene constructs that could be used to develop transgenic crop plants.

These novel crops would allow farmers to grow varieties of wheat and barley with enhanced productivity, quality and improved ability to adapt and survive when faced with adverse environmental conditions.

Benefits of the Research

The development of stress resistant varieties will benefit Australia's agricultural industry, the economy, the environment and cereal producers and consumers.

Varieties with increased stress resistance will allow for more productive cropping systems. The improved varieties will require less fertiliser, have improved water use efficiency, tolerance to salinity and mineral toxicities and deficiencies. This will enhance overall agricultural sustainability and will ease pressure on the environment.

The varieties will give greater yield stability, so even in adverse years farmers can expect reasonable yields and hence, annual returns. It is hoped that with functional genomics research, the productivity of cereal crops could be increased by 10 to 20 percent.

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