The Crop Evolution and Molecular Genetics Group researches the genetic and molecular basis of cereal improvement, focusing primarily on cereal crops including wheat, barley, and oat.
We conduct field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate the physiological responses of plants to environmental stress. We exploit genetic resources to improve crops by identifying and then mixing and matching promising genes. We employ a variety of breeding tools, from traditional cross-breeding of varieties with classical Mendelian traits, through to leveraging sophisticated genomics technologies alongside advanced plant phenotyping platforms. The gene complexes underpinning the brittle rachis phenotype in barley provide a model for gene discovery in the fundamental attributes of the spike development process in cereals that underpin future yield improvement.
Group members from CropGEM Lab: Crop Genetics and Molecular Evolution Lab.
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For enquiries, please email A/Prof Mohammad Pourkheirandish - mohammad.p@unimelb.edu.au