
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 distinct plant cells and tissues are produced, with the aim of understanding how they can be engineered to optimise plant growth, yield and end-use. Current projects are focused on the characterisation of key pre- and post-fertilisation stages in the cereal monocot barley (Hordeum vulgare) that influence grain quality and yield.
His work has been published in journals including Developmental Cell, PloS Genetics, Plant Cell and Development.
- My Research
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Our People
Dr Xiujuan Yang - Postdoctoral fellow
Dr Muhammad Kamran - Postdoctoral intern
Chao Ma - Technical Assistant
Dayton Bird - PhD student
Simon Michelmore - PhD student
Susan Johnson - Microscopist
Ryan Edwards - Honours student
Danielle McBride - Honours student
Reyhaneh Khaksefidi - PhD student (co-supervisor)
Sara Pinto - PhD student (co-supervisor)
Ghazwan Karem - PhD student (co-supervisor)
Jack Kelly - Honours student (co-supervisor)
Brendan Kupke - Honours student (co-supervisor)
Former Staff/Students
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
Grain Development
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, 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 endosperm development in cereal species to understand the genetic basis for endosperm cell identity, with a specific focus on mechanisms that allow different cell types to communicate. This work is supported by the ARC and GRDC (https://grdc.com.au/) and involves international partners including the James Hutton Institute (http://www.hutton.ac.uk/staff/robbie-waugh). We also enjoy share a strong partnership with the State Breeding Institute at the University of Hohenheim (https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/institution/landessaatzuchtanstalt-2) relating to genetic analysis of complex traits in cereals.
Recent Papers:
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
Zhang R, Tucker MR, Burton RA, Shirley NJ, Little A, Morris J, Milne L, Houston K, Hedley PE, Waugh R, Fincher GB (2016) The dynamics of transcript abundance during cellularisation of developing barley endosperm. Plant Physiol. doi:10.1104/pp.15.01690. http://bit.ly/1n75yZ2
Trafford K, Haleux P, Henderson M, Parker M, Shirley NJ, Tucker MR, Fincher GB, Burton RA (2013) Grain development in Brachypodium and other grasses: Interactions between cell expansion, starch deposition and cell wall synthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64(16):5033-47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24052531
Ovule Development
Plant reproduction delivers many fruits, grains, beverages and industrial products 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. With partners at CSIRO Agriculture (Dr Anna Koltunow), we have developed and utilised a method for 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/), North Carolina State University (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~rgfranks/) and the University of Freiburg (http://www.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/LauxLab/default%20tafang.htm)
Recent Papers:
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.
Wilkinson LG, Bird D, Tucker M.R. (2018) Exploring the role of the ovule in cereal grain development and reproductive stress tolerance. Annual Plant Reviews https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119312994.apr0609
Juranic, M., Tucker, M.R., Schultz, C.J., Shirley, N.J., Taylor, J.M., Spriggs, A., Johnson, S.D., Bulone, V. and Koltunow A.M. (2018). Asexual female gametogenesis involves contact with a sexually-fated megaspore in apomictic Hieracium. Plant Physiology, 177(3):1027-1049. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29844228/
Wilkinson, L. & Tucker, MR (2017). An optimised clearing protocol for the quantitative assessment of sub-epidermal ovule tissues within whole cereal pistils. Plant Methods. https://plantmethods.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13007-017-0217-z
Lora J, Herrero M, Tucker MR, Hormaza JI (2016) The transition from somatic to germline identity shows conserved and specialised features during angiosperm evolution. New Phytologist, DOI: 10.1111/nph.14330. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.14330/abstract
Plant Cell Walls
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 M.R., et al. (2020). Auxin treatment of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) berries delays ripening onset by inhibiting cell expansion. Plant Molecular Biology (in press)
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
Phan JL, Tucker MR, Khor S-F, Shirley N, Lahnstein J, Beahan C, Bacic T, Burton RA (2016) Differences in the glycosyltransferase family 61 accompany interspecific variation in seed coat mucilage composition and heteroxylan structure in Plantago spp. Journal of Experimental Botany, 22: 6481-6495
Houston K, Tucker MR, 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. Front. Plant Sci., doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00984. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2016.00984/abstract
Shoot Meristem Development
ARGONAUTE proteins bind small RNA molecules to silence the transcription and translation of homologous target sequences. In Arabidopsis, several AGOs contribute to development of the embryonic shoot meristem. Using a combination of genetic screens and natural mutants, we are studying the broader network of AGO-dependent genes controlling embryonic meristem development to determine how these might be tailored to improve plant growth under adverse conditions.
Recent Papers:
Du, F., Gong, W., Boscá, 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 (in press)
Tucker MR, Roodbarkelari F, Truernit E, Adamski NM, Hinze A, Lohmueller B, Würschum T, Laux T (2013) Accession-specific modifiers act with ZWILLE/ARGONAUTE10 to maintain shoot meristem stem cells during embryogenesis in Arabidopsis. BMC Genomics, 14:809. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/14/809/abstract
Knauer S, Holt AL, Rubio-Somoza I, Tucker EJ, Hinze A, Pisch M, Javelle M, Timmermans MC, Tucker MR, 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. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23333352
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2015 ARC Future Fellow University of Adelaide -
Language Competencies
Language Competency German Can read and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2003 University of Adelaide Australia PhD 1998 Flinders University Australia Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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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 |
M.R Tucker, K. Porker, M. Arjomandi, V. Bulone. Revealing the basis for head-loss in barley, 2019-2021, SAGIT |
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 |
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, 2020-2024, EU H2020-MSCARISE |
Previous |
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 germplasmDoctor 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 (1,3;1,4)-ß-glucan 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 Ms 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 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
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2015 - ongoing Representative Australian Society of Plant Scientists Australian Society of Plant Scientists Australia 2015 - ongoing Representative Institutional Biosafety Commitee University of Adelaide Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2012 - ongoing Member Australian Society of Plant Scientists Australia 2012 - ongoing Member International Association for Sexual Plant Reproduction Research —
Connect With Me
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