Associate Professor Brett Ferguson
Associate Professor

Brett Ferguson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69951

Background

A/Prof Brett Ferguson’s research interest are in molecular genetics, genomics, genetic transformation and genome editing, such as CRISPR, to unravel the molecular mechanisms driving plant development. His primary focus is on legume crops, using biotechnology and bioinformatic approaches to identify key genes and signals controlling traits of interest. This includes the agriculturally- and environmentally-important symbiosis between legume plants and beneficial rhizobia bacteria that fix critical nitrogen for their host plant. In addition, A/Prof Ferguson works with the fascinating legume tree, Pongamia pinatta, which has tremendous potential as a feedstock for the sustainable production of biodiesel and aviation fuel.

A/Prof Brett Ferguson leads the Integrative Legume Research Group (ILRG) in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (SAFS) at the University of Queensland (UQ). He is an Affiliate of the Centre for Crop Science in the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), and an Affiliate of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS). A/Prof Ferguson is also a Chief Investigator in the large, multi-national Hy-Gain for Smallholders Project primarily funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The work of A/Prof Ferguson has contributed to the discovery of many new genes and signals, such as novel microRNAs and peptide hormones, that have critical roles in controlling plant development. His research group identified the complete family of CLE peptide encoding genes of several legume species using an array of molecular and bioinformatic approaches. Additional discoveries of genes involved in legume nodule formation, nitrogen signalling and the regulation of root development, are also having an impact in the research field. Many of these factors could be useful in supporting translational studies and breeding programs that look to improve crop performance. His work also established a requirement for brassinosteroid hormones in legume nodulation and demonstrated a central role for gibberellins in nodule development. Moreover, he contributed to some of the initial work reporting a role of strigolatones in shoot branching, and demonstrated that plants can transport quantities of auxin far in excess of their endogenous levels.

A/Prof Ferguson has also contributed to the developed of new tools and techniques, such as petiole feeding, precision feeding in growth pouches, stem girdling, pHairyRed for promoter-reporter fusions, new hairy-root transformation techniques, novel integrative vectors to enhance transformation efficiency, synthetic biology approaches to generate mature double stranded miRNA, etc.

Availability

Associate Professor Brett Ferguson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural biotechnology Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Biological Sciences Crop and pasture production Genetics Plant biology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania

Research interests

  • Legumes, legume nodulation, nitrogen and nitrogen fixation.

  • Functional genomics using plant biotechnology (genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, transcriptomics), genetic transformation and genome editing (CRISPR).

  • Pongamia pinnata as a source of sustainable biofuel.

  • Plant physiology, signalling and development, plant-microbe interactions (symbioses).

  • Discovery and characterisation of novel genes and signals required for plant development, including CLE peptide hormones, classical plant hormones, and microRNAs.

  • Establishment of the molecular mechanisms responsible for acid-soil inhibition of legume crop development, and nitrogen and phosphorous signalling networks.

  • Development of superior cowpea and sorghum crop varieties (Hy-Gain project).

Search Professor Brett Ferguson’s works on UQ eSpace

97 works between 2001 and 2025
All (97) Journal Article (76) Book Chapter (10) Conference Publication (8) Other Outputs (3)

41 - 60 of 97 works

2016

Book Chapter

The regulation of legume nodule numbers

Ferguson, B. J. and Gresshoff, P. M. (2016). The regulation of legume nodule numbers. Plants In Action2. (pp. *-*) Brisbane, QLD Australia: ASPS & NZSPB.

The regulation of legume nodule numbers

2015

Journal Article

Genome-wide annotation and characterization of CLAVATA/ESR (CLE) peptide hormones of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and their orthologues of Arabidopsis thaliana

Hastwell, April H., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2015). Genome-wide annotation and characterization of CLAVATA/ESR (CLE) peptide hormones of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and their orthologues of Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66 (17), 5271-5287. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erv351

Genome-wide annotation and characterization of CLAVATA/ESR (CLE) peptide hormones of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and their orthologues of Arabidopsis thaliana

2015

Journal Article

microRNA167c-directed regulation of the auxin response factors, GmARF8a and GmARF8b, is required for soybean (Glycine max L.) nodulation and lateral root development.

Wang, Youning, Li, Kexue, Chen, Liang, Zou, Yanmin, Liu, Haipei, Tian, Yinping, Li, Dongxiao, Wang, Rui, Zhao, Fang, Ferguson, Brett J., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Li, Xia (2015). microRNA167c-directed regulation of the auxin response factors, GmARF8a and GmARF8b, is required for soybean (Glycine max L.) nodulation and lateral root development.. Plant Physiology, 168 (3), 984-999. doi: 10.1104/pp.15.00265

microRNA167c-directed regulation of the auxin response factors, GmARF8a and GmARF8b, is required for soybean (Glycine max L.) nodulation and lateral root development.

2015

Journal Article

Identification of the primary lesion of toxic aluminum in plant roots

Kopittke, Peter M., Moore, Katie L., Lombi, Enzo, Gianoncelli, Alessandra, Ferguson, Brett J., Blamey, F. Pax C., Menzies, Neal W., Nicholson, Timothy M., McKenna, Brigid A., Wang, Peng, Gresshoff, Peter M., Kourousias, George, Webb, Richard I., Green, Kathryn and Tollenaere, Alina (2015). Identification of the primary lesion of toxic aluminum in plant roots. Plant Physiology, 167 (4), 1402-1411. doi: 10.1104/pp.114.253229

Identification of the primary lesion of toxic aluminum in plant roots

2015

Journal Article

The structure and activity of nodulation-suppressing CLE peptide hormones of legumes

Hastwell, April H., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2015). The structure and activity of nodulation-suppressing CLE peptide hormones of legumes. Functional Plant Biology, 42 (3), 229-238. doi: 10.1071/FP14222

The structure and activity of nodulation-suppressing CLE peptide hormones of legumes

2015

Journal Article

Soybean miR172c Targets the Repressive AP2 Transcription Factor NNC1 to Activate ENOD40 Expression and Regulate Nodule Initiation

Wang, Youning, Wang, Lixiang, Zou, Yanmin, Chen, Liang, Cai, Zhaoming, Zhang, Senlei, Fang Zhao, Tian, Yinping, Jiang, Qiong, Ferguson, Brett J., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Lia, Xia (2015). Soybean miR172c Targets the Repressive AP2 Transcription Factor NNC1 to Activate ENOD40 Expression and Regulate Nodule Initiation. Plant Cell, 26 (12), 4782-4801+. doi: 10.1105/tpc.114.131607

Soybean miR172c Targets the Repressive AP2 Transcription Factor NNC1 to Activate ENOD40 Expression and Regulate Nodule Initiation

2015

Book Chapter

Physiological implications of legume nodules associated with soil acidity

Ferguson, Brett J. and Gresshoff, Peter M. (2015). Physiological implications of legume nodules associated with soil acidity. Legume nitrogen fixation in a changing environment: achievements and challenges. (pp. 113-125) edited by Saad Sulieman and Lam-Son Phan Tran. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-06212-9_6

Physiological implications of legume nodules associated with soil acidity

2014

Journal Article

The soybean (Glycine max) nodulation-suppressive CLE peptide, GmRIC1, functions interspecifically in common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but not in a supernodulating line mutated in PvNARK

Ferguson, Brett J., Li, Dongxue, Hastwell, April H., Reid, Dugald E., Li, Yupeng, Jackson, Scott A. and Gresshoff, Peter M. (2014). The soybean (Glycine max) nodulation-suppressive CLE peptide, GmRIC1, functions interspecifically in common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but not in a supernodulating line mutated in PvNARK. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 12 (8), 1085-1097. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12216

The soybean (Glycine max) nodulation-suppressive CLE peptide, GmRIC1, functions interspecifically in common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but not in a supernodulating line mutated in PvNARK

2014

Journal Article

The value of biodiversity in legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodulation for biofuel and food production.

Gresshoff, Peter M., Hayashi, Satomi, Biswas, Bandana, Mirzaei, Saeid, Indrasumunar, Arief, Reid, Dugald, Samuel, Sharon, Tollenaere, Alina, van Hameren, Bethany, Hastwell, April, Scott, Paul and Ferguson, Brett J. (2014). The value of biodiversity in legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodulation for biofuel and food production.. Journal of Plant Physiology, 172 (2-3), 128-136. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2014.05.013

The value of biodiversity in legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodulation for biofuel and food production.

2014

Journal Article

Phytohormone regulation of legume-rhizobia interactions

Ferguson, Brett J. and Mathesius, Ulrike (2014). Phytohormone regulation of legume-rhizobia interactions. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 40 (7), 770-790. doi: 10.1007/s10886-014-0472-7

Phytohormone regulation of legume-rhizobia interactions

2014

Journal Article

Corrigendum: Models of long-distance transport: how is carrier-dependent auxin transport regulated in the stem?

Renton, Michael, Hanan, Jim, Ferguson, Brett J. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2014). Corrigendum: Models of long-distance transport: how is carrier-dependent auxin transport regulated in the stem?. New Phytologist, 203 (2), 705-705. doi: 10.1111/nph.12855

Corrigendum: Models of long-distance transport: how is carrier-dependent auxin transport regulated in the stem?

2014

Journal Article

Common and divergent roles of plant hormones in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses

Foo, Eloise, Ferguson, Brett J. and Reid, James B. (2014). Common and divergent roles of plant hormones in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. Plant Signaling and Behavior, 9 (9) e29593, 1-4. doi: 10.4161/psb.29593

Common and divergent roles of plant hormones in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses

2014

Journal Article

Mechanistic action of gibberellins in legume nodulation

Hayashi, Satomi, Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2014). Mechanistic action of gibberellins in legume nodulation. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 56 (10), 971-978. doi: 10.1111/jipb.12201

Mechanistic action of gibberellins in legume nodulation

2014

Journal Article

The potential roles of strigolactones and brassinosteroids in the autoregulation of nodulation pathway

Foo, E., Ferguson, B. J. and Reid, J. B. (2014). The potential roles of strigolactones and brassinosteroids in the autoregulation of nodulation pathway. Annals of Botany, 113 (6), 1037-1045. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu030

The potential roles of strigolactones and brassinosteroids in the autoregulation of nodulation pathway

2014

Conference Publication

Negative regulation of legume nodules by inducible signal peptides

Hastwell, April, Li, Dongxue, Tollenaere, Alina, Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2014). Negative regulation of legume nodules by inducible signal peptides. 17th Australian Nitrogen Fixation Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 28 September - 2 October 2014.

Negative regulation of legume nodules by inducible signal peptides

2014

Journal Article

Transcriptome profiling of the shoot and root tips of S562L, a soybean GmCLAVATA1A mutant

Mirzaei, Saeid, Batley, Jacqueline, Ferguson, Brett J. and Gresshoff, Peter M. (2014). Transcriptome profiling of the shoot and root tips of S562L, a soybean GmCLAVATA1A mutant. Atlas Journal of Biology, 3 (1), 183-205. doi: 10.5147/ajb.2014.0133

Transcriptome profiling of the shoot and root tips of S562L, a soybean GmCLAVATA1A mutant

2014

Journal Article

Conditional auxin response and differential cytokinin profiles in shoot branching mutants

Young, Naomi F., Ferguson, Brett J., Antoniadi, Ioanna, Bennett, Mark H., Beveridge, Christine A. and Turnbull, Colin G. N. (2014). Conditional auxin response and differential cytokinin profiles in shoot branching mutants. Plant Physiology, 165 (4), 1723-1736. doi: 10.1104/pp.114.239996

Conditional auxin response and differential cytokinin profiles in shoot branching mutants

2013

Journal Article

Advances in the identification of novel factors required in soybean nodulation, a process critical to sustainable agriculture and food security

van Hameren, Bethany, Hayashi, Satomi, Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2013). Advances in the identification of novel factors required in soybean nodulation, a process critical to sustainable agriculture and food security. Journal of Plant Biology and Soil Health, 1 (1).

Advances in the identification of novel factors required in soybean nodulation, a process critical to sustainable agriculture and food security

2013

Journal Article

Structure-function analysis of the GmRIC1 signal peptide and CLE domain required for nodulation control in soybean

Reid, Dugald E., Li, Dongxue, Ferguson, Brett J. and Gresshoff, Peter M. (2013). Structure-function analysis of the GmRIC1 signal peptide and CLE domain required for nodulation control in soybean. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64 (6), 1575-1585. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert008

Structure-function analysis of the GmRIC1 signal peptide and CLE domain required for nodulation control in soybean

2013

Book Chapter

Rhizobia and legume nodulation genes

Ferguson, B. J. (2013). Rhizobia and legume nodulation genes. Brenner’s encyclopedia of genetics. (pp. 236-239) edited by Stanley Maloy and Kelly Hughes. New York, NY, United States: Academic Press Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374984-0.01046-9

Rhizobia and legume nodulation genes

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Genetic initiative to transform symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Australian pulse crops
    PROC-9176963 Genetic initiative to transform symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Australian pulse crops
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Rapid generation of superior legume crops using tissue culture-free genome editing
    The Hermon Slade Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    Hy-Gain for Smallholders (2020-2025)
    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2024
    Molecular dissection of systemic regulation of nodulation in legumes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Development of sterile Leucaena to enhance red-meat production in new regions of Australia
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Identification and characterisation of new plant peptide hormones that control legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation.
    The Hermon Slade Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Developing sugarcane-legume companion cropping systems
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Discovering the Activity of Novel CLE Peptide Hormones that Regulate Legume Nodulation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Discovery of the Systemic Regulator of Legume Nodulation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Characterising the function of novel legume nodulation genes using virus-induced gene silencing
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Brett Ferguson is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Discovery and Functional Characterisation of New Plant Peptide Hormones

    The world is facing a serious and urgent threat to food security, with several studies concluding that crop production needs to double by the year 2050 to feed the rapidly growing population. Discovering new factors that enhance crop growth and yields is regarded as a pivotal step in meeting this demand. This project will characterise and synthesise exciting new peptide hormones recently identified in soybean that control plant development. Known members of this peptide family have critical roles in regulating shoot, root and seed growth, but the function of most remains unknown. Findings will enhance the molecular mechanisms of plant development, and could benefit agricultural sustainability and food security by aiding in the selection of superior crops and the commercialisation of novel regulatory compounds that increase crop yields.

  • Development of new tools for genetic transformation and genome editing of legume plants.

    Looking to improve genetric transformation and CRISPR genome editing capacity of plants through the development of new vectors, methods and techniques.

  • Overcoming Negative Impacts of Soil Acidity on Legume Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation

    Legume plants can enter into a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. This relationship can considerably improve soil health and crop yields, whilst also reducing the need for expensive and polluting nitrogen fertilisers, thus helping to enhance agricultural sustainability and food security. Legume plants form new root organs, called nodules, to house their rhizobia partners. The process of forming a nodule is called nodulation and it is tightly regulated by the host plant to optimise resources, often based on environmental conditions. Soil acidity is one environmental factor that can negatively influence nodulation. It represents a serious global problem as many of the world’s agricultural soils are acidic. This project aims to identify and characterize critical new molecular factors of legumes that function in acid-regulation of nodulation. Findings will enhance our knowledge of the genes and signals that act in acid-inhibition, and could benefit future efforts to overcome the negative effect of soil acidity on legume nodulation.

  • Enhancing the genetic and genomic understanding of the legume tree, Pongamia pinnata, as a source of sustainable biodiesel and aviation fuel.

    Pongamia pinnata is a fast-growing legume tree native to Australia that produces abundant seeds that are rich in oil (35–55%), including mono-unsaturated oleic acid (C18:1). These properties make Pongamia ideal for the production of renewable biofuel, including biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Indeed, Pongamia oil can be readily converted via transesterification to form a biodiesel called FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) or it can be converted to aviation fuel using hydrogenation in place of transesterification. Being a legume, Pongamia trees can engage into a symbiotic relationship with compatible rhizobia bacteria, resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. This provides Pongamia with a tremendous competitive advantage as they can access critical nitrogen for growth and development that is unavailable to non-legume plants. As a result, Pongamia can thrive in the absence of excessive nitrogen fertiliser inputs, which are expensive and pollute. This represents a tremendous economic and agriculturally-sustainable advantage for growing Pongamia compared with alternative, non-legume, feedstocks that are used for biofuels.

  • Functional Characterisation of Novel Components Required for the Development and Control of Legume Nodules.

    Nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture is inefficient, costly and can be environmentally damaging. Legume crops represent an economically and environmentally sound alternative, as their relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria enables them to thrive in the absence of nitrogen fertiliser. The bacteria (commonly referred to as rhizobia) are housed in specialised root organs, called nodules. Identifying critical components in the development and control of legume nodules is now needed to optimise the process and improve agriculture sustainability. Projects include those that aim to discover and functionally characterise novel factors that 1) are required early in the molecular process of legume nodule development, 2) act to control legume nodule numbers, or 3) are regulated by acid soils to inhibit nodule formation. Findings can considerably enhance the current nodulation model and could help to underpin strategies to reduce the over-reliance on nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture.

  • Genetic transformation and CRISPR genome editing to establish molecular mechanisms of plant development.

    We have identified numerous genetic targets having roles in controlling plant growth and development in response to abiotic and biotic factors, including interactions with beneficial microbes. These factors now need to be functionally characterised to understand their activity and to establish alleles to target of generate in breeding programs to optimise crop performance. Genetic transformation of genes of interest, promotor:reporter fusions, and CRISPR genome editing represent three biotechnology approaches we can use to help achieve this.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Regulators of female reproductive development in cowpea

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Anna Koltunow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterising novel molecular signals involved in Legume nodulation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Gresshoff

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Nannochloropsis: a synthetic biology platform

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Harendra Parekh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Molecular analysis of novel CLE peptide hormones that respond to legume pathogens

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Revolutionising CRISPR genome editing to generate superior legume crops

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Molecular analysis of novel CLE peptide hormones that respond to legume pathogens

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Nannochloropsis: a potential chassis strain for synthetic biology in microbial photoautotrophs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Harendra Parekh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Regulators of female reproductive development in cowpea

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Anna Koltunow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Biomimetic Modular Platform to Deliver Plant Actives and Microbes to Crop Seed to Improve Seed Germination and Plant Development

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jitka Kochanek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Characterization of Root Meristem Growth Factor (RGF) Peptides in Soybean Root Development and Nodulation

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Helping crops cope as climatic extremes escalate: elucidating plant responses to novel growth enhancing compounds

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jitka Kochanek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Expediting genetic gains in faba bean using new breeding strategies

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Karen Massel

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Characterisation of Root Meristem Growth Factor (RGF)/GOLVEN (GLV)/CLE-Like (CLEL) Peptides in Soybean Root Development and Nodulation

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Brett Ferguson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biofuel
  • Genetics - plants
  • Legumes
  • Microbe-plant interactions
  • Nodulation - Botany
  • Plant molecular biology
  • Plant-microbe interactions
  • Plants - development, physiology, genetics
  • Pongamia pinnata
  • Soybean
  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
  • Symbiosis

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au