3 July 2018

 

Nial Gursanscky

PostDoctoral Researcher, Research Program 1, @ the Waite Campus, Adelaide

 

A surgical insight into the secret lives of plant sex cells

 

Research-area, importance, impact:

Seeds and grains, for food and feed, are the products of sexual reproduction in crop plants. The cellular signals that switch somatic cells to male and female plant gametes and how their differentiation is coordinated inside their supporting reproductive structures, the anther and ovule, in flowers, is poorly understood. We have used laser capture microdissection to isolate individual cells on their journey towards gamete differentiation, fertilization and early seed formation in cowpea, a legume. Using this surgical analysis of sexual reproduction, we have created a unique data resource to support seed set studies in legumes. Our findings will benefit cowpea and legume breeding for increased seed yield.

Area/s of expertise:

Plant molecular genetics and developmental biology; how cell identity is influenced by intra and intercellular communication; growing interest in bioinformatics

Lynne Macdonald

Soil Scientist, Team Leader, Sustaining Ag soils & landscapes, RP7, @ the Waite Campus, Adelaide

Soil Constraints and profile modification: improving crop water-use

 

Research-area, importance, impact:

Of the 1.5 billion ha of global farmland, one quarter is classified as degraded with an associated production loss estimated at more than $10 tn a year. In Australia, two-thirds of agricultural land is classified as degraded and susceptible to a downward spiral of declining productivity, soil condition, and crop water use efficiency. Intensive profile modification approaches that aim to ameliorate key constraints are increasingly playing a role in improving crop water-use in underperforming systems.

Area/s of expertise:

Soil organic matter – management, measurement, characterisation; soil quality & microbial function; soil amendments and profile modification.

 

Vadakattu Gupta

Principal Research Scientist Integrated Agricultural Systems (RP5), @ the Waite Campus, Adelaide

Biological Disease Suppression: a natural way to control crop diseases

 

Research-area, importance, impact:

Soilborne diseases cause more than $400 million p.a. losses in cereal crop yields in Australia. Our research has unravelled the genetic diversity and catabolic potential of disease suppressive soil microbial communities using metagenomic, transcriptomics and biochemical methods with an aim to identify the drivers that improve disease suppressive potential of agricultural soils.

Area/s of expertise:

Experience in functional microbial ecology and plant microbiome research in rainfed and irrigated cropping systems.

 

 

Venues	Local Time	Time Zone
Adelaide Waite Campus – B101-FG-R00-SmallWICWest	12:00 pm	ACST
Armidale – B55-FG-R00-Small	12:30 pm	AEST
Brisbane St Lucia QBP – Room 3.323	12:30 pm	AEST
Canberra Black Mountain – Discovery Lecture Theatre	12:30 pm	AEST
Canberra Crace – Bld44- Meeting Room 3	12:30 pm	AEST
Narrabri Myall Vale – Conference Room	12:30 pm	AEST
Perth Floreat B40-F1-R46-Rossiter Room	10:30 am	AWST
Sandy Bay (Hobart) – River View Room	12:30 pm	AEST
Toowoomba – Meeting Room	12:30 pm	AEST
Werribee (Melbourne) – Peacock Room	12:30 pm	AEDT