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Dr April Hastwell
Dr

April Hastwell

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Overview

Background

Dr April Hastwell is a plant molecular biologist with the School of Agriculture and Food Science at The University of Queensland, Australia. The focus of her research group is on roles of short signalling peptides in root development including in molecular networks controlling the beneficial legume-rhizobia symbiosis and nodule development.

Availability

Dr April Hastwell is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Works

Search Professor April Hastwell’s works on UQ eSpace

19 works between 2014 and 2024

1 - 19 of 19 works

2024

Journal Article

The parallel narrative of RGF/GLV/CLEL peptide signalling

Hastwell, April H., Chu, Xitong, Liu, Yuhan and Ferguson, Brett J. (2024). The parallel narrative of RGF/GLV/CLEL peptide signalling. Trends in Plant Science. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.07.014

The parallel narrative of RGF/GLV/CLEL peptide signalling

2024

Book Chapter

Rhizobia and Legume Nodulation Genes

Hastwell, A.H. and Ferguson, B.J. (2024). Rhizobia and Legume Nodulation Genes. Reference Module in Life Sciences. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822563-9.00185-2

Rhizobia and Legume Nodulation Genes

2023

Journal Article

Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings

Yu, Lina, You, Fang, Wu, Songlin, Lu, Zhaohua, Hastwell, April, Ferguson, Brett and Huang, Longbin (2023). Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 23 (1), 1085-1095. doi: 10.1007/s42729-022-01105-2

Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings

2022

Book Chapter

Soybean CLE peptides and their CLAVATA-like signaling pathways

Jones, Candice H., Hastwell, April H., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2022). Soybean CLE peptides and their CLAVATA-like signaling pathways. Soybean physiology and genetics. (pp. 153-175) edited by Hon-Ming Lam and Man-Wah Li. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.abr.2022.02.006

Soybean CLE peptides and their CLAVATA-like signaling pathways

2021

Journal Article

Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nitrate and rhizobia regulation of nodulation

Mens, Celine, Hastwell, April H., Su, Huanan, Gresshoff, Peter M., Mathesius, Ulrike and Ferguson, Brett J. (2021). Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nitrate and rhizobia regulation of nodulation. New Phytologist, 229 (5) nph.17010, 2525-2534. doi: 10.1111/nph.17010

Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nitrate and rhizobia regulation of nodulation

2020

Other Outputs

Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nodulation control

Mens, Celine, Hastwell, April, Su, Huanan, Gresshoff, Peter, Mathesius, Ulrike and Ferguson, Brett (2020). Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nodulation control.

Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nodulation control

2019

Journal Article

GmYUC2a mediates auxin biosynthesis during root development and nodulation in soybean

Wang, Youning, Yang, Wei, Zuo, Yanyan, Zhu, Lin, Hastwell, April H., Chen, Liang, Tian, Yinping, Su, Chao, Ferguson, Brett J. and Li, Xia (2019). GmYUC2a mediates auxin biosynthesis during root development and nodulation in soybean. Journal of Experimental Botany, 70 (12), 3165-3176. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erz144

GmYUC2a mediates auxin biosynthesis during root development and nodulation in soybean

2018

Other Outputs

Functional characterisation of novel peptide hormones in legume nodulation and plant development

Hastwell, April (2018). Functional characterisation of novel peptide hormones in legume nodulation and plant development. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.808

Functional characterisation of novel peptide hormones in legume nodulation and plant development

2018

Journal Article

Legume nodulation: the host controls the party

Ferguson, B. J., Mens, C., Hastwell, A. H., Zhang, M. B., Su, H., Jones, C. H., Chu, X. T. and Gresshoff, P. M. (2018). Legume nodulation: the host controls the party. Plant, Cell and Environment, 42 (1), 41-51. doi: 10.1111/pce.13348

Legume nodulation: the host controls the party

2018

Journal Article

Triarabinosylation is required for nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides to systemically inhibit nodulation in Pisum sativum

Hastwell, April H., Corcilius, Leo, Williams, James, Gresshoff, Peter M., Payne, Richard J. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2018). Triarabinosylation is required for nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides to systemically inhibit nodulation in Pisum sativum. Plant, Cell and Environment, 42 (1), 188-197. doi: 10.1111/pce.13325

Triarabinosylation is required for nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides to systemically inhibit nodulation in Pisum sativum

2018

Book Chapter

Advances in understanding soybean physiology and growth

Zhang, M. B., Chu, X. T., Su, H. N., Hastwell, A. H., Gresshoff, P. M. and Ferguson, B. J. (2018). Advances in understanding soybean physiology and growth. Achieving sustainable cultivation of soybeans: volume 1 breeding and cultivation techniques. (pp. 3-22) edited by Henry T. Nguyen. Sawston, Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. doi: 10.19103/as.2017.0034.01

Advances in understanding soybean physiology and growth

2017

Journal Article

Arabinosylation modulates the growth-regulating activity of the peptide hormone CLE40a from soybean

Corcilius, Leo, Hastwell, April H., Zhang, Mengbai, Williams, James, Mackay, Joel P., Gresshoff, Peter M., Ferguson, Brett J. and Payne, Richard J. (2017). Arabinosylation modulates the growth-regulating activity of the peptide hormone CLE40a from soybean. Cell Chemical Biology, 24 (11), 1347-1355. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.08.014

Arabinosylation modulates the growth-regulating activity of the peptide hormone CLE40a from soybean

2017

Journal Article

Author Correction: CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis (vol 7, 9384, 2017)

Hastwell, April H., de Bang, Thomas C., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2017). Author Correction: CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis (vol 7, 9384, 2017). Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 15474, 15474. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-14991-9

Author Correction: CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis (vol 7, 9384, 2017)

2017

Journal Article

CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis

Hastwell, April H., de Bang, Thomas C., Gresshoff, Peter M. and Ferguson, Brett J. (2017). CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 9384, 9384. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09296-w

CLE peptide-encoding gene families in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, compared with those of soybean, common bean and Arabidopsis

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

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

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

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

Funding

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Rapid generation of superior legume crops using tissue culture-free genome editing
    The Hermon Slade Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Legume meristem signalling peptides: an untapped niche
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Australian Peptide Display Facility (ARC LIEF administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr April Hastwell is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Peptide regulation of plant-microbe interactions in legumes

    Legumes are capable of forming beneficial symbioses with bacteria and fungal microbes within the soil, however, they are also at risk from harmful microbial pathogens. While the beneficial symbioses allow the plant to uptake valuable nutrients, reducing the amount of agricultural inputs, pathogenic organisms significantly impact the plant fitness and untimely yield. When the plant and a microbe interact, there are numerous plant signalling pathways that are activated to enable or prevent the interaction from occurring. Many small signalling proteins, known as peptides, are at the centre of these interactions. These peptides are small, mobile signals and often contain complex post-translational modifications to enable important messages to be relayed across cells and organs.

    Aspects of this project will use bioinformatics, molecular biology, microbiology and plant physiology to help understand how groups of different signalling peptides are involved and how they help control plant-microbe interactions.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr April Hastwell directly for media enquiries about:

  • Legume development
  • Plant signalling

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au