Rubisco activase (Rca) is the essential molecular chaperone that regulates the activity of Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for the initial step of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and providing the primary source of organic carbon on Earth.

Abiotic stresses like heat and excess sunlight perturb photosynthesis in chloroplasts and induce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Dr Allen (Zhengyu) Wen - Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) threatens food security for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our research identified two genetic solutions: a mutated peroxisomal peptidase that blocks viral invagination and a eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E mutant that stops viral protein translation while preserving plant growth. Using gene editing, we introduced these traits into elite maize varieties. In Kenyan trials, edited lines showed complete MLN resistance with no yield loss, offering a major advance for protecting millions of farmers’ livelihoods.

Dr Thomas Vanhercke - Plant synthetic biology and metabolic engineering enable precise redesign of plant genomes for improved traits and new functions. For over 20 years, the CSIRO Synthetic Traits group has led in applying advanced genetics to oil crops. This presentation highlights omega-3 transgenic canola as a real-world example delivering health benefits and addressing global supply challenges. I’ll also outline emerging developments such as high-throughput in-planta library screening, advanced RNAi, and novel complex traits pushing plant synthetic biology’s limits.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a key retrograde signal in plants, linking chloroplast-derived stress cues to nuclear gene expression.

Plants synthesize an amazing diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that facilitate interactions with their environment, ranging from attracting pollinators and seed dispersers to protecting themselves from pathogens, parasites, and herbivores.

Fungal diseases are among the most significant causes of wheat yield loss globally and pose a serious threat to food security.

Plants don’t exist naturally in isolation. They are surrounded by, colonised by, and interact with, microorganisms.

Our research explores the concept of priming-induced stress memory in plants, where exposure to mild or non-lethal stress events equips plants to better confront subsequent, more severe stressors.

The simultaneous measurement of meteorological variables along with ecosystem physiology has improved our understanding of how native and managed ecosystems respond to external forcings like climate change.

C4 photosynthesis is one of the most prolific complex traits in the biosphere, having independently evolved over 70 times in flowering plants. Understanding C4 evolution is providing insights into how evolution builds complex life forms that can transform the biosphere.

Will ecosystems maintain their biodiversity and function under global environmental change, and continue to sequester carbon and slow climate change?

Photosynthesis and leaf respiration are key metabolic processes for plant growth and their carbon exchange with the atmosphere are the largest within the global carbon cycle.