The new plant hormone controlling shoot branching (2011-2015)
Abstract
Based on past ARC funding, the CI was instrumental in discovering the new plant hormone involved in shoot branching (strigolactone). This project will build on this finding by identifying and characterising new genes involved in its production. This project has broad significance as strigolactones are important for controlling shoot numbers and shoot architecture, water and nutrient uptake by plants, parasitic weeds in Australia, wood formation, and plant propagation. This project will discover how strigolactone levels are regulated and how they act to control branching. This will allow us to tailor strategies for plant improvement and management in a wide range of commercial and environmental contexts.
