Penny Tricker
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Following management roles in government and business, I completed a BSc (Hons.) in Commercial Horticulture and a PhD in Plant Biology. I followed with a short post-doc at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Rothamsted Research and stakeholders using forward genetics for breeding research for biomass energy trees to mitigate climate change. I then moved to the University of Reading and, in collaboration with IBERS Aberystwyth, completed a post-doc on the epigenetics of cocoa and Arabidopsis in response to changing environmental conditions. At the end of 2011, I moved to Australia and the University of Adelaide. In 2012, I was recruited into the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics as a Research Fellow and began an independent research group. I successfully led the team and attracted competitive funding for national and international projects. I was promoted to level C, Senior Lecturer, in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, in 2018. I was Deputy Director and a Program Leader for the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for wheat in a hot and dry climate, http://www.wheathub.com.au., and a member of the strategic and management committees. I led four other proposals and projects during this time and their strategic and collaboration management committees. I have supervised and mentored a large number of Higher Degree by Research students, other early and mid-career researchers and technical, professional staff. I now hold an honorary title as a Research Fellow and am a current investigator in a GRDC-funded project under the umbrella of the International Wheat Yield Partnership with international collaborators.
My group has used both forward and reverse genetic and epigenetic approaches to improve the tolerance of grapevine, wheat and barley to stresses that include increasing drought and high temperature episodes caused by climate change. Within the hub, I led the flagship scientific programme searching for novel traits and alleles, with particular interest in the use of wheat’s wild relatives. I developed and continue collaborations in international research projects with university researchers, plant breeders and stakeholders in Australia, France, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. I am now Science Group Leader for the Cropping Systems and Environment group within the Sustainable Production portfolio at the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research.
I completed a PhD in Plant Biology at the University of Southampton (U.K.), investigating leaf development and water relations under elevated CO2 (FACE) and graduating in December 2004. I followed with a short post-doc in collaboration with Rothamsted Research using forward genetics and genomics for breeding research for biomass energy trees. I then moved to the University of Reading and, in collaboration with IBERS Aberystwyth, worked on the epigenetics of cocoa and Arabidopsis in response to changing environmental conditions. At the end of 2011, I moved to the University of Adelaide and the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics. As a Senior Lecturer in Genetics and Genomics, I used both forward and reverse genetic, genomic and epigenomic approaches to improve the tolerance of grapevine, wheat and barley to abiotic stresses. I am Deputy Director of the recently completed ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Wheat in a Hot and Dry Climate and lead the drought and heat stress discovery programme for novel physiological traits and alleles. I continue to research the role of the epigenome in plant biology, including evolutionary and population genetics and, functionally, its potential for crop improvement and its role in priming for stress tolerance.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Science Group Leader Plant & Food Research 2020 - ongoing Adjunct Research Fellow School of Agriculture, Food and Wine 2011 - 2020 Senior Lecturer School of Agriculture, Food and Wine -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2000 - 2004 University of Southampton United Kingdom PhD 1996 - 2004 University of Greenwich United Kingdom BSc (Hons) -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2023 Tan, J. W., Shinde, H., Tesfamicael, K., Hu, Y., Fruzangohar, M., Tricker, P., . . . Rodríguez López, C. M. (2023). Global transcriptome and gene co-expression network analyses reveal regulatory and non-additive effects of drought and heat stress in grapevine. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 15 pages.
2021 Thomelin, P., Bonneau, J., Brien, C., Suchecki, R., Baumann, U., Kalambettu, P., . . . Fleury, D. (2021). The wheat Seven in absentia gene is associated with increases in biomass and yield in hot climates. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72(10), 3744-3791.
Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC32021 Fabres, P. J., Anand, L., Sai, N., Pederson, S., Zheng, F., Stewart, A. A., . . . David, R. (2021). Tissue and regional expression patterns of dicistronic tRNA-mRNA transcripts in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and their evolutionary co-appearance with vasculature in land plants. Horticultural Reviews, 8(1), 137-1-137-15.
Scopus1 WoS2 Europe PMC12021 Uddin, N., Shinde, H., Tesfamicael, K., Ali, N., Tricker, P., & Rodríguez López, C. (2021). Identification of marker-trait associated SNPs for fruit weight and plant height in a wild and domesticated jujube fruit tree (<i>Ziziphus</i> spp.) collection using genotyping-by-sequencing.
2020 Habti, A. E., Fleury, D., Jewell, N., Garnett, T., & Tricker, P. (2020). Tolerance of combined drought and heat stress is associated with transpiration maintenance and water soluble carbohydrates in wheat grains.
2020 Schmidt, J., Garcia, M., Brien, C., Kalambettu, P., Garnett, T., Fleury, D., & Tricker, P. J. (2020). Transcripts of wheat at a target locus on chromosome 6B associated with increased yield, leaf mass and chlorophyll index under combined drought and heat stress. PLoS One, 15(11), e0241966-1-e0241966-24.
Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC12020 Mazzucotelli, E., Sciara, G., Mastrangelo, A. M., Desiderio, F., Xu, S. S., Faris, J., . . . Bassi, F. M. (2020). The Global Durum Wheat Panel (GDP): An International Platform to Identify and Exchange Beneficial Alleles. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 1-22.
Scopus19 WoS20 Europe PMC132020 Schmidt, J., Tricker, P. J., Eckermann, P., Kalambettu, P., Garcia, M., & Fleury, D. (2020). Novel alleles for combined drought and heat stress tolerance in wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 1-14.
Scopus26 WoS24 Europe PMC142020 Fabres, P. J., Anand, L., Sai, N., Pederson, S., Zheng, F., Stewart, A., . . . David, R. (2020). Tissue and regional expression patterns of dicistronic tRNA-mRNA transcripts in grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i>) and their evolutionary co-appearance with vasculature in land plants.
2020 El Habti, A., Fleury, D., Jewell, N., Garnett, T., & Tricker, P. (2020). Tolerance of combined drought and heat stress is associated with transpiration maintenance and water soluble carbohydrates in wheat grains. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 1-13.
Scopus17 WoS12 Europe PMC72020 Cryer, N., Tricker, P., Gibbings, G., Daymond, A., Engels, J., Hadley, P., . . . Butler, D. (2020). Conservation and utilisation of the global cacao genetic resource: the value of the Trinidad collections. Ecology Letters. 2019 Fruzangohar, M., Kalashyan, E., Kalambettu, P., Ens, J., Wiebe, K., Pozniak, C. J., . . . Baumann, U. (2019). Novel Informatic Tools to Support Functional Annotation of the Durum Wheat Genome.. Frontiers in plant science, 10, 10 pages.
Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC32019 Thomelin, P., Bonneau, J., Brien, C., Suchecki, R., Baumann, U., Kalambettu, P., . . . Fleury, D. (2019). The wheat Seven in Absentia gene is associated with increases in biomass and yield in hot climates.
2018 Tricker, P., ElHabti, A., Schmidt, J., & Fleury, D. (2018). The physiological and genetic basis of combined drought and heat tolerance in wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69(13), 3195-3210.
Scopus100 WoS91 Europe PMC472018 Bi, H., Shi, J., Kovalchuk, N., Luang, S., Bazanova, N., Chirkova, L., . . . Borisjuk, N. (2018). Overexpression of the TaSHN1 transcription factor in bread wheat leads to leaf surface modifications, improved drought tolerance and no yield penalty under controlled growth conditions. Plant, Cell & Environment, 41(11), 2549-2566.
Scopus35 WoS32 Europe PMC242017 Ferdous, J., Sanchez-Ferrero, J. C., Langridge, P., Milne, L., Chowdhury, J., Brien, C., & Tricker, P. J. (2017). Differential expression of microRNAs and potential targets under drought stress in barley. Plant, Cell & Environment, 40(1), 11-24.
Scopus65 WoS52 Europe PMC302017 Ferdous, J., Whitford, R., Nguyen, M., Brien, C., Langridge, P., & Tricker, P. (2017). Drought-inducible expression of Hv-miR827 enhances drought tolerance in transgenic barley. Functional and Integrative Genomics, 17(2-3), 279-292.
Scopus44 WoS35 Europe PMC162017 Bi, H., Kovalchuk, N., Langridge, P., Tricker, P. J., Lopato, S., & Borisjuk, N. (2017). The impact of drought on wheat leaf cuticle properties. BMC Plant Biology, 17(85), 1-13.
Scopus97 WoS94 Europe PMC372017 Abbas, H., Wilkinson, M., & Tricker, P. (2017). Detection of siRNA-directed DNA methylation and gene silencing in response to salinity stress. Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology, 16(2), 89-110. 2015 Ferdous, J., Li, Y., Reid, N., Langridge, P., Shi, B., & Tricker, P. (2015). Identification of reference genes for quantitative expression analysis of microRNAs and mRNAs in barley under various stress conditions. PLoS One, 10(3), e0118503-1-e0118503-20.
Scopus49 WoS46 Europe PMC322015 Tricker, P. (2015). Transgenerational inheritance or resetting of stress-induced epigenetic modifications: two sides of the same coin. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6(september), 699-1-699-6.
Scopus35 WoS34 Europe PMC222015 Ferdous, J., Li, Y., Reid, N., Langridge, P., Shi, B. -J., & Tricker, P. J. (2015). Identification of Reference Genes for Quantitative Expression Analysis of MicroRNAs and mRNAs in Barley under Various Stress Conditions (vol 10, e0118503, 2015). PLOS ONE, 10(5), 1 page.
2013 Tricker, P., López, C. R., Hadley, P., Wagstaff, C., & Wilkinson, M. (2013). Pre-conditioning the epigenetic response to high vapor pressure deficit increases the drought tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Signaling and Behavior, 8(10), e25974-1-e25974-3.
Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC72013 Tricker, P., Rodriguez Lopez, C., Gibbings, J., Hadley, P., & Wilkinson, M. (2013). Transgenerational, dynamic methylation of stomata genes in response to low relative humidity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(4), 6674-6689.
Scopus42 WoS39 Europe PMC212012 Tricker, P., Gibbings, J., Rodriguez Lopez, C., Hadley, P., & Wilkinson, M. (2012). Low relative humidity triggers RNA-directed de novo DNA methylation and suppression of genes controlling stomatal development. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(10), 3799-3814.
Scopus100 WoS91 Europe PMC552011 Daymond, A., Tricker, P., & Hadley, P. (2011). Genotypic variation in photosynthesis in cacao is correlated with stomatal conductance and leaf nitrogen. Biologia Plantarum, 55(1), 99-104.
Scopus38 WoS382010 Johnson, L. J., & Tricker, P. J. (2010). Epigenomic plasticity within populations: its evolutionary significance and potential. Heredity, 105(1), 113-121.
Scopus65 WoS56 Europe PMC402009 Tricker, P., Pecchiari, M., Bunn, S., Vaccari, F., Peressotti, A., Miglietta, F., & Taylor, G. (2009). Water use of a bioenergy plantation increases in a future high CO₂ world. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33(2), 200-208.
Scopus46 WoS432009 Tricker, P. J., Pecchiari, M., Bunn, S. M., Vaccari, F. P., Peressotti, A., Miglietta, F., & Taylor, G. (2009). Water use of a bioenergy plantation increases in a future high CO(2) world. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33, 200-208. 2007 Rae, A. M., Tricker, P. J., Bunn, S. M., & Taylor, G. (2007). Adaptation of tree growth to elevated CO<inf>2</inf>: Quantitative trait loci for biomass in Populus. New Phytologist, 175(1), 59-69.
Scopus36 WoS38 Europe PMC242006 Taylor, G., Tricker, P. J., Graham, L. E., Tallis, M. J., Rae, A. M., Trewin, H., & Street, N. R. (2006). The potential of genomics and genetics in free air carbon dioxide enrichment experiments. 2005 Irfan, M., Husnain, T., Tricker, P. J., Taylor, G., & Riazuddin, S. (2005). Gene-chip technology and its application. PROCEEDINGS-PAKISTAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 42, 199. 2005 Taylor, G., Street, N. R., Tricker, P. J., Sjödin, A., Graham, L., Skogström, O., . . . Jansson, S. (2005). The transcriptome of Populus in elevated CO<inf>2</inf>. New Phytologist, 167(1), 143-154.
Scopus80 WoS79 Europe PMC542005 Tricker, P. J., Trewin, H., Kull, O., Clarkson, G. J. J., Eensalu, E., Tallis, M. J., . . . Taylor, G. (2005). Stomatal conductance and not stomatal density determines the long-term reduction in leaf transpiration of poplar in elevated CO<inf>2</inf>. Oecologia, 143(4), 652-660.
Scopus78 WoS72 Europe PMC372004 Tricker, P. J., Calfapietra, C., Kuzminsky, E., Puleggi, R., Ferris, R., Nathoo, M., . . . Taylor, G. (2004). Long-term acclimation of leaf production, development, longevity and quality following 3 yr exposure to free-air CO<inf>2</inf> enrichment during canopy closure in Populus. New Phytologist, 162(2), 413-426.
Scopus40 WoS39 Europe PMC212003 Taylor, G., Tricker, P. J., Zhang, F. Z., Alston, V. J., Miglietta, F., & Kuzminsky, E. (2003). Spatial and temporal effects of free-air CO<inf>2</inf> enrichment (POPFACE) on leaf growth, cell expansion, and cell production in a closed canopy of poplar. Plant Physiology, 131(1), 177-185.
Scopus84 WoS79 Europe PMC47 -
Book Chapters
Year Citation 2019 Shahinnia, F., Tricker, P., Hajirezaei, M. -R., & Chen, Z. (2019). Genetics and Genomics of Stomatal Traits for Improvement of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Cereals. In V. R. Rajpal (Ed.), Genomics Assisted Breeding of Crops for Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Vol. II (Vol. 2, pp. 1-20). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
2016 Tricker, P., Haefele, S., & Okamoto, M. (2016). The interaction of drought and nutrient stress in wheat: Opportunities and limitations. In P. Ahmad (Ed.), Water Stress and Crop Plants: A Sustainable Approach (Vol. 2, pp. 695-710). United Kingdom: Wiley.
Scopus42006 Taylor, G., Tricker, P. J., Graham, L. E., Tallis, M. J., Rae, A. M., Trewin, H., & Street, N. R. (2006). The potential of genomics and genetics to understand plant response to elevated atmospheric [CO2]. In Managed Ecosystems and CO2 (pp. 351-371). Springer. - Tricker, P. J., Haefele, S. M., & Okamoto, M. (n.d.). The interaction of drought and nutrient stress in wheat. In Water Stress and Crop Plants (pp. 695-710). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2019 Kostecki, R., Zhang, B., El Habti, A., Arman, A., Hutchinson, M., Tricker, P., . . . Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2019). Reversible protein carbonylation in-vivo biosensor. In osapublishing.org Vol. Part F166-Sensors 2019 (pp. 1-2). online: OSA.
2019 Kostecki, R., Zhang, B., El Habti, A., Arman, A., Hutchinson, M. R., Tricker, P. J., . . . Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2019). Optical fiber based in-vivo oxidative stress biosensor. In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 11202 (pp. 1-3). online: SPIE.
WoS12008 Tricker, P., Gibbings, G., Cryer, N., Hadley, P., & Wilkinson, M. (2008). Epigenetic control of stomatal number in response to humidity environment. In Abstracts of the Annual Main Meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology, 6th - 10th July 2008, Marseille, France, as published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology Vol. 150 (pp. S190-S191). Marseille, France: Elsevier.
WoS12005 Rodriguez-Acosta, M., Rae, A., Graham, L., Tricker, P., Hemersley, A., Street, N. R., & Taylor, G. (2005). Leaf growth and development of Populus - Is cell expansion or cell production most important?. In COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY Vol. 141 (pp. S284). ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. -
Patents
Year Citation 2011 Tricker, P. J., Rodriguez Lopez, C. M., Wilkinson, M. J., & Hadley, P. (2011). WO 2011157995 A1, Method for producing a stress tolerant plant or precursor thereof. -
Datasets
Year Citation - Fruzangohar, M., Kalashyan, E., Kalambettu, P., Ens, J., Wiebe, K., Pozniak, C., . . . Baumann, U. (n.d.). Durum Exome Capture Reference (DECaR).
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Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor A Multiple 'Omics' Approach to Study the Interaction between the Vitis Vinifera Transcriptome and Epigenome and the Barossa Valley Terroir Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Pastor Jullian Fabres 2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Physiological Traits for Tolerance to Combined Drought and Heat Stress in Wheat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Abdeljalil El Habti 2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Identification of Novel Loci and Alleles for Drought and Heat Stress Tolerance in Wheat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Jessica Schmidt 2015 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Characterization of Wheat Cuticle and Wheat Cuticle-Related Transcription Factor Genes in Relation to Drought Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Huihui Bi 2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Genes, haplotypes and physiological traits associated with a chromosome 3B locus for wheat improvement in hot climates Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Pauline Thomelin 2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Identification of drought responsive microRNAs and functional analysis of a sample microRNA for drought tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jannatul Ferdous 2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Differential Allele Response to Drought and Heat at Two Closely-Linked Quantitative Trait Loci on Chromosome 7A in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Fabio Arsego
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2018 - ongoing Vice-Chair EpiCSA Australia 2017 - ongoing Representative Society for Experimental Biology Australia
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