The activities of invertase were significantly reduced in K-Type cytoplasmic male sterility (K-CMS) and the expression levels of the invertase gene were downregulated in K-CMS, resulting in accumulation of sucrose in K-CMS, and an inability to metabolise incoming sucrose to hexoses.

Non-herbicidal weed-control approach is required for sustainable weed management. We examined the potential of microwave soil treatment for seedbank control in rice cropping at Dookie, VIC, and Jerilderie, NSW, Australia. Once-off microwave soil treatment raised soil temperature up to 75°C and did not induce a significant reduction in weed emergence at either location. Of the either location, only at Jerilderie, the grain yield was 20% higher with microwave soil treatment.

Low-temperature stress is a limiting factor for barley production. We showed here that inoculation of barley plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves dry matter production under low-temperature stress and increases plants survival after freezing. The effectiveness of this association depends on both fungal species and plant cultivars suggesting the importance of a right combination of fungus and host plant for their successful utilization.

Interspecific root interactions contributed to the enhancement of biomass and photosynthesis of both intercropped crops in millet/peanut intercropping. The increase of photosynthesis were partly due to the up-regulation of key proteins involved in C metabolism. The results provide experimental evidence on a molecular basis that interspecific facilitation driven by root interactions can contribute to enhancing plant productivity.

Dry growing environments increased minerals (Fe, Zn, K, S, Cu) concentrations in grains of field grown lentil and faba bean. For Fe, Zn, P, S concentrations in grains, the elevated [CO₂]-induced decrease was greater under drier growing conditions. Grain yield stimulation under e[CO₂] led to dilute Fe and Zn concentrations in grains but this was not consistent for other minerals.

Interspecific and backcross populations derived from mutants of Cicer arietinum and C. reticulatum species were studied for revealing suppressed genes responsible for heterotic effects and transgressive segregations. Heterobeltiosis (offspring superior to better parent) and heterosis (offspring superior to mid-parent value) for yield and yield components in F1 progeny prompted transgressive segregation for these traits in F2 and backcross populations. It was concluded that the suppressed genes in a mutant of C. reticulatum or a mutant of C. arietinum played a crucial role in increasing transgressive segregations for yield and yield components as well as large seed size.

Changes to in vitro fermentability and nutritive values of biserrula and subterranean clover was observed due to growth stages and cutting. Biserrula showed persistently low methane output compared with subterranean clover. Our results also showed that both growth stage and cutting treatment can affect fermentability, nutrient value and biomass accumulation of biserrula and subterranean clover. This work demonstrates the robustness of the anti-methanogenic effect in biserrula, making it a potentially valuable pasture option to reduce methane emissions in southern Australian grazing systems.

Transcriptomes analysis of roots of five Medicago varieties under freezing condition identified a number of highly expressed cold related genes. Genes involved in membrane shared high Ka/Ks in all the five Medicago varieties. Positively selected genes mainly involved in transcription regulation, metabolism, and signal transduction.

Herbicide resistance is a major constraint in Australian cropping systems placing limits on herbicide options. The results from the resistance screening of over 5300 ryegrass samples between 1991 and 2016 were analysed to determine the relationships between herbicide groups and sub-groups. The size and geographical spread of the samples provides information on the differences in resistance incidences between states and regions.