A5030692502- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Hemoglobin structure and function
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Digestive system and related health
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Soybean genetics and cultivation
- Plant Genetic and Mutation Studies
- Transgenic Plants and Applications
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Hemodynamic Monitoring and Therapy
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
Plant & Food Research
2009-2023
Palmerston North Hospital
2018
University of Manitoba
2012
University of Auckland
1989-2010
The University of Queensland
2008
AgResearch
2007
Most published genome sequences are drafts, and most dominated by computational gene prediction. Draft genomes typically incorporate considerable sequence data that not assigned to chromosomes, predicted genes without quality confidence measures. The current Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit) 'Hongyang' draft has 164 Mb of unassigned pseudo-chromosomes, omissions have been identified in the models.A second an A. (genotype Red5) was fully sequenced. This new resulted a 554.0 assembly with all...
Toxin complex (Tc) proteins are a class of bacterial protein toxins that form large, multisubunit complexes. Comprising TcA, B, and C components, they great interest because many exhibit potent insecticidal activity. Here we report the structure novel Tc, Yen-Tc, isolated from bacterium Yersinia entomophaga MH96, which differs majority bacterially derived Tcs in it exhibits oral activity toward broad range insect pests, including diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella ). We have determined...
Abstract The midgut is a key tissue in insect science. Physiological roles include digestion and peritrophic membrane function, as well being an important target for insecticides. We used expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to identify candidate genes gene families involved these processes the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Two cDNA libraries were constructed from dissected of third fifth instar larvae. Clustering analysis 6416 tags...
The study of indole-3-acetic acid synthesis has undergone something a revival recently in an attempt to understand the control IAA levels. Results are, however, contradictory with three separate hypotheses emerging. Our own work supports older evidence for L-tryptophan as precursor and appears simplify metabolism tryptophan IAA. Work comparing incorporation 2H from 2H2O into IAA, tryptophan, tryptamine indole-3-pyruvate tomato shoots showed that became labelled at rate compatible it being...
We have identified lipase-like genes from an Epiphyas postvittana larval midgut EST library. Of the 10 pancreatic lipase family genes, six appear to encode active lipases and four inactive lipases, based on presence/absence of essential catalytic residues. The gastric proteins. Phylogenetic analysis 54 lepidopteran proteins resolved clade into five groups origin a sixth non-midgut lipases. formed two separate with highly conserved mutations. ninth subfamily Eighteen insect human were...
Baculovirus chitinases and other family 18 glycohydrolases have been shown to possess both exo- endochitinase activities when assayed against fluorescent chito-oligosaccharides. Homology modelling of the chitinase Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus (EppoNPV) Serratia marcescens A indicated that enzyme possesses an N-terminal polycystic kidney 1 (PKD1) domain for chitin-substrate feeding alpha/beta TIM barrel catalytic characteristic a glycohydrolase. EppoNPV has many features in...
Abstract Five aminopeptidase‐N genes (EpAPN1‐5) of the tortricid moth Epiphyas postvittana have been isolated from a midgut expressed sequence tag (EST) library. Relative RNA expression these was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using actin as reference gene. Measurements were made on various tissues fifth instar larvae, over all stages life cycle and under differing dietary conditions: different protein sources levels, in presence trypsin...
Rapid elimination of midgut luminal proteinase activity and gut clearance are the two major symptoms amber disease in Costelytra zealandica larvae because three-subunit protein toxin complex produced Serratia entomophila proteamaculans. Quantitative PCR analysis mRNA from serine gene families showed that loss did not result transcriptional downregulation. Unexpectedly, levels rates synthesis increased, rather than decreased, diseased insects. Proteomic tissues marked differences between...
The light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana is an invasive, polyphagous pest of horticultural systems around the world. With origins in Australia, has subsequently spread to New Zealand, Hawaii, California and Europe, where it been found on over 500 plants, including many crops. We have produced a genomic resource, understand biological basis invasive nature this other lepidopteran pests. assembled genome sequence encompassed 598 Mb N50 301.17 kb, with BUSCO completion rate 97.9%. 34%...
Soil water repellency (SWR) is a common phenomenon observed throughout the world. It has significant impact on infiltration, altering soil hydrology and consequently microbial community nutrient cycling. Despite importance of this phenomenon, processes involved in development breakdown SWR are poorly understood. The for becoming increasingly apparent. In study, relationships between activities were investigated by utilising patchy occurrence to select both repellent wettable soils six...
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a contiguous gene caused by the loss of function genes situated within 15q11–q13 region. The arises as result paternally derived mutations complemented maternal imprinting. molecular events underlying disorder include interstitial deletions (70%), uniparental disomy (UPD) (25%), imprinting center defects (<5%), and rarely chromosomal translocations (<1%). standard diagnosis PWS based on clinical observations genetic investigations involving DNA methylation...
Abstract The objective of this study was to assess barcoding environmental DNA as a method for monitoring invertebrate ecosystem service providers in soil samples. We selected 26 that occur New Zealand kiwifruit or apple orchards and produced mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase gene subunit I (cytochrome I) and/or 28S ribosomal sequences each. Specific barcode primers were designed each provider tested, along with generic primers, their ability detect from had been added sterilized...
The nucleopolyhedrovirus EppoNPV can control larvae of the leafroller Epiphyas postvittana in field but has varying effects on New Zealands other pests An understanding infection process at genetic/molecular level within complex may lead to strategies enhance effectiveness virus Microarray technology was used examine viral gene expression levels E gut tissue results show that a 5 day with caused significant downregulation several genes many which were consistent response injury or stress...
Increasing soil carbon can mitigate climate change and enhance water nutrient retention. To improve function sustainability, a better understanding of the links between carbon, availability, microbial communities is required. We conducted survey functioning in main apple orcharding regions Australia, with objectives establishing soils’ current status determining relationships function. Orchard soils were sampled five depth increments to 70 cm. Analyses performed for total labile pools...