Daryl Mares

Daryl Mares

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology


My research focuses on the biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology of factors that cause deterioration of grain quality prior to harvest or that influence marketability of Australian wheat. Enzymes, chemical constituents, QTL, genes & environmental factors involved in determining: a) quality traits such as colour of Asian noodles and b) resistance to grain defects such as sprouting and black point or absence of late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA). Efficient screening technologies, including molecular markers, for particular traits and improved germplasm for wheat breeders.Bridge the interface between breeders and molecular biologists.

  • Preharvest sprouting and resistance to preharvest sprouting in white-grained wheat
  • Grain dormancy
  • Late maturity alpha-amylase
  • Black point
  • Colour and colour stability of wheat flour and Asian noodles (xanthophylls, flavonoids, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, lipoxygenase)
  • High lutein wheat – products (noodles and breads)

Elimination of Grain Defects in Wheat – preharvest sprouting (PHS), black point (BP), late a-amylase activity (LMA).

  • Introgress resistance to sprouting (grain dormancy) into locally adapted cultivars.
  • Assist wheat breeders to improve tolerance to sprouting and black point and eliminate late maturity alpha-amylase activity (LMA).
  • Develop improved and efficient screening technologies, including molecular markers.
  • Understand the genetic, biochemical, molecular and environmental mechanisms involved.
  • Screen advanced breeding lines from Australian wheat breeding entities for PHS, LMA & BP, providing information for growers and supporting data for  new variety release and classification (LMA).

Improving the colour and colour stability of Asian noodles.

  • Characterise the grain and flour constituents that contribute to colour and colour stability in white salted (WSN) and yellow alkaline (YAN) noodles.
  • Develop phenotype screening based on small-scale noodle sheets and measurement of individual constituents: xanthophyll content (lutein), flavonoid (apigenin-C-diglycoside) content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, non-PPO darkening, peroxidase activity and lipoxygenase activity.
  • Develop molecular markers for noodle colour traits.
  • Understand genetic, molecular and environmental control of synthesis of colour compounds.

High lutein (yellow pigment) wheat for production of additive-free yellow alkaline noodles and improved eye health in humans.

  • Bread wheat containing > 6 - 8ug lutein/g flour (current varieties – 1-1.5 ug/g)
  • High lutein combined with low lipoxygenase and low polyphenol oxidase
  • Bioavailability of lutein and lutein esters from wheat-based foods

 

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2011 - ongoing Adjunct Associate Professor The University of Adelaide
    2001 - 2011 Associate Professor The University of Adelaide
    1991 - 2001 Principal Research Fellow University of Sydney
    1983 - 1991 Senior Cereal Biochemist University of Sydney
    1979 - 1983 Cereal Biochemist University of Sydney
    1978 - 1979 Research Fellow University of Hohenheim
    1975 - 1978 Research Scientist Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra
    1975 - 1975 Visiting Research Fellow University of Northern Illinois
    1972 - 1975 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Hull
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1969 - 1972 University of Melbourne Australia PhD
    1964 - 1968 University of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia BSc Hons
Grant ID Grant title Years
CWQ4 Amelioration of genetic defects that result in downgrading of quality at receival -2002
CWQ8 Biochemical and genetic mechanisms for reducing xanthophyll oxidation in Asian noodles. -2003
UA538 Relocation of wheat biochemistry research program currently at the PBI, Narrabri to the University of Adelaide. 2001 - 2006
UA545 Characterisation and recombination of wheat grain components that determine colour and colour stability in Asian noodles. 2001 - 2004
UA00014 Improved stability of xanthophyll pigments and noodle colour via reduction in wheat grain lipoxygenase activity 2002 - 2006
UA00039 Defect elimination in wheat - Preharvest sprouting 2002 - 2007
UA00034 Defect elimination in wheat - Coordination 2002 - 2007
AWCMMP AWCMMP Component:Genetic analysis and marker-trait linkage  2002 - 2008
UA00074 Germplasm development for durum improvement in southern Australia 2004 - 2009
UA00077 Characterisation and recombination of wheat grain components that determine colour and colour stability in Asian noodles. 2004 - 2006
UA00037 Defect elimination in wheat - Late maturity alpha-amylase (K Mrva) 2002 - 2005
UA00085 Defect elimination in wheat - Late maturity alpha-amylase (K Mrva) 2004 - 2007
UA00093 Biochemical and genetic solutions to grain defect elimination and grain quality improvement 2006 - 2011
UA00094 Flour and product colour in wheat 2006 - 2011
UA00099 Grain defect elimination in wheat  2007 - 2011
UA00106 Simplified phenotypic assay for product colour stability (non-PPO) 2008 - 2011
UA00130 Preharvest sprouting in wheat 2011 - 2015
UA00131 Black Point in wheat 2011 - 2015
UA00132 Yellow pigments in wheat 2011 - 2015
UA00133 Late maturity alpha-amylase in wheat 2011 - 2015
UA00150 Late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA): A molecular marker-based, high-throughput, precise screening protocol  2014 - 2019
UA00153 Novel approaches to LMA 2015 - 2019
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Effects of high temperature shocks during grain maturation on dormancy of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and analysis of TaDOG1 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Cong Rong Cheng
    2009 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Stability and Esterification of Lutein in Bread Wheat During Post Harvest Storage in Comparison with Banana Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Fauziah Tufail Ahmad
    2008 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Genetic Control of Apigenin di-C-glycoside Biosynthesis in Bread Wheat Grain and their role as yellow Pigments of Asian Alkaline Noodles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Grace Yasmein Wijaya
    2005 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Genetic and Environmental Control of Yellow Pigment in Durum Wheat (Triticum Turgidum Durum) in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Michael Quinn
    2003 - 2006 Principal Supervisor Role of Seed Coat in the Dormancy of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Grains Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Judith Rathjen

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