Associate Professor Jason Able
Jason is Head, Department of Agricultural Science and also leads the southern node of the national breeding program - Durum Breeding Australia.
Jason's other research interests centre on micro RNAs (miRNAs) and their role in enhancing crop productivity (through either stress adaptation and/or reproductive fitness); and understanding the molecular mechanisms that control meiosis in bread and durum wheat.
The durum wheat breeding program at the Waite (Durum Breeding Australia - Southern Node) is focussed on developing new durum wheat varieties for our ever-changing environments and an ever-expanding market. This program is a joint initiative between the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GDRC), NSW DPI, and the University of Adelaide. Jason released his first variety in 2014 (DBA-Aurora), while he played an important role in also releasing WID802 and Yawa (both 2012). Jason and his team have developed excellent collaborative linkages with Professor Diane Mather (University of Adelaide), Professor Amanda Able (University of Adelaide), Dr Mike Sissons (NSW DPI), Professor Graham Moore (John Innes Centre, UK), and Professor Sanjay Kapoor (University of Delhi South Campus, India). Jason is actively engaged with durum stakeholders across Australia. Key stakeholders include Durum Growers, Southern Australia Durum Growers Association (SADGA), GRDC, SAGIT, San Remo Macaroni Pty Ltd, MAURI anz, Mellco, Glencore and AMPS Agribusiness.
Appointments
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Associate Professor in Plant Breeding (Continuing) | University of Adelaide |
| 2013 - 2015 | Senior Lecturer in Plant Breeding (Continuing) | University of Adelaide |
| 2010 - 2012 | Lecturer in Plant Breeding (Tenurable) | University of Adelaide |
| 2005 - 2010 | MPB CRC & UA Research Fellow (Fixed-Term Contract) | University of Adelaide |
| 2002 - 2004 | GRDC Post-Doctoral Fellow (Fixed-Term Contract) | University of Adelaide |
| 2001 - 2001 | CSIRO Post-Doctoral Fellow | CSIRO |
Education
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 - 2001 | University of Queensland | Australia | PhD |
Keywords
Agricultural Biotechnology, Agriculture, Crop and Pasture Improvement, Crop and Pasture Production, Genetically Modified Field Crops and Pasture, Genetically Modified Horticulture Plants, Genetically Modified Trees, Plant Developmental and Reproductive Biology
Journals
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Dong,B, Zheng,X, Liu,H, Able,J, Yang,H, Zhao,H, Zhang,M, Qiao,Y, Wang,Y, Liu,M et al, 2017, Effects of drought stress on pollen sterility, grain yield, abscisic acid and protective enzymes in two winter wheat cultivars, Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, - 10.3389/fpls.2017.01008 |
| 2017 | Liu,H, Able,A, Able,J, 2017, Genotypic water-deficit stress responses in durum wheat: Association between physiological traits, microRNA regulatory modules and yield components, Functional Plant Biology, 44, 5, 538-551 10.1071/FP16294 |
| 2017 | Gilliham,M, Able,J, Roy,S, 2017, Translating knowledge about abiotic stress tolerance to breeding programmes, Plant Journal, 90, 5, - 10.1111/tpj.13456 |
| 2017 | Liu,H, Able,A, Able,J, 2017, Water-deficit stress-responsive microRNAs and their targets in four durum wheat genotypes, Functional and Integrative Genomics, 17, 2-3, 237-251 10.1007/s10142-016-0515-y |
| 2016 | Liu,H, Able,A, Able,J, 2016, SMARTER De-Stressed Cereal Breeding, Trends in Plant Science, 21, 11, 909-925 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.07.006 |
| 2015 | Liu,H, Searle,IR, Mather,DE, Able,AJ, Able,JA, 2015, Morphological, physiological and yield responses of durum wheat to pre-anthesis water-deficit stress are genotype-dependent, Crop and Pasture Science, 66, 10, 1024-1038 10.1071/CP15013 |
| 2015 | Liu,H, Searle,IR, Watson-Haigh,NS, Baumann,U, Mather,DE, Able,AJ, Able,JA, 2015, Genome-Wide Identification of MicroRNAs in Leaves and the Developing Head of Four Durum Genotypes during Water Deficit Stress., PLoS One, 10, 11, e0142799- 10.1371/journal.pone.0142799 |
| 2014 | Aizat,W, Dias,D, Stangoulis,J, Able,J, Roessner,U, Able,A, 2014, Metabolomics of capsicum ripening reveals modification of the ethylene related-pathway and carbon metabolism, Postharvest Biology and Technology, 89, 19-31 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2013.11.004 |
| 2014 | Able,JA, Sissons,M, 2014, Durum wheat for the future: challenges, research and prospects in the 21st Century, Crop and Pasture Science, 65, 1, i-i 10.1071/CPv65n1_FO |
| 2014 | Al-Fahdawi,MS, Able,JA, Evans,M, Able,AJ, 2014, Response of durum wheat to different levels of zinc and Fusarium pseudograminearum, Crop and Pasture Science, 65, 1, 61-73 10.1071/CP13306 |
| 2013 | Wan Kamaruddin,W, Able,J, Stangoulis,J, Able,A, 2013, Proteomic analysis during capsicum ripening reveals differential expression of ACC oxidase isoform 4 and other candidates, Functional Plant Biology, 40, 11, 1115-1128 10.1071/FP12330 |
| 2013 | Aizat,W, Able,J, Stangoulis,J, Able,A, 2013, Characterisation of ethylene pathway components in non-climacteric capsicum, BMC Plant Biology, 13, 191, 1-14 10.1186/1471-2229-13-191 |
| 2012 | Khoo,K, Able,A, Able,J, 2012, Poor homologous synapsis 1 interacts with chromatin but does not colocalise with ASYnapsis 1 during early meiosis in bread wheat, International Journal of Plant Genomics, 2012, 514398, 1-11 10.1155/2012/514398 |
| 2012 | Khoo,K, Able,A, Able,J, 2012, The isolation and characterisation of the wheat molecular ZIPper I homologue, TaZYP1, BMC Research Notes, 5, 1, 1-13 10.1186/1756-0500-5-106 |
| 2012 | Khoo,K, Able,A, Chataway,T, Able,J, 2012, Preliminary characterisation of two early meiotic wheat proteins after identification through 2D gel electrophoresis proteomics, Functional Plant Biology, 39, 3, 222-235 10.1071/FP11253 |
| 2011 | Deveshwar,P, Bovill,W, Sharma,R, Able,J, Kapoor,S, 2011, Analysis of anther transcriptomes to identify genes contributing to meiosis and male gametophyte development in rice, BMC Plant Biology, 11, 1, 1-20 10.1186/1471-2229-11-78 |
| 2011 | Crismani,W, Kapoor,S, Able,J, 2011, Comparative transcriptomics reveals 129 transcripts that are temporally regulated during anther development and meiotic progression in both bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa), International Journal of Plant Genomics, 2011, 1-9 10.1155/2011/931898 |
| 2009 | Able,J, Crismani,W, Boden,S, 2009, Understanding meiosis and the implications for crop improvement, Functional Plant Biology, 36, 7, 575-588 10.1071/FP09068 |
| 2009 | Bovill,W, Deveshwar,P, Kapoor,S, Able,J, 2009, Whole genome approaches to identify early meiotic gene candidates in cereals, Functional & Integrative Genomics, 9, 2, 219-229 10.1007/s10142-008-0097-4 |
| 2009 | Boden,S, Langridge,P, Spangenberg,G, Able,J, 2009, TaASY1 promotes homologous chromosome interactions and is affected by deletion of Ph1, Plant Journal, 57, 3, 487-497 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03701.x |
| 2008 | Khoo,K, Jolly,H, Able,J, 2008, The RAD51 gene family in bread wheat is highly conserved across eukaryotes, with RAD51A upregulated during early meiosis, Functional Plant Biology, 35, 12, 1267-1277 10.1071/FP08203 |
| 2008 | Walker,K, Able,J, Mather,D, Able,A, 2008, Black point formation in barley: environmental influences and quantitative trait loci, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 59, 11, 1021-1029 10.1071/AR08074 |
| 2008 | March,T, Able,J, Willsmore,K, Schultz,C, Able,A, 2008, Comparative mapping of a QTL controlling black point formation in barley, Functional Plant Biology, 35, 5, 427-437 10.1071/FP08089 |
| 2007 | Boden,S, Shadiac,N, Tucker,E, Langridge,P, Able,J, 2007, Expression and functional analysis of TaASY1 during meiosis of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), BMC Molecular Biology, 8, 65, 1-14 10.1186/1471-2199-8-65 |
| 2007 | Whitford,R, Baumann,U, Sutton,T, Gumaelius,L, Wolters,P, Tingey,S, Able,J, Langridge,P, 2007, Identification of transposons, retroelements, and a gene family predominantly expressed in floral tissues in chromosome 3DS of the hexaploid wheat progenitor Aegilops tauschii, Functional & Integrative Genomics, 7, 1, 37-52 10.1007/s10142-006-0026-3 |
| 2007 | March,T, Able,J, Schultz,C, Able,A, 2007, A novel late embryogenesis abundant protein and peroxidase associated with black point in barley grains, Proteomics, 7, 20, 3800-3808 10.1002/pmic.200700456 |
| 2007 | Able,J, Langridge,P, Milligan,A, 2007, Capturing diversity in the cereals: many options but little promiscuity, Trends in Plant Science, 12, 2, 71-79 10.1016/j.tplants.2006.12.002 |
| 2007 | Lloyd,A, Milligan,A, Langridge,P, Able,J, 2007, TaMSH7: A cereal mismatch repair gene that affects fertility in transgenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), BMC Plant Biology, 7, 67, WWW 1-WWW 9 10.1186/1471-2229-7-67 |
| 2006 | Able,J, Langridge,P, 2006, Wild sex in the grasses, Trends in Plant Science, 11, 6, 261-263 10.1016/j.tplants.2006.04.004 |
| 2006 | Crismani,W, Baumann,U, Sutton,T, Shirley,N, Webster,T, Spangenberg,G, Langridge,P, Able,J, 2006, Microarray expression analysis of meiosis and microsporogenesis in hexaploid bread wheat, BMC Genomics, 7, 267, 1-17 10.1186/1471-2164-7-267 |
| 2005 | Able,J, 2005, Digging for DNA Diamonds, Australasian Science, 26, 7, 20-21 |
| 2005 | Dong,C, Thomas,S, Becker,D, Lorz,H, Whitford,R, Sutton,T, Able,J, Langridge,P, 2005, WM5: Isolation and characterisation of a gene expressed during early meiosis and shoot meristem development in wheat, Functional Plant Biology, 32, 3, 249-258 10.1071/FP04198 |
| 2004 | Reddall,A, Ali,A, Able,J, Stonor,J, Tesoriero,L, Wright,P, Rezaian,M, Wilson,L, 2004, Cotton bunchy top: an aphid and graft transmitted cotton disease, Australasian Plant Pathology, 33, 2, 197-202 10.1071/AP03094 |
| 2003 | Sutton,T, Whitford,R, Baumann,U, Dong,C, Able,J, Langridge,P, 2003, The Ph2 pairing homoeologous locus of wheat (Triticum aestivum): identification of candidate meiotic genes using a comparative genetics approach, Plant Journal, 36, 4, 443-456 10.1046/j.1365-313X.2003.01891.x |
| 2001 | Reddall,A, Able,J, Stonor,J, Heimoana,S, Tesoriero,L, Wright,P, Wilson,L, Rezaian,M, 2001, Hunting down the cause of Cotton Bunchy Top (CBT), The Australian Cottongrower, 28, 8-10 |
| 2001 | Able,J, Rathus,C, Godwin,I, 2001, The investigation of optimal bombardment parameters for transient and stable transgene expression in sorghum, In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-plant, 37, 3, 341-348 10.1007/s11627-001-0061-7 |
Book Chapters
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Rathus,C, Nguyen,T, Able,J, Gray,S, Godwin,I, 2004, Optimising sorghum transformation technology via somatic embryogenesis, Science Publishers Ltd, USA, pp. 25-34 |
| 2004 | Able,J, Carroll,B, Rathus,C, Godwin,I, 2004, Enhancing transgene expression in sorghum: current status and future goals, Science Publishers Ltd, Enfield, NH, pp. 85-96 |
Conference Papers
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2005 | March,T, Schultz,C, Able,J, Able,A, 2005, Finding proteins involved with black point of barley using proteomics, Australian Barley Technical Symposium (Hobart, Tasmania), Hobart, Tasmania |
| 2004 | March,T, Lahnstein,J, Schultz,C, Able,J, Able,A, 2004, Using a proteomics approach to unravel the biochemical mechanisms of barley black point symptom development, ComBio, Perth |
| 2004 | Sutton,T, Whitford,R, Baumann,U, Able,J, Lazo,G, Langridge,P, 2004, Genomics approaches to identify meiotic genes in wheat, Plant & Animal Genomes Conference, San Diego, CA |
Plant Breeder's Rights
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Able,J; 2014; DBA-Aurora |
Datasets
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Liu,H, Searle,I, Watson-Haigh,, Baumann,, Mather,DE, Able,AJ, Able,JA; 2015; Genome-wide identification of differentially expressed microRNAs in leaves and the developing head of four durum genotypes during water deficit stress |
| 2006 | Able,JA; 2006; Microarray expression analysis of meiosis and microsporogenesis in hexaploid bread wheat |
Funding for the durum breeding program and closely aligned research is primarily from the GRDC, SAGIT and San Remo Macaroni Pty Ltd. Since 2011, Jason has been awarded grants worth in excess of $15,000,000.
Jason coordinates the third year elective Plant Breeding III and lectures the majority of this course. Jason also lectures to first and second year science undergraduates in the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) covering the broad area of plant biotechnology ("Introduction to Biotechnology I" and "Principles of Biotechnology II"). Since 2011, Jason has coordinated and led the 3rd year undergraduate field trip that explores the agricultural systems in and around South-East QLD. Between 2012-2016 (inclusive) Jason was the program coordinator for the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences.
Since 2004, 13 Honours Students have graduated under Jason's supervision (eight of these students received a 1st Class Honours). In addition, and since 2012, three Masters (MSc) students have graduated under Jason's supervision (two of these as principal supervisor). Furthermore, there have been nine PhD students who have graduated under Jason's supervision since 2007 (with six of these as the principal supervisor).
Committee Memberships
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Vice-Chair | International Expert Working Group Durum Genomics & Breeding | Global | |
| 2011 | Member | Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC) | Commonwealth Government's Department of Health | Australia |
Board Memberships
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Board Member | Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation | Australia | |
| 2014 - 2016 | Board Member | Agricultural Bureau of South Australia | Australia |
Position
Head - Department of Agricultural Science
Phone
83137075
Fax
8313 7109
Campus
Waite
Building
Waite Building
Room Number
GN 10b
Org Unit
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine