Health Diagnostics
Distal Footprints
Unconventional hydrocarbon-related precious metal ores
Early Nutrition, the Epigenome and the Prevent of Disease
Low template DNA profiling for forensic human identification
High performance solar cell technology
Solving the Energy Waste Roadblock (CO2MOF network)
The impact of psychological stress and malnutrition on genome stability and telomere integrity
The Genomic basis of adaptation to climate change
New methodologies in Plant Breeding
Intelligent LiDAR mapping and a navigating system for drones (Hovermap)
The manufacture of a small demonstrator aero-engine entirely through additive manufacturing
Forests for the future: making the most of a high CO2 world
Cyanide Free, Non-Toxic Gold Recovery (Going for Gold)
Hydrogen generation for refuelling fuel cell vehicles (H2 Generation)
Understanding normal and aberrant stem cell biology to improve human health
RNAi of brood stock to reduce disease impacts in farmed prawns
Australian Imaging, Biomaker and Lifestyle Flagship Study of the Ageing
Long term management, protection and preservation of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Capture of carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere (CO2Gen)
Sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane for farming (TranspiratiONal2)
Playing a vital role in discovering the microbial universe hidden under our feet
Renewable Chemicals
Ngara* Wireless Information and Communication Technologies
Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) research project
SIEF supported research is supporting new methodologies in Plant Breeding for creating and perpetuating major yield increases.
Researching plant breeding for increased yield and vigour.
By 2050, the world will need double the amount of food produced today to feed an expected 9 billion people, and this must be achieved sustainably, on existing arable land and against the challenges posed by climate change. Traditional plant breeding programs have been able to increase crop yields by 0.5-1.5% each year, but even these increasing yields will not be sufficient to meet the growing needs of the population. In order to develop new breeding technologies that significantly increase crop yields, a greater understanding of plant breeding at the genetic level is required.
The Plant Breeding project aims to understand two important phenomena that may have a revolutionary impact on global food production:
Hybrid vigour occurs when an offspring performs better than its parents. Hybrid crops form the basis of corn production around the world and are also used in other grain and cereal crops such as canola, sunflower, sorghum and rice as well as in vegetable and ornamental plant production.
Hybrids have to be remade each growing season – their unique traits are not preserved from generation to generation. The study of an asexual seed formation pathway called apomixis is underway to determine how genetically identical seeds are formed. Apomixis does not currently occur in crops, but if apomixis could be developed as a breeding tool it could be used to maintain hybrid vigour in future seed generations.
Researchers at CSIRO Plant Industry are taking on this significant challenge, providing insight and discoveries which have attracted international attention, resulting in further international funding (post SIEF) to develop and progress towards the projected impact.
Projected impact
Through increased understanding of plant breeding at the genetic level, the Researchers aim to deliver the following projected impact:
Increased sustainability to support increasing population – translation into several major crops should occur within the next decade.
Enable apomictic plants to maintain favourable yield characteristics thus improving the yield and therefore reducing global food insecurity.
Enable the development of lines that mimic hybrids in yield but do not require a hybrid production system, thus allowing development of plants with greater tolerance to conditions such as frost, heat or salt stress which enables plants to be grown in places where conditions were previously unsuitable.
Download: New methodologies in Plant Breeding brochure [pdf · 84kb]