We have two seminars coming up in the next few weeks.
Please note we are hoping to hold seminars fortnightly during 2025 and will be inviting speakers from organisations on campus as well as externally. So please come and join us, it is a great way to get to know your campus neighbours.
Dr Gianpiero Marconi, University of Perugia
Title: Grapes, Tomatoes, and Epigenetics: A Recipe for Flavor and Complexity
Plant Research Centre Auditorium, Feb 13, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
The term epigenetics was first introduced by C.H. Waddington in 1942, who defined it as the link between genotype and phenotype through developmental processes (Waddington, 2012). Since then, epigenetic regulation has been recognized as a key mechanism influencing gene expression without altering the DNA sequence (Bird, 2007). These heritable changes are mediated by molecular mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-associated silencing, which can regulate gene expression in response to environmental factors.
In my talk, I will discuss the role of DNA methylation in the terroir-driven variability of Sangiovese grapevines and the impact of rootstock on tomato fruit quality.
Grapevine and Terroir. Mutations and their fixation drive clonal selection in grapevines, but another layer of complexity—the epigenome—can also be influenced by the environment. This study investigates the intravarietal variability of Sangiovese clones by integrating phenotypic, physiological, and epigenomic analyses. We specifically examined differentially methylated regions (DMRs) related to cultivation origin (terroir). Berries from four Sangiovese clones, grown in distinct Italian regions (Montalcino and Romagna), were analyzed for phenotypic traits, physiological parameters, and DNA methylation patterns at key developmental stages: late veraison, mid-ripening, and harvest.
Rootstock Effects on Tomato Fruit. Grafting is widely used in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation, particularly in greenhouse production for fresh-market tomatoes. The interaction between the rootstock and scion involves complex molecular signaling—hormonal crosstalk, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and long-distance proteins. In addition, epigenetic modifications may play a crucial role in the observed phenotypic changes of grafted plants. This study focuses on DNA methylation dynamics (CG, CHG, CHH, and 6mA contexts) in the fruit epigenome of grafted tomato plants, aiming to uncover how grafting influences fruit development and quality.
Gianpiero Marconi is a researcher specializing in epigenetics, plant genetics, and population genetics, with a particular focus on stress responses, seed development, fruit quality and agricultural biotechnology. His contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the SIGA 2006 Award for Doctoral Research and the highly competitive Marie Curie Fellowship. The latter, awarded for his research on epigenetic reprogramming in plant gametes in response to environmental stress at the University of Warwick, played a crucial role in advancing his expertise in molecular genetics, plant biotechnology, and epigenetic regulation.
Dr. Marconi has been an invited speaker at major national and international conferences, including the Plant and Animal Genome Conference in San Diego, CNB6 in Padua, and multiple SIGA conferences. His presentations have covered critical topics such as DNA methylation in stress responses, genome editing for crop improvement, and the molecular mechanisms of seed formation.
Beyond his research, he is actively engaged in higher education and scientific training. He has co-advised over 30 Bachelor’s theses and supervised 12 Doctoral theses. His teaching experience includes seminars and practical laboratory exercises in Assisted Genetic Improvement (since 2004) and Biometric Genetics (since 2009), as well as lectures in international programs, including Genomic Analysis and Principles of Bioinformatics, and the Master’s in Biotechnological Methodologies for Environmental Decontamination. He has also played a key role in organizing and teaching specialized SIGA courses, focusing on transcriptomics and CRISPR/Cas9 applications in agriculture.
Additionally, he is an active peer reviewer for high-impact scientific journals, including Scientific Reports, BMC Plant Biology, and Genes. He served as a member of the Executive Council of the Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics (SIGA) from 2019 to 2021, contributing to the advancement of the scientific community.
His current research is dedicated to leveraging genome editing and precision breeding technologies to enhance crop resilience and sustainability in response to climate change.
Dr. Yusuf Genc, SARDI
Title: Quantifying Wheat Spike Traits with X-ray Computed Tomography
Plant Research Centre Auditorium, Feb 27, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dr. Yusuf Genc is a Research Scientist at SARDI with expertise in plant nutrition, physiology, and genetics in cereals. He is currently investigating the interactions between key yield components—spike number per square meter, grain number per spike, and grain weight—using a novel bread wheat germplasm with an increased number of grains per spike.
In this talk, Dr. Genc will present findings from a collaborative project between SARDI and the University of Adelaide. The study utilized X-ray computed tomography to quantify wheat spike architectural traits in a historical wheat set grown under both water-stressed and well-watered conditions.