Overview
Background
I am a plant molecular physiologist in the Mitter Lab at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. Our team primarily focuses on innovating tissue culture technologies for plant species in close partnership with industry and stakeholders. We deliver world-first propagation protocols for difficult and recalcitrant crops species as well as biotechnologies for crop improvement and cryobanking of recalcitrant plant germplasm. We also have a dedicated research stream in crop genomics and molecular biology. We aim to improve efficiency and resilience in our plant industries as well as support conservation of our key germplasm and endangered species. Our flagship species has been the avocado, and our team has been involved with producing the first genome sequence for avocado as well as the world's first commercial tissue culture pipelines for avocado propagation and cryopreservation. We are now extending this to other key crop species such as macadamia, as well as endangered native species with collaborators. Our ongoing vision is continued extension of these technologies to new species and crops for both horticultural and environmental outcomes.
**We are always looking for motivated Honours, MPhil and PhD applicants - get in contact if this is you!**
Availability
- Dr Alice Hayward is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Plant tissue culture
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Plant molecular biology
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Plant cryopreservation
Works
Search Professor Alice Hayward’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Conference Publication
Temporary silencing targeted plant genes with exogenous application of dsRNA
Nak, W., Hayward, A., Gleeson, M. and Mitter, N. (2020). Temporary silencing targeted plant genes with exogenous application of dsRNA. International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: V International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources and International Symposium on Applied Functional Molecular Biology, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-16 August 2018. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1297.79
2020
Conference Publication
Structural relation for acclimatization success for in vitro cultured avocado
Hiti-Bandaralage, J. C.A., Hayward, A. and Mitter, N. (2020). Structural relation for acclimatization success for in vitro cultured avocado. XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: II International Symposium on Micropropagation and In Vitro Techniques, Istanbul, Turkey, 8 July 2020. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1285.39
2020
Journal Article
First report on cryopreservation of mature shoot tips of two avocado (Persea americana Mill.) rootstocks
O'Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J. C. A., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A., Folsom, J. and Mitter, N. (2020). First report on cryopreservation of mature shoot tips of two avocado (Persea americana Mill.) rootstocks. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 144 (1), 103-113. doi: 10.1007/s11240-020-01861-y
2020
Journal Article
A method to increase regrowth of vitrified shoot tips of avocado (Persea americana Mill.): First critical step in developing a cryopreservation protocol
O’Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A., Folsom, J. and Mitter, N. (2020). A method to increase regrowth of vitrified shoot tips of avocado (Persea americana Mill.): First critical step in developing a cryopreservation protocol. Scientia Horticulturae, 266 109305, 109305. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109305
2020
Journal Article
Phase change related microRNA profiles in the plant regeneration process of avocado through shoot-tip culture
Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Hayward, Alice, O’Brien, Chris, Ahsan, Umair, Gleeson, Madeline, Xue, Yuxin and Mitter, Neena (2020). Phase change related microRNA profiles in the plant regeneration process of avocado through shoot-tip culture. Annals of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, 4 (2). doi: 10.22606/as.2020.42001
2020
Conference Publication
Investigating new methods to increase adventitious root formation
Nak, William, Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2020). Investigating new methods to increase adventitious root formation. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036052
2020
Conference Publication
Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) apical shoot tips using different antioxidants
O’Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J.C.A., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A. and Mitter, N. (2020). Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) apical shoot tips using different antioxidants. International Horticultural Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-16 August 2018. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/actahortic.2020.1285.3
2020
Book Chapter
Advances in avocado propagation for the sustainable supply of planting materials
Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Hayward, Alice, O’Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Nak, William and Mitter, Neena (2020). Advances in avocado propagation for the sustainable supply of planting materials. Achieving sustainable cultivation of tropical fruits. (pp. 215-237) Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. doi: 10.19103/as.2019.0054.19
2020
Book Chapter
Avocado transcriptomic resources
Shaw, Lindsay, Nath, Onkar, Fletcher, Stephen, Henry, Robert, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2020). Avocado transcriptomic resources. Reference Module in Food Science. (pp. 544-557) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-100596-5.22733-9
2019
Conference Publication
Avocado genome sequencing and development of genetic markers for breeding and germplasm identification
Nath, O., Shaw, L. M., Hayward, A., Fletcher, S., Albert, V., Henry, R. and Mitter, N. (2019). Avocado genome sequencing and development of genetic markers for breeding and germplasm identification. TropAg 2019, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019.
2019
Journal Article
Scion control of miRNA abundance and tree maturity in grafted avocado
Ahsan, Muhammad Umair, Hayward, Alice, Alam, Mobashwer, Bandaralage, Jayeni Hiti, Topp, Bruce, Beveridge, Christine Anne and Mitter, Neena (2019). Scion control of miRNA abundance and tree maturity in grafted avocado. BMC Plant Biology, 19 (1) 382, 382. doi: 10.1186/s12870-019-1994-5
2019
Journal Article
The avocado genome informs deep angiosperm phylogeny, highlights introgressive hybridization, and reveals pathogen-influenced gene space adaptation
Rendon-Anaya, Martha, Ibarra-Laclette, Enrique, Mendez-Bravo, Alfonso, Lan, Tianying, Zheng, Chunfang, Carretero-Paulet, Lorenzo, Anahi Perez-Torres, Claudia, Chacon-Lopez, Alejandra, Hernandez-Guzman, Gustavo, Chang, Tien-Hao, Farr, Kimberly M., Barbazuk, W. Brad, Chamala, Srikar, Mutwil, Marek, Shivhare, Devendra, Alvarez-Ponce, David, Mitter, Neena, Hayward, Alice, Fletcher, Stephen, Rozas, Julio, Sanchez Gracia, Alejandro, Kuhn, David, Barrientos-Priego, Alejandro F., Salojarvi, Jarkko, Librado, Pablo, Sankoff, David, Herrera-Estrella, Alfredo, Albert, Victor A. and Herrera-Estrella, Luis (2019). The avocado genome informs deep angiosperm phylogeny, highlights introgressive hybridization, and reveals pathogen-influenced gene space adaptation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116 (34), 17081-17089. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1822129116
2019
Journal Article
Juvenility and vegetative phase transition in tropical/subtropical tree crops
Ahsan, Muhammad Umair, Hayward, Alice, Irihimovitch, Vered, Fletcher, Stephen, Tanurdzic, Milos, Pocock, Alexander, Beveridge, Christine Anne and Mitter, Neena (2019). Juvenility and vegetative phase transition in tropical/subtropical tree crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 729, 729. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00729
2019
Conference Publication
The Use Of Sucrose Pre-Culture For Cryopreservation Of Avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) Cultivar ‘Velvick’
O'Brien, Chris, Bandaralage, Jayeni Hiti, Folgado, Raquel, Lahmeyer, Sean, Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2019). The Use Of Sucrose Pre-Culture For Cryopreservation Of Avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) Cultivar ‘Velvick’. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Cryobiology CRYO 2019, San Diego, CA United States, 22-25 July 2019. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.10.056
2018
Journal Article
Molecular characterization and analysis of conserved potyviral motifs in bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) for RNAi-mediated protection
Worrall, Elizabeth A., Hayward, Alice C., Fletcher, Stephen J. and Mitter, Neena (2018). Molecular characterization and analysis of conserved potyviral motifs in bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) for RNAi-mediated protection. Archives of Virology, 164 (1), 181-194. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-4065-6
2018
Book Chapter
Avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
O’Brien, Christopher, Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni C. A., Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2018). Avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Step wise protocols for somatic embryogenesis of important woody plants. Volume II. (pp. 305-328) edited by Shri Mohan Jain and Pramod Gupta. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-79087-9_24
2018
Conference Publication
MicroRNA control of flowering and annual crop cycle in tropical/subtropical horticultural trees
Ahsan, M. U., Hayward, A., Powell, R., Wilkie, J., Beveridge, C. and Mitter, N. (2018). MicroRNA control of flowering and annual crop cycle in tropical/subtropical horticultural trees. International Symposia on Tropical and Temperate Horticulture, Cairns, QLD Australia, 20 November 2016. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1205.84
2018
Journal Article
Acclimatization of micropropagated mature avocado
Hiti Bandaralage, J.C.A., Hayward, A., O’Brien, C., Beveridge, C. and Mitter, N. (2018). Acclimatization of micropropagated mature avocado. Acta Horticulturae, 1224 (1224), 13-20. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1224.3
2018
Conference Publication
Adventitious Rooting in Avocado - Unravelling the Bottleneck to Propagation
Gleeson, Madeleine , Hayward, Alice , Hiti Bandalarage, Jayeni , Fletcher, Stephen and Mitter, Neena (2018). Adventitious Rooting in Avocado - Unravelling the Bottleneck to Propagation. Plant and Animal Genome Conference XXIV, San Diego, CA, United States, 13-17 January 2018. San Diego, CA, United States:
2018
Conference Publication
Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) shoot tips
O’Brien, Chris, Hiti Bandaralage, Jayeni C. A., Folgado, Raquel, Lahmeyer, Sean, Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2018). Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) shoot tips. CRYO2018, Madrid, Spain, 10-13 July 2018. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.10.199
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Alice Hayward is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Cryobiotechnology to Save Australian Macadamia
Want to do a PhD in conservation with real-world outcomes and close industry links?! Join our team of industry and academic leaders at the Australian PlantBank and The University of Queensland and be the first to develop cryobiotechnology to help save Australia’s macadamia species.
Our lab is dedicated to developing cryopreservation (cryostorage at -196C) protocols to save plant species from climate-change, disease pandemics (e.g. myrtle rust), deforestation and ultimately extinction. This is essential for plants that do not survive seed-banking – including our food species such as macadamia. This technology allows us to safely freeze plant cells and tissues at -196C and then revive them to grow into whole new plants. This provides an insurance bank to conserve incredible genetic diversity of precious species including crops and endangered species that cannot be seed-banked.
You must be an Australian resident and will be based at the Australian PlantBank in NSW and Enrolled through the University of Queensland. Students will learn techniques of plant tissue culture and cryopreservation in close connection with industry and real end-user funders in plant conservation. The student(s) will develop real-world protocols to save these species in Australian cryobanks. The student(s) will also have opportuity to travel, conduct field work, and investigate molecular physiological apsects of cellular cryostorage behaviour.
Location: The Australian PlantBank Mt Annan, NSW.
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Tissue culture to feed the world
The Mitter Lab has received global media coverage for developing the world’s first tissue-culture production system for avocado plants - the world's most instagrammed fruit. This is important as a sustainable, cost-effective and climate-secure way to produce plants. The team has also developed systems for pharma crops, hyperacumulating species for industrial application and endgangered species under threat of climate change and disease pandemics.
Dedicated students will be part of our expanding research in a new $20M tissue-culture facility at UQ, developing systems for other high-value crop species as well as endangered native species where prior research is lacking or proved too challenging. Students will work very closely with internationally leading researchers, industry and partners to deliver real-world outcomes and value-add student experience. There is also opportunity for students to discover novel aspects of plant genetics and molecular physiology in relation to tissue culture and crop function.
**We are NOW searching for**:
-Honours student in Custard Apple Tissue Culture -PhD students in Macadamia Tissue Culture -MPhil Student in macadamia molecular biology and informatics
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The next generation of avocado crop improvement
Our Lab in QAAFI has been part of a large effort sequencing the genomes of major sub-tropical fruit crops including avocado. We have developed a DNA marker set that can distinguish avocado cultivars available in Australia – this is important for industry to be able to rapidly identify and track plants. We are also producing the first chromosome level genome for avocado, set to signfcantly enhance future assisted breeding and gene-editing tech for avocado. Combining our world-leading strengths in avocado tissue culture innovation and genomics, this project will develop novel platform technologies for avocado crop improvement exploring options for mutatgenesis breeding and gene-editing. The outcomes if successfull could be a game changer for avocado crop development into the future.
**We are now searching for: PhD students in Avocado transformation and mutagenesis!**
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Developing cryopreservation for endangered Myrtaceae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins, Dr Chris O'Brien, Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Eveline Kong
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel propagation and conservation technologies for Australian macadamia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Chris O'Brien
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Doctor Philosophy
Innovating Cryopreservation for Conservation of Endangered Gossia gonoclada
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Chris O'Brien
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Doctor Philosophy
Cryobiotechnology Innovations for Threatened Australian Myrtaceae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris O'Brien, Professor Neena Mitter, Professor Paul Gauthier, Dr Eveline Kong
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Doctor Philosophy
Establishment of avocado genome editing: Dwarfing avocado
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Chris O'Brien
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Master Philosophy
Unravelling the identity and relationships of Australian apple varieties
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Craig Hardner
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Propagation and Conservation Technologies for Australian Macadamia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris O'Brien, Dr Albert Wong, Professor Neena Mitter
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the mechanism responsible for zeaxanthin accumulation in orange-coloured Capsicum.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper, Professor Neena Mitter
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Genome Sequencing, annotation and application in avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Stephen Fletcher, Professor Robert Henry, Professor Neena Mitter
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The development of purple-pericarp super-sweetcorn
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Henry, Professor Neena Mitter
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Cryopreservation of avocado shoot tips for the conservation of Persea germplasm
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Topical application of biomolecules to manipulate the adventitious rooting pathway
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Brett Ferguson, Professor Neena Mitter
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Micropropagation as an Alternative for Avocado Clonal Propagation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge, Professor Neena Mitter
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular regulation of phase transition and flowering in tropical/subtropical tree crops.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge, Professor Neena Mitter
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of adventitious rooting in avocado for improved clonal propagation technologies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Carroll, Professor Christine Beveridge, Professor Neena Mitter
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Alice Hayward directly for media enquiries about:
- horticulture
- plant genetics
- Plant science
- tissue culture
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