Assoc Professor Amanda Able

Biography/ Background

• B.App.Science majoring in Plant Biology & Environmental Systems (USQ, 1993)
• B.App.Science (1st Class Honours) (USQ, 1994)
• PhD (USQ, 1998)
• Plant Physiologist, Queensland Dept Primary Industries (1998-2001)
• Lecturer in Plant Science, The University of Adelaide (2001-2004)
• Senior Lecturer in Plant Science, The University of Adelaide (2005-present)

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate teaching includes courses as diverse as Microbiology and Invertebrate Biology; Plant Pathology; Biotechnology Practice III; Botany II and Plant Molecular Biology.

Amanda is also the coordinator for the Masters of Biotechnology (Plant Biotechnology).

Dr Able is passionate about educating the next generation of scientists. She was awarded the Executive Deans Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005 and was the Education and Training Program Leader within the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC from 2003 to 2008.

Dr Able currently has two PhD students in her laboratory with seven PhD students successfully completed. In terms of Honours students, she is currently the chief supervisor of one student and has had seven completed with first class Honours and four with a higher second class. She has also supervised the project of a course-work Graduate Diploma student to completion.

Research Interests

See http://agwine.adelaide.edu.au/plant/plant_protection/ppp/

Dr Able's research focuses on understanding how a plant defends itself against disease, the impact of nutrition on plant disease and the postharvest physiology of fruits and vegetables. In addition, her laboratory is a world leader in understanding the physiological disorder of barley grain known as black point which can impact on malting and beer quality. During her PhD, Dr Able established herself within the research field of plant-pathogen interactions with particular expertise in the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the dynamics of their production during the hypersensitive response (a form of programmed cell death in plants). After a short period as a Postharvest Plant Physiologist at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries where Dr Able worked closely with Chinese scientists, Dr Able joined the University of Adelaide in early 2001 as a lecturer. In the past five years, Dr Able has secured close to 2 million dollars enabling the establishment of a laboratory with expertise in the aforementioned fields. More recently, Dr Able has also initiated research to examine the effect of educational processes on the public perception of biotechnology.

Specific areas of research in the Able laboratory include:

• Functional analysis of candidate genes in the defence response of barley to net blotch and leaf scald

• Behaviour of and toxin production by the net blotch pathogen Pyrenophora teres

• Effect of nutritional status on powdery mildew and grey mould of strawberry

• Effect of postharvest nutrition on nutritional status of apples

• Black point of barley grain: proteomics, QTL analysis, candidate gene expression, eQTLs, biochemistry, breeding for tolerance, germination

• Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on banana ripening especially with regards to maturity and time of harvest

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles since 2001

Walker KR, Able JA, Mather D, Able AJ (2008) Black point formation in barley: environmental influences and quantitative trait loci. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(11): 1021-1029.

Sarpeleh A, Wallwork H, Tate ME, Catcheside D, Able AJ (2008) Initial characterisation of phytotoxic proteinaceous metabolites isolated from Pyrenophora teres. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 72: 73-79.

Lightfoot D, Boettcher A, Little A, Shirley N, Able AJ (2008) Identification and characterisation of barley (Hordeum vulgare) Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homologue (RBOH) family members. Functional Plant Biology 35, 347-359.

March TJ, Able JA, Schultz CJ, Able AJ (2008) Comparative mapping of a QTL controlling black point formation in barley. Functional Plant Biology 35, 427-437

Moradinezhad F, Sedgley M, Klieber A, Able AJ (2008) Variability of responses to 1-methylcyclopropene by banana: Influence of time of year at harvest and fruit position in the bunch. Annals of Applied Biology 152: 223-234.

Godfrey D, Able AJ, Dry IB (2007) Induction of a grapevine germin-like protein (VvGLP3) gene is closely linked to the site of Erysiphe necator infection: A possible role in defense? Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 20: 1112-1125.

March TJ, Able JA, Schultz CJ, Able AJ (2007) A novel late embryogenesis abundant protein and peroxidase associated with black point in barley grains. Proteomics 7: 3800-3808.

Sarpeleh A, Wallwork H, Catcheside D, Tate ME, Able AJ (2007) Proteinaceous metabolites from Pyrenophora teres contribute to symptom development of barley net blotch. Phytopathology 97(8): 907-915.

Moradinezhad F, Sedgley M, Klieber A, Able AJ (2006) Concentration and duration of ethylene treatment influences the response of banana to 1-Methylcyclopropene. Acta Horticulturae 712: 747-751.

Dunn J, Able AJ (2006) Pre-harvest calcium effects on sensory quality and calcium mobility in strawberry fruit. Acta Horticulturae 708: 307-312.

Naradisorn M, Able AJ, Scott E, Klieber A, Sedgley M (2006) Effect of preharvest calcium application on grey mould development and postharvest quality in strawberries. Acta Horticulturae 708: 147-150.

Palmer S, Scott E, Stangoulis J, Able AJ (2006). The effect of foliar applied Ca and Si on the severity of powdery mildew in two strawberry cultivars. Acta Horticulturae 708: 135-136.

Able AJ, Wong LS, Prasad A, O’Hare TJ (2005) The physiology of senescence in detached pak choy leaves (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) during storage at different temperatures. Postharvest Biology & Technology 35:271-278.

Able AJ (2003) The role of reactive oxygen species in the response of barley to necrotrophic pathogens. Protoplasma 221: 137-143.

Able AJ, Wong LS, Prasad A, O'Hare TJ (2003) The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on the shelf-life of minimally processed leafy Asian vegetables. Postharvest Biology & Technology 27: 157-161.

Able AJ, Sutherland MW, Guest DI (2003) Production of reactive oxygen species during non-specific elicitation, non-host resistance and field resistance expression in cultured tobacco cells. Functional Plant Biology 30: 91-99.

Able AJ, Wong LS, Prasad A, O'Hare TJ (2002) 1-MCP is more effective on a floral brassica (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.) than a leafy brassica (Brassica rapa var. chinensis). Postharvest Biology & Technology 26(2):147-155.

Able AJ, Guest DI, Sutherland MW (2001) Relationship between transmembrane ion movements, production of reactive oxygen species and the hypersensitive response during the incompatible interaction of tobacco suspension cells inoculated with Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 58(5): 189-198.

 

Professional Interests

Prizes and Awards: SA Tall Poppy of the Year, 2006; SA Tall Poppy Award, 2006; CRCA Excellence and Innovation in Education Award, 2006; Faculty of Sciences Excellence in Teaching Prize, 2005; Australasian Plant Pathology Society, Allen Kerr Prize, 1999; Royal Society of Edinburgh International Bursary Prize, 1998; USQ Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Higher Degree Award, 1995; USQ Faculty of Sciences Medal, 1994.

Other Professional Service: Member of Tall Poppy SA Committee, 2008-present; Education Program Leader, Molecular Plant Breeding CRC (MPB CRC), 2003-2007; Chair of 2007 conference organizing committee for Australasian Plant Pathology Society; Qld Councillor, Australasian Plant Pathology Society, 1999-2001; SA Councillor, Australasian Plant Pathology Society, 2001-present; Co-editor, Phytogen for Australian Society of Plant Scientists, 2001-2003; Member of Editorial Board, Annals of Applied Biology, 2002-2007; Member of Editorial Board, Acta Horticulturae 708; Assessor of Mutual Community Postgraduate Travel Grants, 2002-present.

Community Engagement

As Education Program Leader of the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC, Dr Able has been heavily involved in the promotion of plant breeding and plant biotechnology to not only the wider community but to school students as well as tertiary training. She is also a member of the team that developed the award-winning Secondary School program, Get into Genes, and has been actively involved in science promotion through events such as Science in the Pub and Trust Me Im a Scientist during National Science Week. As SA Tall Poppy of the Year for 2006, her role in community engagement has been extended. She is also a member of the Tall Poppy Board of SA for the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.

Expertise for Media Contact

Categories	Agriculture and farming, Science and technology
Expertise	Plant pathology; postharvest science; plant biotechnology
Notes	SA Tall Poppy of the Year 2006
Mobile	0459 839 729

Entry last updated: Sunday, 5 Feb 2012