ANU - Science@ANU - ANU Plant Sciences

Plant Science research at the ANU addresses a wide spectrum of topics of fundamental importance to explaining plant function and performance in both natural and agricultural environments. Understanding how plants perform in response to global climate change, both now and in the future, is a feature of much of our research. We integrate a wide range of approaches, ranging from genomic and molecular technologies to studies of plant biochemistry, physiology, ecology and evolution, landscape management and conservation biology.

Topic-driven foci
	Plants and global climate change Impacts of predicted climate change on the function, distribution, abundance and management of plants are being addressed.
	Biodiversity and ecology of natural ecosystems We are at the forefront of understanding the breadth of adaptive traits that underpin the enormous diversity of plant species in Australia and beyond.
	Conserving and managing Australian plants Ways in which improved landscape management can enhance conservation of natural ecosystems and productivity of crops/forests are being investigated.
	Response of plants to environmental gradients The impact of environmental gradients and stresses on plant growth and performance are being assessed from the molecular to whole plant level.
	Plant interactions with animals and microbes Interactions between plants and animals, symbiotic bacteria, fungi and pathogens are being investigated at molecular to ecosystem levels.
	Increasing productivity of crops and forests We are exploring the use of molecular, biochemical, physiological and land management approaches to improve crop yields and forest productivity.
	Unlocking the secrets of cell cycles and metabolism Discovery and characterization of the underlying mechanisms that control cell formation and energy metabolism are major areas of research.

Discipline-driven foci
	Molecular and Cell Biology Molecular and cell biology approaches are being employed in a wide range of studies, both in model systems and in natural ecosystems.
	Bioinformatics and Bio-mathematical Modelling Mathematical and computational techniques are used to integrate across diverse biological levels, and understand metabolic processes.
	Biochemistry and Biophysics A wide range of biochemical and biophysical experimental approaches are being used to study plant function and structure.
	Developmental Biology Several groups are investigating processes controlling development of individual plants using a wide range of experimental approaches.
	Environmental Physiology Field & laboratory observations are being used to understand how plants respond to environmental cues and survive in diverse habitats.
	Ecology, Evolution & Systematics The full diversity of ecology, evolution and phylogenetic systematics is being addressed using inter-disciplinary approaches.
	Conservation Biology and Biogeography We are at the forefront of efforts to understand and conserve the genetic diversity in natural ecosystems.