Matthew Tucker

Associate Professor Matthew Tucker

Deputy Director, Waite Research Institute

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Faculty of Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

A/Prof Tucker is a plant scientist with research expertise in plant reproduction, seed development and cell wall biosynthesis. He received his PhD from the University of Adelaide and CSIRO Plant Industry in 2003, undertook postdoctoral research as an EMBO long-term fellow at the University of Freiburg in Germany and in 2011 joined the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls as a Senior Research Fellow. In 2015 he was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship and in 2017 was promoted to Associate Professor.

Research in his laboratory investigates how plants are genetically programmed to produce different reproductive cells and tissues, with the aim of understanding how these can be engineered to optimise yield and end-use. Several recent projects are focused on the characterisation of key pre- and post-fertilisation stages in the cereal monocot barley (Hordeum vulgare) that influence grain number and quality.

His research has been generously supported by grants from the ARC, SAGIT, GRDC, ARDC, EU, DAAD, Yitpi Foundation and The University of Adelaide, and has been published in prestigious journals including Nature Plants, Developmental Cell, PloS Genetics, Plant Cell and Development.

Our People

Lab

Dr Xiujuan Yang - Postdoctoral fellow

Chao Ma - Laboratory Manager

Ryan Edwards - Research Assistant

Dr Mia Lou - Research Assistant

Susan Johnson - Microscopist

Dayton Bird - PhD student

Simon Michelmore - PhD student

Juhiana Al-Jabiry - PhD student

Sara Pinto - PhD student (co-supervisor)

Reyhaneh Khaksefidi - PhD student (co-supervisor)

Ghazwan Karem - PhD student (co-supervisor)

 

Former Staff/Students

Old Lab

Jack Kelly - Getting ready for a PhD :-)

Brendan Kupke - Researcher at SARDI, AU

Danielle McBride - Insect lover

Dr Muhammad Kamran - Postdoctoral researcher at UWA, AU

Dr Kara Levin - Researcher at Uni Adelaide, AU

Dr Matthew Aubert - Lupin Breeder at AGT, AU

Dr Laura Wilkinson - Post-doctoral fellow at the John Innes Centre, UK

Dr Cindy Callens - Biobest Sustainable Crop Management, BE

Dr Caterina Selva - Researcher, Bulone Lab at Uni Adelaide

Dr Mia Lou - Writing papers

Dr Guillermo Garcia - Post-doctoral fellow at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, AU

Dr Sarah Moss - Post-doctoral fellow at Plant and Food Research, NZ

Dr Jana Phan - Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Policy Analyst, Australian Academy of Science, AU

Dr Sonia Bosca - Senior Researcher of Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, Valencia (IBMCP), ESP

Dr Annika Warnke (nee Hinze) - Project Coordinator, University Klinik, Freiburg, DE

Jessika Pan (Aditya) - R&D Manager at CV. Aditya Sentana Agro (Matahari Seed Group), Indonesia

Shi Fang Khor - Technical Officer, University of Adelaide, AU

Weng Leong - Professional smiler

 

Our projects

SexSeed

Grain Development and Cereal Yield

seed    Barley pistil

The number and quality of seeds produced by crop plants has a significant impact on end use and crop value. Cereal grains are an important dietary component that contribute benefits for human health and nutrition, and can also be utilised for industrial processes in the brewing, fibre and food industries. Within the cereal grain, different tissues such as the outer aleurone layer and inner starchy endosperm accumulate varying amounts of starch, protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants. Genes controlling the balance between outer and inner identity might therefore be used to tailor the composition of cereal grains for specific end uses. We have been studying grain formation in cereal species to understand the genetic basis for differences in cell identity. This work is supported by the ARC and GRDC (https://grdc.com.au/) and involves international partners including the James Hutton Institutein Scotland and the University of Milan in Italy. We also enjoy share a strong partnership with the State Breeding Institute at the University of Hohenheim relating to genetic analysis of complex traits in cereals.

Recent Papers:

Li, G., Kuijer, H.N., Yang, X., Liu, H., Shen, C., Shi, J., Betts, N., Tucker, M.R., Liang, W., Waugh, R., Burton, R.A. and Zhang D. (2021). MADS1 maintains barley spike morphology at high ambient temperatures. Nature Plants 7, 1093-1107.

Shoesmith, J.R., Solomon, C.U., Yang, X., Wilkinson, L.G., Sheldrick, S., van Eijden, E., Couwenberg, S., Pugh, L.M., Eskan, M., Stephens, J., Barakate, A., Drea, S., Houston, K., Tucker, M.R and McKim, S.M. (2021). APETALA2 functions as a temporal factor together with BLADE-ON-PETIOLE2 and MADS29 to control flower and grain development in barley. Development 148, dev194894.

Selva, C., Shirley, N.J., Houston, K., Whitford, R., Baumann, U., Li, G., and Tucker, M.R. (2021). HvLEAFY controls the early stages of floral organ specification and inhibits the formation of multiple ovaries in barley. The Plant Journal. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15457

Shirley, N.J., Aubert, M.K., Wilkinson, L.G., Bird, D.C., Lora, J, Yang, X and Tucker, M.R. ( 2019) Translating auxin responses into ovules, seeds and yield: Insight from Arabidopsis and the cereals. J Integr Plant Biol 61: 310– 336 https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.12747

Aubert, M.K., Coventry, S., Shirley, N.J., Betts, N.S., Würschum, T., Burton, R.A., and Tucker M.R. (2018). Differences in hydrolytic enzyme activity accompany natural variation in mature aleurone morphology in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Scientific Reports, 8:11025, DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-29068-4 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29068-4

 

Ovule Development

ovules

Plant reproduction delivers many fruits, seeds and grains that are a fundamental requirement of human society. Understanding how plants produce their gametes is therefore a key area of interest to ensure stable and improved yields in the future. We have been studying ovule development in Arabidopsis, barley and Hieracium to establish how female reproductive cells are specified. Communication between different ovule cells based on their position has long been hypothesised as a mechanism controlling reproductive cell identity, but is challenging to address due to the technical difficulties in accessing them in the ovule. We have utilised Laser Assisted Microdissection (LAM) to capture these cells and characterise genes involved in ovule development. In parallel, large scale genetic screens have led to the identification of novel markers of reproductive cell development and the delineation of molecular pathways influencing reproductive cell fate. Work in this area is supported by the ARC (http://www.arc.gov.au/), as well as international partnerships with the SEXSEED consortium (http://www.fc.up.pt/sexseed/), the MAD consortium (https://www.facebook.com/MAD_project-106849094787913/), and the University of Freiburg (http://www.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/LauxLab)

Recent Papers:

Yang, X., and Tucker, M.R. (2021). Establishing a regulatory blueprint for ovule number and function during plant development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 63, 102095.

Rojek J, Tucker MR, Pinto SC, Rychlowski M, Lichocka M, Soukupova H, Nowakowska J, Bohdanowicz J, Surmacz G, Gutkowska M (2021) Rab-dependent vesicular traffic affects female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 72: 320-340. 10.1093/jxb/eraa430

Mendes MA, Petrella R, Cucinotta M, Vignati E, Gatti S, Pinto SC, Bird DC, Gregis V, Dickinson H, Tucker MR, Colombo L (2020) The RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway is required to restrict SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE expression to specify a single female germ cell precursor in Arabidopsis. Development 147, 23. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.194274

Wilkinson, L. G., Yang, X., Burton, R. A., Wurschum, T. and Tucker, M. R.(2019). Natural Variation in Ovule Morphology Is Influenced by Multiple Tissues and Impacts Downstream Grain Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Front Plant Sci 10: 1374.

Lora J, Yang X and Tucker M.R. (2019) Establishing a framework for female germline initiation in the plant ovule. Journal of Experimental Botany, 70(11): 2937–2949. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erz212

Pinto S.C., Mendes M.A., Coimbra S and Tucker M.R. (2019) Revisiting the Female Germline and Its Expanding Toolbox. Trends in Plant Science, 24(5): 455-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2019.02.003.

 

Plant Cell Walls

mucilage

Plant cells are surrounded by a complex wall consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, phenolic acids and water. The cell wall fulfils a crucial role in supporting plant growth and development and defending against pathogen invasion. In collaboration with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls (http://www.plantcellwalls.org.au/) we have been studying how different components of the wall are synthesised, how they influence reproductive development. We also collaborate with Prof Diane Mather (https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/diane.mather) to determine how cell walls interact with barley parasites such as the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae.

Recent Papers:

Dal Santo S, Tucker MR, Tan HT, Burbidge CA, Fasoli M, Bottcher C, Boss PK, Pezzotti M, Davies C (2020) Auxin treatment of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) berries delays ripening onset by inhibiting cell expansion. Plant Mol Biol 103: 91-111

Levin KA, Tucker MR, Strock CF, Lynch JP, Mather DE (2021) Three-dimensional imaging reveals that positions of cyst nematode feeding sites relative to xylem vessels differ between susceptible and resistant wheat. Plant Cell Rep 40: 393-403

Tucker M.R., Lou, H., Aubert, M.K., Wilkinson, L.G., Little, A., Houston, K., Pinto, S.C. and Shirley, N.J. (2018) Exploring the Role of Cell Wall-Related Genes and Polysaccharides during Plant Development. Plants 7 (2).

Wood, J. A., Tan, H. -T., Collins, H. M., Yap, K., Khor, S., Lim, W. L., Xing, X., Bulone, V., Burton, R.A., Fincher, G.B., and Tucker, M. R. (2018). Genetic and environmental factors contribute to variation in cell wall composition in mature desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cotyledons. Plant, Cell & Environment. doi:10.1111/pce.13196

Tucker MR, Ma C, Phan J, Neumann K, Shirley NJ, Hahn MG, Cozzolino D, Burton RA (2017) Dissecting the genetic basis for seed coat mucilage heteroxylan biosynthesis in Plantago ovata using gamma irradiation and infrared spectroscopy. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 326-1-326-14. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00326

    Expand

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2021 Levin, K. A., Tucker, M. R., Strock, C. F., Lynch, J. P., & Mather, D. E. (2021). Three-dimensional imaging reveals that positions of cyst nematode feeding sites relative to xylem vessels differ between susceptible and resistant wheat. Plant Cell Reports, 40(2), 393-403.
    DOI Scopus1
    2021 Matros, A., Houston, K., Tucker, M. R., Schreiber, M., Berger, B., Aubert, M. K., . . . Burton, R. A. (2021). Genome-wide association study reveals the genetic complexity of fructan accumulation patterns in barley grain. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72(7), 2383-2402.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
    2021 Shoesmith, J. R., Solomon, C. U., Yang, X., Wilkinson, L. G., Sheldrick, S., van Eijden, E., . . . McKim, S. M. (2021). APETALA2 functions as a temporal factor together with BLADE-ON-PETIOLE2 and MADS29 to control flower and grain development in barley. Development, 148(5), 1-16.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS1
    2021 Li, G., Kuijer, H. N. J., Yang, X., Liu, H., Shen, C., Shi, J., . . . Zhang, D. (2021). MADS1 maintains barley spike morphology at high ambient temperatures. Nat Plants, 7(8), 1-31.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS2
    2021 Selva, C., Shirley, N., Houston, K., Whitford, R., Baumann, U., Li, G., & Tucker, M. R. (2021). HvLEAFY controls the early stages of floral organ specification and inhibits the formation of multiple ovaries in barley. The Plant Journal, 1-19.
    DOI
    2021 Rojek, J., Tucker, M. R., Rychłowski, M., Nowakowska, J., & Gutkowska, M. (2021). The Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase beta subunit is essential for embryo and seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(15), 1-25.
    DOI
    2021 Yang, X., & Tucker, M. R. (2021). Establishing a regulatory blueprint for ovule number and function during plant development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 63, 1-10.
    DOI
    2020 Matros, A., Houston, K., Tucker, M., Schreiber, M., Berger, B., Aubert, M., . . . Burton, R. (2020). GWAS reveals the genetic complexity of fructan accumulation patterns in barley grain.
    DOI Europe PMC1
    2020 Garcia-Gimenez, G., Barakate, A., Smith, P., Stephens, J., Khor, S. F., Doblin, M. S., . . . Houston, K. (2020). Targeted mutation of barley (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan synthases reveals complex relationships between the storage and cell wall polysaccharide content. The Plant Journal, 104(4), 1009-1022.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC2
    2020 Würschum, T., Leiser, W. L., Langer, S. M., Tucker, M. R., & Miedaner, T. (2020). Genetic Architecture of Cereal Leaf Beetle Resistance in Wheat.. Plants (Basel), 9(9), 10 pages.
    DOI
    2020 Rojek, J., Tucker, M. R., Pinto, S. C., Rychłowski, M., Lichocka, M., Soukupova, H., . . . Gutkowska, M. (2020). Rab-dependent vesicular traffic affects female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72(2), 320-340.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
    2020 Xu, D., Mondol, P. C., Uzair, M., Tucker, M. R., & Zhang, D. (2020). Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation, transgenic production, and its application for the study of male reproductive development in rice. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2020(164), 1-12.
    DOI
    2020 Mendes, M. A., Petrella, R., Cucinotta, M., Vignati, E., Gatti, S., Pinto, S. C., . . . Colombo, L. (2020). The RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway is required to restrict SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE expression to specify a single female germ cell precursor in Arabidopsis. Development, 147(23), dev194274.-1-dev194274.-11.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC4
    2020 Lim, W. L., Collins, H. M., Byrt, C. S., Lahnstein, J., Shirley, N. J., Aubert, M. K., . . . Burton, R. A. (2020). Overexpression of HvCslF6 in barley grain alters carbohydrate partitioning plus transfer tissue and endosperm development. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71(1), 138-153.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC1
    2020 Würschum, T., Langer, S. M., Longin, C. F. H., Tucker, M. R., & Leiser, W. L. (2020). Refining the genetic architecture of flag leaf glaucousness in wheat.. TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik, 133(3), 981-991.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
    2020 Dal Santo, S., Tucker, M. R., Tan, H. -T., Burbidge, C. A., Fasoli, M., Böttcher, C., . . . Davies, C. (2020). Auxin treatment of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) berries delays ripening onset by inhibiting cell expansion. Plant Molecular Biology, 103(1-2), 91-111.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC2
    2020 Du, F., Gong, W., Bosca, S., Tucker, M. R., Vaucheret, H., & Laux, T. (2020). Dose-dependent AGO1-mediated inhibition of the miRNA165/166 pathway modulates stem cell maintenance in Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem. Plant Communications, 1(1), 100002-1-100002-11.
    DOI Scopus3
    2020 Würschum, T., Jähne, F., Phillips, A. L., Langer, S. M., Longin, C. F. H., Tucker, M. R., & Leiser, W. L. (2020). Mis-expression of a transcriptional repressor candidate provides a molecular mechanism for the suppression of awns by Tipped 1 in wheat.. Journal of experimental botany, 71(2), 3428-3436.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS2
    2020 Hoai, P. T. T., Tyerman, S. D., Schnell, N., Tucker, M., McGaughey, S. A., Qiu, J., . . . Byrt, C. S. (2020). Deciphering aquaporin regulation and roles in seed biology. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71(6), 1763-1773.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC5
    2020 Levin, K. A., Tucker, M. R., Bird, D. M., & Mather, D. E. (2020). Infection by cyst nematodes induces rapid remodelling of developing xylem vessels in wheat roots.. Sci Rep, 10(1), 9025.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
    2020 Selva, C., Riboni, M., Baumann, U., Wurschum, T., Whitford, R., & Tucker, M. R. (2020). Hybrid breeding in wheat: how shaping the floral biology can offer new perspectives. Functional Plant Biology, 47(8), 47-8.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC1
    2019 Wilkinson, L. G., Yang, X., Burton, R. A., Würschum, T., & Tucker, M. R. (2019). Natural variation in ovule morphology is influenced by multiple tissues and impacts downstream grain development in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).. Front Plant Sci, 10, 1374.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS4
    2019 Garcia-Gimenez, G., Russell, J., Aubert, M. K., Fincher, G. B., Burton, R. A., Waugh, R., . . . Houston, K. (2019). Barley grain (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content: effects of transcript and sequence variation in genes encoding the corresponding synthase and endohydrolase enzymes. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 17250-1-17250-11.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS7 Europe PMC3
    2019 Shirley, N. J., Aubert, M. K., Wilkinson, L. G., Bird, D. C., Lora, J., Yang, X., & Tucker, M. R. (2019). Translating auxin responses into ovules, seeds and yield: insight from Arabidopsis and the cereals. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 61(3), 310-336.
    DOI Scopus24 WoS24 Europe PMC15
    2019 Pinto, S., Mendes, M., Coimbra, S., & Tucker, M. (2019). Revisiting the female germline and its expanding toolbox. Trends in Plant Science, 24(5), 455-467.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS15 Europe PMC12
    2019 Xu, D., Qu, S., Tucker, M. R., Zhang, D., Liang, W., & Shi, J. (2019). Ostkpr1 functions in anther cuticle development and pollen wall formation in rice. BMC Plant Biology, 19(1), 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS17 Europe PMC10
    2019 Lora, J., Yang, X., & Tucker, M. R. (2019). Establishing a framework for female germline initiation in the plant ovule. Journal of experimental botany, 70(11), 2937-2949.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC4
    2018 Würschum, T., Langer, S., Longin, C., Tucker, M., & Leiser, W. (2018). A three-component system incorporating Ppd-D1, copy number variation at Ppd-B1, and numerous small-effect quantitative trait loci facilitates adaptation of heading time in winter wheat cultivars of worldwide origin. Plant, Cell and Environment, 41(6), 1407-1416.
    DOI Scopus26 WoS25 Europe PMC13
    2018 Wood, J. A., Tan, H. -T., Collins, H. M., Yap, K., Khor, S., Lim, W. L., . . . Tucker, M. R. (2018). Genetic and environmental factors contribute to variation in cell wall composition in mature desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cotyledons. Plant, cell & environment, 41(9), 2195-2208.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC5
    2018 Callens, C., Tucker, M., Zhang, D., & Wilson, Z. (2018). Dissecting the role of MADS-box genes in monocot floral development and diversity. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69(10), 2435-2459.
    DOI Scopus38 WoS38 Europe PMC21
    2018 Tucker, M., Lou, H., Aubert, M., Wilkinson, L., Little, A., Houston, K., . . . Shirley, N. (2018). Exploring the role of cell wall-related genes and polysaccharides during plant development. Plants, 7(2), 42-1-42-17.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS24 Europe PMC15
    2018 Juranić, M., Tucker, M., Schultz, C., Shirley, N., Taylor, J., Spriggs, A., . . . Koltunow, A. (2018). Asexual female gametogenesis involves contact with a sexually fated megaspore in apomictic hieracium. Plant Physiology, 177(3), 1027-1049.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS18 Europe PMC16
    2018 Würschum, T., Leiser, W., Langer, S., Tucker, M., & Longin, C. (2018). Phenotypic and genetic analysis of spike and kernel characteristics in wheat reveals long-term genetic trends of grain yield components. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 131(10), 2071-2084.
    DOI Scopus50 WoS49 Europe PMC30
    2018 Aubert, M., Coventry, S., Shirley, N. J., Betts, N., Würschum, T., Burton, R., & Tucker, M. (2018). Differences in hydrolytic enzyme activity accompany natural variation in mature aleurone morphology in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Scientific Reports, 8(1), 11025-1-1025-14.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC5
    2018 Wilkinson, L. G., Bird, D., & Tucker, M. R. (2018). Exploring the role of the ovule in cereal grain development and reproductive stress tolerance. Annual Plant Reviews Online, 1(1), 1-35.
    DOI Scopus6
    2017 Würschum, T., Longin, C., Hahn, V., Tucker, M., & Leiser, W. (2017). Copy number variations of CBF genes at the Fr-A2 locus are essential components of winter hardiness in wheat. Plant Journal, 89(4), 764-773.
    DOI Scopus33 WoS33 Europe PMC21
    2017 Lora, J., Herrero, M., Tucker, M., & Hormaza, J. (2017). The transition from somatic to germline identity shows conserved and specialized features during angiosperm evolution. New Phytologist, 216(2), 495-509.
    DOI Scopus22 WoS13 Europe PMC12
    2017 Liu, W., Maurer, H., Leiser, W., Tucker, M., Weissmann, S., Hahn, V., & Würschum, T. (2017). Potential for marker-assisted simultaneous improvement of grain and biomass yield in triticale. Bioenergy Research, 10(2), 449-455.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS11
    2017 Tucker, M., Ma, C., Phan, J., Neumann, K., Shirley, N., Hahn, M., . . . Burton, R. (2017). Dissecting the genetic basis for seed coat mucilage heteroxylan biosynthesis in plantago ovata using gamma irradiation and infrared spectroscopy. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 326-1-326-14.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC6
    2017 Wilkinson, L., & Tucker, M. (2017). An optimized clearing protocol for the quantitative assessment of sub-epidermal ovule tissues within whole cereal pistils. Plant Methods, 13(1), 67-1-67-10.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC8
    2017 Xing, X., Hsieh, Y., Yap, K., Ang, M., Lahnstein, J., Tucker, M., . . . Bulone, V. (2017). Isolation and structural elucidation by 2D NMR of planteose, a major oligosaccharide in the mucilage of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds. Carbohydrate Polymers, 175, 231-240.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS14 Europe PMC3
    2017 Taochy, C., Gursanscky, N., Cao, J., Fletcher, S., Dressel, U., Mitter, N., . . . Carroll, B. (2017). A genetic screen for impaired systemic RNAi highlights the crucial role of DICER-LIKE 2. Plant physiology, 175(3), 1424-1437.
    DOI Scopus29 WoS31 Europe PMC22
    2017 Würschum, T., Langer, S., Longin, C., Tucker, M., & Leiser, W. (2017). A modern Green Revolution gene for reduced height in wheat. Plant Journal, 92(5), 892-903.
    DOI Scopus67 WoS64 Europe PMC39
    2016 Zhang, R., Tucker, M., Burton, R., Shirley, N., Little, A., Morris, J., . . . Fincher, G. (2016). The dynamics of transcript abundance during cellularization of developing barley endosperm. Plant Physiology, 170(3), 1549-1565.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS18 Europe PMC12
    2016 Houston, K., Tucker, M., Chowdhury, J., Shirley, N., & Little, A. (2016). The plant cell wall: a complex and dynamic structure as revealed by the responses of genes under stress conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7(AUG2016), 1-18.
    DOI Scopus148 WoS148 Europe PMC70
    2016 Liu, W., Leiser, W., Reif, J., Tucker, M., Losert, D., Weissmann, S., . . . Würschum, T. (2016). Multiple-line cross QTL mapping for grain yield and thousand kernel weight in triticale. Plant Breeding, 135(5), 567-573.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS8
    2016 Yu, J., Meng, Z., Liang, W., Behera, S., Kudla, J., Tucker, M., . . . Zhang, D. (2016). A rice Ca²⁺ binding protein is required for tapetum function and pollen formation. Plant Physiology, 172(3), 1772-1786.
    DOI Scopus34 WoS32 Europe PMC22
    2016 Phan, J., Tucker, M., Khor, S., Shirley, N., Lahnstein, J., Beahan, C., . . . Burton, R. (2016). Differences in glycosyltransferase family 61 accompany variation in seed coat mucilage composition in Plantago spp.. Journal of Experimental Botany, 67(22), 6481-6495.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS23 Europe PMC15
    2015 Aditya, J., Lewis, J., Shirley, N., Tan, H., Henderson, M., Fincher, G., . . . Tucker, M. (2015). The dynamics of cereal cyst nematode infection differ between susceptible and resistant barley cultivars and lead to changes in (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan levels and HvCslF gene transcript abundance. New Phytologist, 207(1), 135-147.
    DOI Scopus27 WoS27 Europe PMC16
    2015 Würschum, T., Tucker, M., Maurer, H., & Leiser, W. (2015). Ethylene inhibitors improve efficiency of microspore embryogenesis in hexaploid triticale. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 122(3), 751-757.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS16
    2014 Wurschum, T., Tucker, M., & Maurer, H. (2014). Stress treatments influence efficiency of microspore embryogenesis and green plant regeneration in hexaploid triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack L.). In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-plant, 50(1), 143-148.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS8
    2014 Tucker, M., & Koltunow, A. (2014). Traffic monitors at the cell periphery: the role of cell walls during early female reproductive cell differentiation in plants. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 17(1), 137-145.
    DOI Scopus28 WoS30 Europe PMC21
    2014 Liu, W., Maurer, H., Li, G., Tucker, M., Gowda, M., Weissmann, E., . . . Würschum, T. (2014). Genetic architecture of winter hardiness and frost tolerance in triticale. PLoS One, 9(6), e99848-1-e99848-7.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS8 Europe PMC3
    2014 Würschum, T., Liu, W., Busemeyer, L., Tucker, M., Reif, J., Weissmann, E., . . . Maurer, H. (2014). Mapping dynamic QTL for plant height in triticale. BMC Genetics, 15(1), 59-1-59-8.
    DOI Scopus42 WoS36 Europe PMC21
    2014 Würschum, T., Liu, W., Alheit, K., Tucker, M., Gowda, M., Weissmann, E., . . . Maurer, H. (2014). Adult plant development in triticale (× triticosecale wittmack) is controlled by dynamic genetic patterns of regulation. G3, 4(9), 1585-1591.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS14 Europe PMC9
    2013 Knauer, S., Holt, A., Rubio-Somoza, I., Tucker, E., Hinze, A., Pisch, M., . . . Laux, T. (2013). A protodermal miR394 signal defines a region of stem cell competence in the Arabidopsis shoot meristem. Developmental Cell, 24(2), 125-132.
    DOI Scopus148 WoS135 Europe PMC76
    2013 Trafford, K., Haleux, P., Henderson, M., Parker, M., Shirley, N., Tucker, M., . . . Burton, R. (2013). Grain development in Brachypodium and other grasses: possible interactions between cell expansion, starch deposition, and cell-wall synthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64(16), 5033-5047.
    DOI Scopus35 WoS36 Europe PMC27
    2013 Tucker, M., Roodbarkelari, F., Truernit, E., Adamski, N., Hinze, A., Lohmuller, B., . . . Laux, T. (2013). Accession-specific modifiers act with ZWILLE/ARGONAUTE10 to maintain shoot meristem stem cells during embryogenesis in Arabidopsis. BMC Genomics, 14(1), 809-1-809-14.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC6
    2013 Okada, T., Hu, Y., Tucker, M., Taylor, J., Johnson, S., Spriggs, A., . . . Koltunow, A. (2013). Enlarging cells initiating apomixis in Hieracium praealtum transition to an embryo sac program prior to entering mitosis. Plant Physiology, 163(1), 216-231.
    DOI Scopus47 WoS46 Europe PMC35
    2013 Liu, W., Maurer, H., Reif, J., Melchinger, A., Utz, H., Tucker, M., . . . Wurschum, T. (2013). Optimum design of family structure and allocation of resources in association mapping with lines from multiple crosses. Heredity, 110(1), 71-79.
    DOI Scopus28 WoS23 Europe PMC20
    2012 Wurschum, T., Tucker, M., Reif, J., & Maurer, H. (2012). Improved efficiency of doubled haploid generation in hexaploid triticale by in vitro chromosome doubling. BMC Plant Biology, 12(1), 1-6.
    DOI Scopus40 WoS36 Europe PMC20
    2012 Alheit, K., Maurer, H., Reif, J., Tucker, M., Hahn, V., Weissmann, E., & Wurschum, T. (2012). Genome-wide evaluation of genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium in winter and spring triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack). BMC Genomics, 13(1), 1-10.
    DOI Scopus25 WoS24 Europe PMC19
    2012 Tucker, M., Okada, T., Hu, Y., Scholefield, A., Taylor, J., & Koltunow, A. (2012). Somatic small RNA pathways promote the mitotic events of megagametogenesis during female reproductive development in arabidopsis. Development, 139(8), 1399-1404.
    DOI Scopus91 WoS95 Europe PMC67
    2012 Tucker, M., Okada, T., Johnson, S., Takaiwa, F., & Koltunow, A. (2012). Sporophytic ovule tissues modulate the initiation and progression of apomixis in Hieracium. Journal of Experimental Biology, 63(8), 3229-3241.
    DOI Scopus31 WoS29 Europe PMC23
    2011 Wang, J., Andersson-Gunneras, S., Gaboreanu, I., Hertzberg, M., Tucker, M., Zheng, B., . . . Jones, B. (2011). Reduced expression of the SHORT-ROOT gene increases the rates of growth and development in hybrid Poplar and Arabidosis. PLoS One, 6(12), 1-9.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS17 Europe PMC14
    2009 Tucker, M., & Koltunow, A. (2009). Sexual and asexual (apomictic) seed development in flowering plants: molecular, morphological and evolutionary relationships. Functional Plant Biology, 36(6), 490-504.
    DOI Scopus51 WoS46 Europe PMC19
    2009 Mallory, A., Hinze, A., Tucker, M., Bouche, N., Gasciolli, V., Elmayan, T., . . . Laux, T. (2009). Redundant and specific roles of the ARGONAUTE proteins AGO1 and ZLL in development and small RNA-directed gene silencing. PLoS Genetics, 5(9/e1000646), 1-12.
    DOI Scopus91 WoS92 Europe PMC73
    2008 Tucker, M., Hinze, A., Tucker, E., Takada, S., Jurgens, G., & Laux, T. (2008). Vascular signalling mediated by ZWILLE potentiates WUSCHEL function during shoot meristem stem cell development in the Arabidopsis embryo. Development, 135(17), 2839-2843.
    DOI Scopus94 WoS91 Europe PMC69
    2008 Macedo Rodrigues, J., Tucker, M., Johnson, S., Hrmova, M., & Koltunow, A. (2008). Sexual and Apomictic Seed Formation in Hieracium Requires the Plant Polycomb-Group Gene fertilization independent endosperm. Plant Cell, 20(9), 2372-2386.
    DOI Scopus51 WoS47 Europe PMC37
    2008 Koltunow, A., & Tucker, M. (2008). Functional embryo sac formation in Arabidopsis without meiosis - one step towards asexual seed formation (apomixis) in crops?. Journal of Biosciences, 33(3), 309-311.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC1
    2007 Tucker, M., & Laux, T. (2007). Connecting the paths in plant stem cell regulation. Trends in Cell Biology, 17(8), 403-410.
    DOI Scopus70 WoS69 Europe PMC50
    2003 Tucker, M., Araujo, A., Paech, N., Hecht, V., Schmidt, E., Rossell, J., . . . Koltunow, A. (2003). Sexual and apomictic reproduction in Hieracium subgenus Pilosella are closely interrelated developmental pathways. Plant Cell, 15(7), 1524-1537.
    DOI Scopus114 WoS110 Europe PMC84
    2001 Tucker, M., Paech, N., Willemse, M., & Koltunow, A. (2001). Dynamics of callose deposition and b-1,3-glucanase expression during reproductive events in sexual and apomictic Hieracium. Planta, 212(4), 487-498.
    DOI Scopus52 WoS51 Europe PMC37
    2001 Chaudhury, A., Koltunow, A., Payne, T., Luo, M., Tucker, M., Dennis, E., & Peacock, W. (2001). Control of early seed development. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 17(1), 677-699.
    DOI Scopus147 WoS143 Europe PMC98

  • Book Chapters
    Year Citation
    2002 Tucker, M. R., Koltunow, A. M. G., Paech, N., & Vivian-Smith, A. (2002). The central role of the ovule in apomixis and parthenocarpy. In S. D. O'Neill, & J. A. Roberts (Eds.), Plant Reproduction (pp. 300 pages). Taylor & Francis.

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2011 Tucker, M., & Koltunow, A. (2011). Advances in apomixis research: can we fix heterosis?. In I. K. Vasil (Ed.), PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY 2002 AND BEYOND (pp. 619 pages). ORLANDO, FL: Springer.
    WoS4

  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2018 Selva, C., Tucker, M. R., Baumann, U., & Whitford, R. (2018). Floral development in barley: characterization of multiovary mutants. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Congress on Sexual Plant Reproduction. Japan.
    2017 Selva, C., Tucker, M. R., Baumann, U., & Whitford, R. (2017). The benefits of sterility: characterizing multiovary mutants for hybrid seed production. Poster session presented at the meeting of Combined biosciences - ComBio. Australia.
Current
Prof Barry Pogson ; Dr Caitlin Byrt ; A/Prof Stuart Roy ; A/Prof Anthony Millar ; Prof Rachel Ankeny ; Prof Spencer Whitney ; Prof Joan Leach ; Dr Benjamin Schwessinger ; Prof Ulrike Mathesius ; Prof Owen Atkin ; Prof Robert Furbank ; A/Prof Jenny Mortimer ; A/Prof Matthew Tucker ; Prof Carolin Plewa ; Prof Matthew Gilliham ; Prof Dabing Zhang ; Dr Deborah Hailstones ; Dr Harsh Raman ; Dr Thomas Vanhercke ; Dr Crispin Howitt ; Dr Gonzalo Estavillo ; Dr Srinivas Belide ; Dr Rhiannon Schilling ; Dr David Tabah ; Dr Tristan Coram ; Dr Aanandini Ganesalingam ; Dr Bertus Jacobs ; Dr Nelson Gororo ; Dr Hannah Robinson ; Mr Osman Mewett ; Ms Rosemary Richards ; Dr Philippa (Pip) Wilson ; Dr Natalie Curach ; Dr Andrzej Kilian ; Prof Dr Andreas Weber ; Prof Dale Sanders ; Dr Richard Harrison. ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop Development, 2021-2025, ARC 
M.R Tucker, K. Porker, R. Schilling, D. Plett. Revealing the basis for head-loss in barley, 2021-2022, SAGIT
M.R Tucker and L.Colombo, Deciphering tissue-specific components of cereal grain development, 2021-2024, ARC DP21
M.R Tucker, K. Porker. Determining the impact of environment and genotype on barley grain features for the malt and animal feed industries, 2020-2021, YITPI
M.R Tucker, K. Porker, M. Arjomandi, V. Bulone. Revealing the basis for head-loss in barley, 2019-2021, SAGIT
S Gillmor, S de Folter, F Pupilli, S Pessino, JP Ortiz, L Siena, L Delgado, V Echenique, D Zappacosta, F Espinoza, C Acuna, O Leblanc, D Autran, C Michaud, M Lejbowicz, C Fréour, M Caccamo, M Tucker, L Colombo, M Miranda, E Albertini, U Grossniklaus, C Baroux, H Schöb. "MAD" - Mechanisms of Apomictic Development, 2021-2025, EU H2020-MSCARISE
Previous
M.R Tucker and T.Laux, Activating the female germline during plant development, 2018-2021, ARC DP18  
D.E. Mather, J.F. Thompson, K.J. Chalmers, T.J. Sutton, M.R. Tucker, J.D. Taylor, K.H.P. Khoo, Protecting Your Crop: Development of tools to accelerate Nematode resistance gene deployment, GRDC, 2015-2020
M.R. Tucker, Defining pathways that establish and maintain reproductive cell identity in plant ovules and seeds, 2014-2018, ARC Future Fellowship
S. Coimbra, L. Colombo, C. Spillane, E. Albertini, M. Tucker, B. Franks, B. Jones, R. Palanivelu, “SEXSEED” - Sexual Plant Reproduction – Seed formation, EU H2020-MSCARISE-2015-2020
M. Tucker, T. Laux, Y. Xu, J.G. Schwerdt, Genetic control of germline initiation in flowering plants, Universities Australia - DAAD - Australia Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme. 2016-2018
 

PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS: 103561, GENE EXPRESSION AND HUMAN & DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS, (GENETICS 3211)

FOUNDATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCE II: 3910_PLANT_SC_2510WT

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY III: 4020_PLANT_SC_3515WT

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE FOR APPLIED BIOLOGY III: 4020_APP_BIOL_3550WT

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  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 Principal Supervisor Molecular components of grain fill and quality in cereals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Juhiana Abdul Abbass Hantush Al-Jabiry
    2020 Principal Supervisor Molecular and phenotypic characterisation of synthetic auxin
    herbicide-tolerant pulse germplasm    		 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Simon Frederick Michelmore
    2018 Principal Supervisor Female Germline Formation During Plant Development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Dayton Christopher Bird
    2018 Co-Supervisor Identification of barley mutants and characterisation of their mixed-linkage (1,3;1,4)-ß-glucan (MLG) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ghazwan Majid Karem
    2018 Co-Supervisor Genome-wide analysis of small-RNA and key regulators identification during barley inflorescence development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Reyhaneh Ebrahimi Khaksefidi

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Role of Cellulose Synthase-Like (Csl) Genes in Barley Root Growth and Differentiation Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Dr Haoyu Lou
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Understanding Flower Development in Barley (Hordeum Vulgare) through Characterisation of Multiovary Mov Mutants and Their Potential Use in Hybrid Breeding Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Caterina Selva
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Genetic and Cytological Analysis of Host Root Responses to Cyst Nematode Infection in Wheat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kara Ann Levin
    2016 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Analysis of MADS-box genes and heat stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare) reproductive development Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Miss Cindy Callens
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Molecular and Genetic Characterisation of Early Aleurone Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew Kevern Aubert
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Molecular and Genetic Cues Influencing Ovule Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Laura Gay Wilkinson
    2013 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Using Plantago ovata as a proxy to study plant cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Jana Le-Lam-Thuy Phan
    2012 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Characterisation of the Auxin Signalling Pathway in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sarah Margaret Ann Moss
  • Position: Deputy Director, Waite Research Institute
  • Phone: 83139241
  • Email: matthew.tucker@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 8313 7102
  • Campus: Waite
  • Building: Wine Innovation Central, floor G
  • Room: G 21
  • Org Unit: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
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