
Professor Rachel Burton
Professor
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My expertise is in the areas of plant molecular biology and plant functional genomics, particularly as it relates to cell wall biosynthesis, re-modeling and degradation and the impact these biological processes have on end use quality of cereals and biomass. Research in this area is mainly focused on barley as we have access to an excellent genetic transformation system and extensive genetic resources but we are now developing resources in other cereals and Plantago species. The gene families I have a particular interest in include the cellulose synthases, the mixed link beta-glucan synthases and the xylan synthases. Cellulose content is likely to have an impact on plant strength and is of central importance in the use of plants as a feedstock for biofuel production, whilst mixed-link glucans and arabinoxylans have major human health benefits and also crucially impact digestibility of animal feed and steps in brewing and baking processes. I also have an interest in the development and application of novel experimental methods for transcript profiling and gene discovery in plants.
Research Interests
I am a plant scientist and molecular biologist. I started out working on how starch is made in peas and potatoes but switched over to another polysaccharide, cellulose, when I arrived in Australia. I am passionate about plant cell walls and all the ways that they can be useful to humans. I study the way that the walls are made, how they support and defend the plant they are part of and how they can be pulled apart and influence our daily lives. Plant cell walls can be fermented in the gut, as the vital dietary fibre component of our food, made into clothing and furniture, be fermented into beer or be converted into renewable fuels or bioplastics. They are truly versatile, essential to life on this planet and a fascinating thing to study. Plants, and how we use them, can also have a central role in how we tackle climate change as their products are carbon neutral.
As well as being Head of Department I have been privileged to be a Chief Investigator in two Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence, the first in Plant Cell Walls (2011-2017) and then the CoE in Plant Energy Biology which finished in 2020. Now I am internationally recognised for my expertise in plant cell wall biology, cereal grain quality, seed mucilage biology and biofuel feedstocks and am lucky to receive many invitations to speak at conferences and to visit collaborators all around the world. I am working on some very interesting plant species including Plantago (psyllium), chia, agave (tequila and bioethanol), industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.
In my professional capacity I am actively engaged in a number of mentoring programs, was a long-term member of the Faculty of Science Gender, Equity and Diversity committee since its inception and have rejoiced in the recent shift in attitude across the University, and hopefully now permeating the sector, which is visible at the University of Adelaide as the Dornwell framework (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/gender-equity-diversity/dornwell/ ).
I very much enjoyed being amongst the inaugural cohort of the 30 Superstars of STEM https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/superstars-of-stem, a scheme run by Science and Technology Australia to provide leadership, media and outreach training to make visible role models for young people, particularly women, to aspire to emulate. Amongst many other benefits this program provided me with an inspiring mentor, a talented mentee, an expanded professional network and the chance to meet many high school students through the outreach component of the scheme.
I really enjoy communicating my science to the public and demonstrating how what we are doing is actually useful to them. Outreach and education activities are common in my group and everyone is encouraged to join in. Science communication is more an art than a science and is an extremely valuable skill to learn, since often it is necessary to explain the value and relevance of scientific research to diverse audiences. This is most effective when it connects with core emotional values of the audience, rather than bombarding them with impenetrable, jargon-heavy bits of scientific data. I imagine that I am speaking to my bright but non-scientist family members, and this is a good trick to perfect. Links to some of my education, outreach and media portfolio can be found here;
GutWoman’s guide to a healthy gut http://bit.ly/2rhCZgi
Industrial hemp – now legal for food use in Australia http://bit.ly/2FD7WQF and http://bit.ly/2HRugaY
Psyllium (Plantago) as a novel gluten-free crop for Australia https://ab.co/2HUh5GB and http://bit.ly/2wcK8DC
Remarkable women in science profile http://bit.ly/2JRgzJQ
A Pint of Science http://bit.ly/2rhwrOY Follow me on Twitter @porridgepusher
Recent publications of my research include "Dissecting the Genetic Basis for Seed Coat Mucilage Heteroxylan Biosynthesis in Plantago ovata Using Gamma Irradiation and Infrared Spectroscopy" in Frontiers in Plant Science (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00326) and "Differences in glycosyltransferase family 61 accompany variation in seed coat mucilage composition in Plantago spp." in Journal of Experimental Botany (https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erw424).
Tequila plant offers fuel for the future
Biofuels have an important role to play in our future, in terms of securing fuel supplies, addressing climate change, and creating new industry in South Australia.
Professor Rachel Burton from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, is exploring a range of potential sources of biofuel. Their research on agave, the desert plant best known for producing tequila, shows that this fast-growing, highly water use efficient plan could be an ideal source of biofuel and other biochemical products in the future. “Bioethanol yields from agave fermentation could rival the most successful biofuel feedstock crops around the world,” says Rachel. “Importantly, it doesn’t compete with food crops, it’s fast growing so the whole plant could be used rather than just harvesting the leaves, and it is up to 10 times more water efficient than some other crop plants.” And this makes it ideal for the broad expanses of arid land in South Australia, providing potential for future farming and industry in our state.
Rachel and her team are working with AusAgave who have trial sites of agave established in Ayr in northern Queensland and Whyalla, South Australia.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2021 - ongoing Head, Department of Food Science University of Adelaide 2016 - ongoing Professor University of Adelaide 2014 - 2015 Director University of Adelaide 2012 - 2015 Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2005 - 2011 Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1992 John Innes Centre United Kingdom PhD
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Journals
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Book Chapters
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Conference Papers
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2023 Habibi, N., Bianco-Miotto, T., Herde, C., Burton, R. A., & Cowley, J. M. (2023). The effect of Australian Plantago whole seed flour on cardiometabolic health. Poster session presented at the meeting of PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
2013 Bacic, A., Doblin, M. S., Burton, R. A., Fincher, G. B., Jobling, S. A., & Gidley, M. J. (2013). The role of non-starchy polysaccharides ("soluble" dietary fibre), in particular (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucans and arabinoxylans, in promoting bowel health. Poster session presented at the meeting of PLANTA MEDICA. GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.
WoS1 -
Patents
Date | Investigators | Title | Amount | Role |
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2011-2017 | GB Fincher, A Bacic, RA Burton, MJ Gidley | ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls | $19,250,000 | Chief Investigator |
2012-2015 | RA Burton | GRDC Postgraduate Scholarship | $90,000 | Lead Investigator |
2013-2016 | GB Fincher, RA Burton, J Eglinton, J Whelan, D Stewart, B Skadhauge | Physiology and Genetics of Barley Grain Germination in the Malting and Brewing Industries |
$675,000 | Chief Investigator |
2013-2016 | RA Burton | GRDC Postgraduate Scholarship | $90,000 | Lead Investigator |
2014 | RA Burton | GRDC Conference Funding | $8,000 | Sole applicant |
2014-2018 | S Miklavcic, P Langridge, J Cai, H Laga, S Haefele, RA Burton, B Duggan, J Rosichan |
Field and quasi-field phenotyping for the quantitative characterisation of wheat yield under stress | $400,000 | Chief Investigator |
2014-2015 | RA Burton | Go8_Subcellular Localization of Oligo Fructans and Related Metabolizing Enzymes Involved in nutrient import during barley grain development |
$20,000 | Sole applicant |
2014-2015 | Burton RA, Furbank R | Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, The Plant Accelerator/HRPPC NCRIS 2 | $3,442,000 | Chief Investigator |
2015 | S Persson, L Tilley, P McMillan, A Bacic, J Bowman, RA Burton, M Anderson, B Dichtl, GB Fincher, J Whelan, G McFadden, R Gleadow |
Spinning disk confocal microscope with dual stages | $346,439 | Chief Investigator |
2017-2019 | D Zhang, RA Burton, M Kater, L Dreni, M Bennett | The role of specific SEP-like genes in determining cereal inflorescence architecture |
$513,500 | Chief Investigator |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Principal Supervisor Cell Wall Remodeling and Metabolism under Metallic Nanoparticle Stress Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Nadeem 2022 Principal Supervisor Metabolic Engineering of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Using Traditional and Molecular Approaches Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Saber Sohrabi 2022 Principal Supervisor Biotransformation of Functional Polysaccharides Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Ms Lucija Strkalj 2022 Principal Supervisor Determinants and analysis of seed size and quality of Cannabis sativa L. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Benjamin Lee McGorm 2022 Principal Supervisor “Synthesis and analysis of novel composite materials comprising fungal mycelium and industrial hemp biomass” Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Alex James Clare 2022 Co-Supervisor Nutri-priming; A study on its effects on hemp physiology, epigenetic memory, and stress tolerance development. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zane Marks 2021 Principal Supervisor Understanding the Effects of Elicitors to Manipulate the Cannabinoid and Terpene Profiles of Cannabis Sativa Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sara Jalali 2020 Principal Supervisor Characterisation of the water use efficiency and water-stress tolerance of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alison Rose Gill 2020 Co-Supervisor Using a human gut-on-a-chip to test health benefits of novel plant extracts Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jacqueline Paige Barsby 2020 Principal Supervisor Defining the role of cellulose synthase-like M genes in the plant cell wall Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Belinda Akomeah 2020 Principal Supervisor Investigating pangenome graphs in plants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Chelsea Anne Matthews 2018 Principal Supervisor Understanding Root Responses of Cereals Conferring Tolerance to Alkaline Sodic Soils Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Jakob Schulz -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Leptospermum for Bioactive Honey Production in South Australia: Selection, Genetic Diversity and Propagation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Tate Jason James Hancox 2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Interrogating the multi-stress tolerance of Oryza australiensis using novel genomic and phenomic strategies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Aaron Layne Phillips 2019 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Effect of Catalysts on Kinetics of Hydrothermal Processing of Biomass Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andres Chacon Parra 2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Analysis of Plantago species variants for novel functional and in-vitro fermentation properties Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Migelhewage Dinithi Tharuka Jayampathi Silva 2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Global Analysis of Genes Involved in Capsule Development and Seed Mucilage Polysaccharide Production in Plantago ovata Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Lina Herliana 2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Investigating the Effects of Non-thermal Air Plasma on Five Grains and Their Economically Important Pathogens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Melanie Ford 2018 - 2022 Principal 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 Fattoohi Karem 2017 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Exploiting Natural Variation in Plantago Seed Composition for Food and Human Health Applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr James Morgan Cowley 2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Hydrothermal Carbonisation of Novel Biomasses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Benjamin Keiller 2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Roles of LOFSEP genes in barley inflorescence development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hendrik Nicolaas Johannes Kuijer 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Molecular and Genetic Cues Influencing Ovule Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Laura Gay Wilkinson 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Molecular and Genetic Characterisation of Early Aleurone Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew Kevern Aubert 2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Regulation of Reserve Carbohydrates in Hull-less Barley Grain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Wai Li Lim 2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor The Analysis of Grapevine Response to Smoke Exposure Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lieke Van Der Hulst 2013 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Analysis of Cereal Cyst Nematode Resistance Mechanisms in Barley Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Christopher Hakachite 2013 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Identification of Genes Involved in Biosynthesis of Arabinoxylans, Ferulic and P-coumaric Acid in Barley Grain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ali Saleh Hassan Hassan 2013 - 2018 Principal 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 2013 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Genetic Variation in Barley (1-3,1-4)-Beta-Glucan Endohydrolases Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Juanita Christine Lauer 2012 - 2016 Principal Supervisor The role of barley cell wall polysaccharides in host plant defence mechanisms against powdery mildew Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Md Jamil Chowdhury 2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Characterization of Agro-Industrial Residues and Development of Processing Strategies for Conversion to Bioethanol Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Kendall Corbin 2012 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Investigating the synthesis and regulation of (1,3;1,4)-ß-glucan biosynthesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr George Dimitroff 2011 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Metabolic Engineering of C4 Grasses for Biofuel Applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Riksfardini Annisa Ermawar 2011 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Role of Calcium in the Cell Wall of Grape Berries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brad Hocking 2010 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Evolutionary History and Dynamics of the Cellulose Synthase Superfamily Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Julian Schwerdt 2009 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Regulation of (1,3;1,4)-beta-glucan synthesis in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) endosperm and leaf tissues Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Sie Chuong Wong 2009 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Analysis of Cellulose Synthase Genes and Regulatory Elements in Barley and Arabidopsis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hwei Tan 2006 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Cellulose, Stem Strength and the Endo (1,4) B Glucanase Gene Family in Barley and Maize Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Margaret Buchanan 2005 - 2012 Co-Supervisor The Barley Expansin Family Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Maria Lombardi 2001 - 2006 Co-Supervisor The Putative (1,3)-?-D-Glucan Synthase Gene Family in Hordeum vulgare Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Michael Scott Schober 2001 - 2006 Co-Supervisor Functional Analysis of Cell Wall-Related Barley Glycosyltransferases Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Naser Farrokhi 1998 - 2003 Co-Supervisor (1R3)-b-D-Glucan Synthases Of Plants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Andrew Jacobs 1998 - 2004 Co-Supervisor STUDIES ON (1-3)-_-GLUCAN SYNTHASES IN BARLEY Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jing Li 1997 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Expression of Hydrolytic Enzymes in Germinating Barley Grain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Catherine Gibson 1997 - 2002 Co-Supervisor Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Arabinoxylan Metabolism in Barley Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Robert Lee
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