Molecular physiology

We conduct fundamental research in model and crop plants to elucidate mechanisms underpinning the developmental and physiological processes that ultimately impact yield and quality.

Research focus, traits vital to the potato industry:

  • Understanding mechanisms underpinning optimisation of resource capture and allocation in response to environmental shifts.
  • Understanding how developmental transitions are regulated by internal and external signals to optimise crop architecture and life cycle to the prevailing environment.
  • Understanding the co-ordinated regulation of nuclear and chloroplast genomes for the optimisation of photosynthesis under changing environments.
  • Identification of targets for the development of improved cultivars resilient to changing environmental conditions.

Examples of genetic resources from the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC) include:

  • Identification of positive and negative regulators of potato tuberisation.
  • Identification of molecular components of potato tuberisation.
  • Extended understanding of the role of nutrient signalling in the regulation of floral transition.
  • Identification of new signalling cascades regulating photosynthetic adjustment to adverse environments.