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Profile of Carsten Kulheim

Teaching | Research | Research opportunities | Lab members | Publications | Grants

Doctor Carsten Kulheim

Building 116,
Research School of Biology,
The Australian National University,
Acton, ACT 0200
T: 61257190
E: carsten.kulheim@anu.edu.au

 Biography:

I graduated from the Umea University in Sweden with a major in Plant Molecular Biology in 2000. I completed my PhD in 2005 at Umea University, having worked with short term adaptation mechanisms in photosynthesis to changes in light environment. I moved on for a two-year Post Doc at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where I worked on plant-herbivore interactions using poplar as a model system. In 2008 I joined the ANU continuing in the field of plant-herbivore interactions with the focus on Australian Myrtaceae.

Teaching

BIOL 3137: Molecular Tool for Ecology Lectures and Pracs on Next-generation sequencing

Research interests

I want to understand the genetic basis of the phenotype differences between individual plants of the same species. Myrtaceae, such as Eucalypts and Tea Trees, vary widely in their chemical composition between individuals of the same species. By sequencing structural genes of secondary metabolism pathways from a large number of individuals and associating the polymorphisms to the phenotype, we can discover and quantify the inherited effects of each polymorphism.

In April 2010 a plant pathogen from South America arrived in Australia - Myrtle rust (Puccinia psidii). This plant pathogen has not co-evolved with the Australian flora and most Australian Myrtaceae species are susceptible. The potential consequences for the Australian ecosystem and Industries dependent on Myrtaceae are vast. I investigate genetic markers for rust resistance, which will allow breeders to incorporate resistance into their plant breeding stock.

Current projects

Genetics and evolution of variation in chemical defence against herbivores

Why are some trees defended against herbivores and others not? Even when they grow right next to each other? Is it because of variations in soils or are genetic factors more important?        Show more detail...

Rust resistance in Australian Myrtaceae

The exotic plant pathogen myrtle rust has recently arrived in Australia with devastating effects for the environment and dependent industries.        Show more detail...

Student research opportunities

Lab members

  • Karen Arthur (Visiting Fellow)
  • Jessie Au (Honours Student)
  • Jessie Au (Research Assistant)
  • Carlos Bustos-Segura (PhD student)
  • Bill Foley (Lab Leader)
  • Karen Ford (Postdoctoral Fellow)
  • Carsten Kulheim (Postdoctoral Fellow)
  • Erich Lassak (Visiting Fellow)
  • Amanda Padovan (PhD student)
  • Eleanor Stalenberg (PhD student)
  • Alan Wade (Visiting Fellow)
  • Ian Wallis (Research Fellow)
  • Hamish Webb (PhD student)
  • Hannah Windley (PhD student)
  • Suat Hui Yeoh (PhD student)

» Go to lab directory

Publications

Selected publications

1. Külheim C, Ågren J, Jansson S (2002) Rapid Regulation of light harvesting and Plant fitness in the field. Science 297: 91-93

2. Ganeteg U, Külheim C*, Andersson J, Jansson S (2004) Is each light harvesting complex protein important for plant fitness? Plant Physiology 134: 502-509
* Shared first author

3. Külheim C, Jansson S (2005) What leads to reduced fitness in non-photochemical quenching mutants during stress? Physiologia plantarum 125: 202-211

4. Frenkel M, Külheim C*, Jankanpaa HJ, Skogstrom O, Dall’Osto L, Agren J, Bassi R, Moritz T, Moen J, Jansson S (2009) Improper excess light energy dissipation in Arabidopsis results in a metabolomic reprogramming. BMC Plant Biology 9: 12
* Shared first author

5. Philippe RN, Ralph SG, Külheim C, Jancsik SI, Bohlmann J (2009) Poplar defense against insects: genome analysis, full-length cDNA cloning, and transcriptome and protein analysis of the poplar Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family. New Phytologist 184: 865-884

6. Külheim C, Yeoh SH, Maintz J, Foley WJ, Moran GF (2009) Comparative SNP diversity among four Eucalyptus species for genes from secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways. BMC genomics 10: 452

7. Külheim, C (2010) Applying second-generation sequencing to non-model species. Aust. Biochemist 41: 10-13

8. Külheim, C, Yeoh SH, Wallis IR, Laffan S, Moran GF, Foley WJ (2011) The molecular basis of quantitative variation in foliar secondary metabolites in Eucalyptus globulus. New Phytologist DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03769.x



Recent grants

Post doctoral fellowship from the Swedish Research Council (2007)



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Updated:  21 December 2010/Responsible Officer:  Director RSB /Page Contact:  RSB Webmaster