Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory

The Plant Biotech Group at the University of Melbourne research focuses on:

• Transgenic Approaches for Developing Biotic Stress Tolerant Crop Plants
• Gene Networks Controlling Floral Evocation in Legume Shoot Apical Meristem
• Molecular Control of Male Germ Line Initiation and Fertilization
• Investigating Epigenetic Programming of Plant Sperm Cells
• Rice and Wheat Biotechnology for Enhanced Abiotic Stress Tolerance
• Genetic Engineering of Male Sterility for Hybrid Seed Production
• Brachypodium as a Model System for Investigating Cellular Function of Pollen Allergens
• Manipulating Pollen Allergen Genes for Improved Diagnosis and Immunotherapy of Hayfever and Allergic Asthma
• Improved Allergy Diagnosis and New Vaccines for Safer Immunotherapy
• Sneeze Free Grasses
• Legumes for Improved Human Health
• Horticulture Biotechnology

Current Grants include: 

• CROP PLANTS WHICH REMOVE THEIR OWN MAJOR BIOTIC CONSTRAINTS (Australia India Strategic Fund)  awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
• MOLECULAR APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINING CROP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER ABIOTIC STRESS CONDITIONS (Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF))  awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
• Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants (Discovery Projects)  awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
• Epigenetic Programming of Plant Sperm Cells (Discovery Projects)  awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
• Expression of value added product in wheat (Linkage Projects)  awarded by ACCESS GENETICS
• Biology of flowering plant male gametic cells in relation to fertilization (Discovery Projects)  awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
• ARC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR INTERACTIVE LEGUME RESEARCH (Centres of Excellence)  awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
• ARC CoE for Integrative Legume research (Centres of Excellence)  awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
• Melbourne-India Postgraduate Program (MIPP) (International Research & Research Training Fund (IRRTF))  awarded by UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE