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Finger lime (Citrus australasica), an Australian native citrus with high commercial potential, faces significant challenges, including short shelf life, physiological disorders, preharvest and postharvest diseases such as Diaporthe citri, a common pathogen across multiple citrus species. Early and accurate detection of this pathogen is essential for sustainable disease management and minimising postharvest losses. This project is developing a highly sensitive, rapid, field-deployable, CRISPR-Cas12a-based molecular diagnostic tool for detection of Diaporthe citri, integrated with a lateral flow assay (LFA) for easy visual detection. This novel system enables on-site disease identification within approximately 60 minutes, providing growers with real-time disease surveillance. Light altering films (LAF) offer an innovative greenhouse covering, selectively transmitting around 80% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) while reducing heat from non-PAR wavelengths. LAFs block 85% ultraviolet (UV), 58% far-red, and 26% red light, resulting in a 19% reduction in PAR. Light intensity and spectral quality affect photoreceptor activity and physiological processes. Light plays a key role in carotenoid synthesis, with plants adapting to light fluctuations through various cellular, biochemical, and molecular adjustments. The absorbed light drives photosynthesis and dissipates excess energy via thermal mechanisms. Photosystems I and II include Chi a, Chi b, B-Carotene, and xanthophylls (Zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin), which quench excess PSII energy. Variations in light quality and quantity affect xanthophyll cycling, sustaining photoprotection. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is crucial for dissipating excess light energy as heat, preventing oxidative damage. Currently there is limited knowledge of how the light spectrum affects foliar photoprotection and carotenoid-mediated nonphotochemical quenching affect crop yield.
This project seeks to generate new knowledge of how altering the light spectrum via Light altering films (LAFs) modulates carotenoid biosynthesis, NPQ and hence foliar photoprotection will impact crop yield in a variety specific manner. Food waste is a global issue, as almost one third of food produced is lost before it is consumed (Ishangulyyev et al., 2019). Simultaneously, the resources such as water, energy, land and fuel, used in the food production supply chain are also wasted during this process. When discarded into landfill, both the plant biowaste and food waste impact the environment by the emission of greenhouse gases (Benyam et al., 2018). Fruits and vegetables contribute only 20% to the total food purchased, but they are responsible for half of the food waste (AUSVEG, 2013).
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