Einstein A Go-Go features Dr. Marta Peirats-Llobet and Dr Declan Lafferty
3RRR Einstein A Go-Go Program
P4S researchers Dr. Marta Peirats-Llobet and Dr Declan Lafferty caught up with Dr Shane and Dr Ray on Einstein A Go-Go.
News & Publications
P4S Centre Director among finalists for South Australian Scientist of the Year
P4S Centre Director, Professor Matthew Gilliham, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 South Australian Scientist of the Year.
Light is sufficient to compensate for random positioning machine-simulated microgravity in plant roots
R David, A Situmorang, N Nghiep Tran, T Maythwe, V Hessel, Philip B Brewer
Growing food crops for space missions requires significant improvements in technical competence. Many issues remain, including ensuring that roots grow vertically in low gravity. …
Dynamic and spatial control of cellular activity during seed germination
MG Lewsey, GW Bassel, J Whelan
This review summarises recent advances that illustrate the spatiotemporally dynamic nature of events during germination, which gives rise to the cell and tissue-specific activity that underpins germination.
$12 million grant backs global team to create first synthetic plant chromosome
Centre researchers are part of a world-first effort to build an artificial chromosome entirely from scratch in plants, which has been awarded over $12 million in funding from the UK’s ARIA.
Towards sustainable food security: Exploring the potential of duckweed (Lemnaceae) in diversifying food systems
CE Ofoedu, H Bozkurt, JC Mortimer
This review assesses the potential of duckweed as a sustainable resource for diversifying the food system and ensuring food security.
Liquid-phase determination of Arabidopsis respiration and photosynthesis using Clark-type O2 electrodes
F Sena, C Couture, A BR, AH Millar, S Signorelli
In this study, we validate and characterize the use of Clark-type oxygen electrodes, specifically the Hansatech Oxytherm+P system, to quantify both photosynthetic and respiratory activity in intact arabidopsis seedlings.
SBS German features Professor Volker Hessel
SBS German
Professor Volker Hessel was recently interviewed on SBS German, discussing medicine in space.
The switch‐liker's guide to plant synthetic gene circuits
JPB Lloyd, A Khan and R Lister
This review examines the core principles and components of plant synthetic gene circuits, including sensors, integrators, and actuators.
Female fertility key to future barley yield security
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a recent study which identified a novel mechanism through which a protein in barley supports female fertility and could help safeguard yield security in the future.
Shrimp shell material may control space drug delivery
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a collaborative study investigating whether chitosan performs well in controlling medicine delivery when exposed to zero gravity.
Deciphering seed development and germination in the single-cell era
P Schouveiler, LC Liew, M Corso, L Rajjou, J Zinsmeister, MG Lewsey
In this review, we discuss the current status of the application of single-cell technologies to seeds and present a workflow for conducting single-cell transcriptomics. Additionally, we discuss the integration of single-cell multi-omics.
Synthetic gene circuits in plants: recent advances and challenges
A Khan and R Lister
In this review, we discuss recent advances and challenges for synthetic gene circuits in plants.
MADS31 supports female germline development by repressing the post-fertilization programme in cereal ovules
X Yang, G Li, J Shi, LG Wilkinson, MK Aubert, K Houston, NJ Shirley, H Gao, RA Lister, L Colombo and MR Tucker
This study reveals that a B-sister MADS-box transcription factor, MADS31, is expressed in the inner subdomain of the nucellus and sustains germline development by preventing expression of post-fertilization genes.
I Am Not A Rocket Scientist Podcast features Dr James Lloyd
I Am Not A Rocket Scientist Podcast
P4S Research Fellow Dr James Lloyd caught up with high school student, Anay Ashwin, on the 'I Am Not A Rocket Scientist’ podcast.
AgTech Finder Podcast features Professor Matthew Gilliham
AgTech Finder Podcast
P4S Centre Director Professor Matthew Gilliham caught up with Olivia Calver on the AgTech Finder Podcast to discuss vertical farming.
Join our upcoming Teacher Professional Learning Events
Plants for Space is inviting Years 5 to 8 teachers to free teacher professional learning events in Melbourne on the 27-28 March.
Light‐activated channelrhodopsins: a revolutionary toolkit for the remote control of plant signalling
R Hedrich, M Gilliham
In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.
Scientists redesigning plants for astronauts to grow and eat in space
ABC News
Hear from Plants for Space researchers at the University of Western Australia in a recent article, published by ABC News.
Light‐activated channelrhodopsins: a revolutionary toolkit for the remote control of plant signalling
R Hedrich and M Gilliham
In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.
Centre members gather in Adelaide for our inaugural Annual Conference
Read more about our inaugural Annual Conference, held in late October 2024.
Australian duckweed launches into space
Read more about experiments sent into space as part of the MAPHEUS 15 mission.
Launch of the ARC Centre for Excellence in Plants for Space
Read about our official launch event, held at the University of Adelaide Waite Campus on the 30th October 2024.
Redefining the role of sodium exclusion within salt tolerance
S Garcia-Darga, SJ Roy, M Gilliham
This review discusses literature which shows that leaf Na+ accumulation can, in some circumstances, be tolerated without a detrimental effect on yield when HKT1 still functions to exclude Na+ from reproductive tissues.
Exploring consumer acceptability of leafy greens in earth and space immersive environments using biometrics
CG Viejo, N Harris, E Tongson & S Fuentes
This study used univariate and multivariate analysis on data from pick-and-eat leafy greens to assess self-reported and biometric consumer sensory analysis in simulated microgravity using reclining chairs and space-immersive environments.
NASA is launching a major mission to look for habitable spots on Jupiter’s moon Europa
J Lloyd
Learn more about NASA's upcoming mission to Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon in an article published in The Conversation.
Supply Chain Sustainability in Outer Space: Lessons to Be Learnt from Remote Sites on Earth
MV Hoyos, V Hessel, E Salas, J Culton, K Robertson, A Laybourn, M Escribà-Gelonch, N Cook & M de Zwart
This review describes learnings for human habitation in space from remote communities on Earth that have developed and survived over generations.
Optimising plant form and function for controlled environment agriculture in space and on earth
M Kamran, L Auroux, K Johnson & MG Lewsey
This review proposes several areas of research and development to produce plants suited to space settlements.
Green horizons: how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability
MF Morgan, M Gilliham & JC Mortimer
This review article explores how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability.
Conceptualising sustainability in outer space resource utilisation
M de Zwart, S Henderson & M Neumann
This article examines the meaning of the concept of sustainability with respect to space activities, with specific emphasis on the extraction and utilisation of space resources.
CRISPRi-based circuits to control gene expression in plants
MA Khan, G Herring, JY Zhu, M Oliva, E Fourie, B Johnston, Z Zhang, J Potter, L Pineda, J Pflueger, T Swain, C Pflueger, JPB Lloyd, D Secco, I Small, BN Kidd & R Lister
The construction of synthetic gene circuits in plants has been limited by a lack of orthogonal and modular parts. Here, we implement a CRISPRi-based reversible gene circuit platform in plants.
Digital Twins in Agriculture: Orchestration and Applications
M Escribà-Gelonch, S Liang, P van Schalkwyk, I Fisk, N Van Duc Long & V Hessel
In this review, Digital Twin technology is critically reviewed and framed in the context of recent advances in precision agriculture and Agriculture 4.0.
Assessment of changes in sensory perception, biometrics and emotional response for space exploration by simulating microgravity positions
CG Viejo, N Harris & S Fuentes
This study employed sensory trials and biometrics from video using simulated microgravity chairs to simulate alterations in sensory perception akin to those encountered in space conditions.
UK-US-Australia collaboration scales plant growth in preparation for space exploration
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a collaborative project involving the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space and led by UK company Vertical Future.
Why do food and drink taste different in space?
C Gonzalez Viejo & S Fuentes
Learn why food and beverages taste different in space in an article published in Pursuit.
Plants to be grown on the Moon when humans return
La Trobe University Newsroom
Read about the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF) project, which involves a consortium of partners including the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space.
Build a Martian garden for National Science week
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space 2024 National Science Week programming.
Australian strawberries join new mission to inhabit space while turbo charging sustainability innovations
M Watt & H Miller
Learn about the features that make strawberry an ideal plant for space development in an article published in the Australian Berry Journal.