Research
The PCBRC (known informally as The Centre) performs research in many aspects of plant and multi-cellular organisms. Key research programs are:
Arabinogalactan-Proteins Program
Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), the major constituent of gum arabic, have been used for centuries as emulsifiers and stabilizing agents. They are also abundant cell surface proteoglycans consisting of >90% carbohydrate linked to a minor (<10%) protein backbone.
ARC-LP : Polysaccharide synthase genes in agro-industrial applications
The objective of the project is to gain a better understanding of the synthesis, assembly and structure of plant cell walls and determine how that information can be used to enhance the quality, yield, nutritional value and industrial value of agricultural crop plants.
Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls (CoE PCW) is an international research and training centre that will define the regulation of molecular, enzymic and cellular processes that control the synthesis, deposition, re-modelling and depolymerisation of wall polysaccharides of cereals and grasses.
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls (CoE PCW) is an international research and training centre that will define the regulation of molecular, enzymic and cellular processes that control the synthesis, deposition, re-modelling and depolymerisation of wall polysaccharides of cereals and grasses.
CSIRO Food Futures Flagship Cluster: Healthy Complex Cereal Carbohydrates
The High Fibre Grains Collaboration Cluster combines the research capabilities of The University of Queensland, The University of Adelaide and The University of Melbourne with CSIRO’s Food Futures National Research Flagship and involves the CSIRO Divisions of Plant Industry and Human Nutrition.
Metabolomics Australia
Metabolomics describes the analysis and identification of the complement of small molecules in biological systems such as mammals, plants, animals, and microbes. Metabolomics aims to monitor the changes of particular metabolites following genetic or environmental stimuli and those are then used as biomarkers of health, disease and/or quality.
Self Incompatibility Systems
We study self-incompatibility (SI), a genetic barrier that overcomes the negative consequences of inbreeding by stopping self-fertilisation from occurring. Although we refer to SI in the singular, in fact there are many different SI systems as SI has arisen repeatedly during the evolution of flowering plants.