Southern Cross Plant Science
Southern Cross Plant Science brings together leading expertise in the fields of plant genetics, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology enabling us to investigate and improve existing crops as well as developing new useful medicinal and food plants and high value plant products.
Southern Cross Plant Science (SCPS) provides a complete range of plant research capabilities from the association of DNA sequences with individuals, populations and traits, to genetic regulation and expression analyses and analysis of quality traits. We also carry out metabolite profiling, phytochemical analysis and research and development of bioactive natural products within facilities accredited by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Aust.)
The Southern Cross Plant Science website is still in development. It is created from combining the previous Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics and the Centre for Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Further details, researchers and contact information are still available on these websites for now - please use the link on each centre's name to access this information.
Research
SCPS has a strong portfolio of research themes focused on Plant Genomics and Medicinal Plant Research. We address a range of strategic research drivers including Food security, Human health and nutrition, Climate change, Regional sustainability, Native plant conservation and Biosecurity. Research and technical staff within SCPS have an impressive breadth of expertise and experience in phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, native flora research, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics.
Targets and commodities include High value Natural Products, Grain and Plantation crops, Forestry, Herbal Medicinal Products, Functional Foods, as well as Novel foods and health products.
The Medicinal Plants research theme is directed by Professor Michael Heinrich, a leading pharmacognosist, biologist and anthropologist specialising in medicinal and food plant research, specifically bioactive natural products as well as food and medicinal plant usage (ethnopharmacology), particularly in Mexico and the Mediterranean.
The Plant Genomics theme is directed by Professor Graham King, an internationally renowned scientist in the fields of genomics, quantitative genetics and epigenetics research that underpins crop improvement and the understanding of genetic diversity.
Our expertise is supported by a range of state of the art technologies such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), mass spectroscopy , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, flow cytometry, 96-well plate bioassay platform, Sanger and Illumina DNA sequencers, Sequenom MassArray, and certified quarantine and glass-house facilities, which also support customised contract research services to government, university and industry.
Updated: 22 June 2011