Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics
Encyclopedia
The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) is a research organisation focusing on improving the resistance of wheat
and barley
to hostile environmental
conditions, using functional genomics
technologies.
Scientists at the ACPFG are focusing on stresses that impact agriculture in Australia
, including drought
, salinity
, high or low temperatures and mineral deficiencies
or toxicities
. These stresses, known as abiotic stress
es, are a major cause of cereal
crop yield
and quality loss throughout the world
.
The ACPFG was established in December 2002 after being granted $27 million from the Australian Research Council
(ARC), the Grains Research and Development Corporation
(GRDC) and the South Australian Government
.
It also had support of $30 million from the University of Adelaide
, The University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the University of Queensland
.
ACPFG as a research organisation has an unusual structure because it is a company
, but its shareholders are the research organisations and governments that fund it.
In the second funding cycle the University of South Australia
became a shareholder, increasing ACPFG’s focus on bioinformatics
, which is the focus of ACPFG researchers in Queensland
.
Most ACPFG researchers are based on the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus in the Plant Genomics Centre.
As well as the core research programs focused on environmental stresses
, ACPFG researchers work with other organisations including CSIRO and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
, on nutritional focuses such as beta-glucan
and iron
biofortification
.
Though research outcomes are focused on wheat
and barley
for Australian farmers, model species such as arabidopsis
and rice
are often used in ACPFG research. Researchers also explore the genetic diversity
of less commercially viable
plant varieties, such as those originating from the fertile crescent
.
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
to hostile environmental
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
conditions, using functional genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
technologies.
Scientists at the ACPFG are focusing on stresses that impact agriculture in Australia
Agriculture in Australia
Australia is a major agricultural producer and exporter. Agriculture and its closely related sectors earn $155 billion-a-year for a 12% share of GDP. Australian farmers and graziers own 135,996 farms, covering 61% of Australia’s landmass. There is a mix of irrigation and dry-land farming...
, including drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, salinity
Salinity in Australia
Soil salinity and dryland salinity are two problems degrading the environment of Australia. Salinity is a concern in most states, but especially in the south-west of Western Australia....
, high or low temperatures and mineral deficiencies
Nitrogen deficiency
All plants require sufficient supplies of macronutrients for healthy growth, and nitrogen is a nutrient that is commonly in limited supply. Nitrogen deficiency in plants can occur when organic matter with high carbon carbon content, such as sawdust, is added to soil. Soil organisms use any...
or toxicities
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
. These stresses, known as abiotic stress
Abiotic stress
Abiotic stress is defined as the negative impact of non-living factors on the living organisms in a specific environment. The non-living variable must influence the environment beyond its normal range of variation to adversely affect the population performance or individual physiology of the...
es, are a major cause of cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
crop yield
Crop yield
In agriculture, crop yield is not only a measure of the yield of cereal per unit area of land under cultivation, yield is also the seed generation of the plant itself...
and quality loss throughout the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
.
The ACPFG was established in December 2002 after being granted $27 million from the Australian Research Council
Australian Research Council
The Australian Research Council is the Australian Government’s main agency for allocating research funding to academics and researchers in Australian universities. Its mission is to advance Australia’s capacity to undertake research that brings economic, social and cultural benefit to the...
(ARC), the Grains Research and Development Corporation
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Grains Research and Development Corporation is an Australian research statutory corporation founded in 1990 under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act, 1989 . It is funded by the Australian government and a levy on graingrowers, which is determined by the industry's peak...
(GRDC) and the South Australian Government
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
.
It also had support of $30 million from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, The University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
.
ACPFG as a research organisation has an unusual structure because it is a company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
, but its shareholders are the research organisations and governments that fund it.
In the second funding cycle the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
became a shareholder, increasing ACPFG’s focus on bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
, which is the focus of ACPFG researchers in Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
.
Most ACPFG researchers are based on the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus in the Plant Genomics Centre.
As well as the core research programs focused on environmental stresses
Abiotic stress
Abiotic stress is defined as the negative impact of non-living factors on the living organisms in a specific environment. The non-living variable must influence the environment beyond its normal range of variation to adversely affect the population performance or individual physiology of the...
, ACPFG researchers work with other organisations including CSIRO and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
The CGIAR is a strategic alliance that unites organizations involved in agricultural research for sustainable development with the donors that fund such work. These donors include governments of developing and industrialized countries, foundations and international and regional organizations...
, on nutritional focuses such as beta-glucan
Beta-glucan
β-Glucans are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers linked by β-glycosidic bonds. β-glucans are a diverse group of molecules that can vary with respect to molecular mass, solubility, viscosity, and three-dimensional configuration...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
biofortification
Biofortification
Biofortification is a method of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering...
.
Though research outcomes are focused on wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
for Australian farmers, model species such as arabidopsis
Arabidopsis thaliana
Arabidopsis thaliana is a small flowering plant native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa. A spring annual with a relatively short life cycle, arabidopsis is popular as a model organism in plant biology and genetics...
and rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
are often used in ACPFG research. Researchers also explore the genetic diversity
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary....
of less commercially viable
Plant breeding
Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular...
plant varieties, such as those originating from the fertile crescent
Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent, nicknamed "The Cradle of Civilization" for the fact the first civilizations started there, is a crescent-shaped region containing the comparatively moist and fertile land of otherwise arid and semi-arid Western Asia. The term was first used by University of Chicago...
.