Evolution of halophytes: a phyloinformatic approach to understanding and exploiting the traits of underlying salt-tolerance in plants

  • Bromham, Lindell (PI)
  • Cantrill, David J (CoI)
  • Crayn, Darren (CoI)
  • Flowers, Timothy (CoI)
  • Murphy, Daniel (CoI)

    Project: Research

    Project Details

    Description

    Salinity is a growing problem in Australia and globally. Research into the development of salt-tolerant crops has produced few successes, even though are over 1500 naturally salt-tolerant flowering plants. If so many salt-tolerant lineages have evolved, why can't we repeat this success in artificial breeding? Our novel, biodiversity-based approach aims to identify traits or preconditions that underlie the evolution of salt-tolerance, creating a unique database of physiological, ecological, taxonomic and DNA sequences for >1000 naturally salt-tolerant species. By providing a better understanding of how salt-tolerance evolves, we aim to inform strategies for developing salt-tolerant plants for agriculture, bioremediation and conservation.
    StatusFinished
    Effective start/end date31/03/1131/12/14

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