Plants, unlike animals, are amazingly plastic, having the ability to drastically change their above and below ground architecture in response to changing conditions. These changes in conditions, which may only be local to a specific plant part, can be communicated throughout the plant via long distance signals, including plant hormones, to elicit a plant-wide coordinated response. My research is concerned with the regulation of the above ground shoot architecture, or branching, and how different signals interact to control when, where and how a tiny bud will grow into a branch. This is an important plant trait, being a major determinant of yield in field, horticulture and forestry crops.
The interplay of multiple factors (including hormonal, developmental and environmental) coordinately act to regulate bud outgrowth. The plant hormones strigolactone and auxin inhibit bud outgrowth, while cytokinin promotes outgrowth. Environmental and developmental factors (i.e. photoperiod/daylength, position of axillary bud along stem) and many flowering genes also influence bud outgrowth, particularly the patterns of outgrowth. For example, photoperiod substantially affects the position of branches along the stem, even in decapitated and strigolactone-deficient plants, and therefore does not require the branching hormone strigolactone. Photoperiod regulation of branching patterns is not solely attributable to the process of flowering, as some mutants that do not flower under any photoperiod still display photoperiod-responsive vegetative traits.
My research, using the model plant garden pea (Pisum sativum), seeks to discover how strigolactones and other known hormones/signals regulate shoot architecture in response to environmental factors (photoperiod) and in coordination with developmental processes (flowering). I am studying the interactions between pathways controlling photoperiod, light response, flowering and branching which will help me to identify factors that determine position of branches along the stem. Understanding such crosstalk is important and will be an important step towards targeted modification of plant architecture, enabling bud outgrowth to be directed to desired regions or stages of plant growth.
Journal Article: Strigolactones and shoot branching: what is the real hormone and how does it work?
Dun, Elizabeth A., Brewer, Philip B., Gillam, Elizabeth M. J. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2023). Strigolactones and shoot branching: what is the real hormone and how does it work?. Plant And Cell Physiology, 64 (9), 967-983. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcad088
Journal Article: Auxin-independent effects of apical dominance induce changes in phytohormones correlated with bud outgrowth
Cao, Da, Chabikwa, Tinashe, Barbier, Francois, Dun, Elizabeth A, Fichtner, Franziska, Dong, Lili, Kerr, Stephanie C and Beveridge, Christine A (2023). Auxin-independent effects of apical dominance induce changes in phytohormones correlated with bud outgrowth. Plant Physiology, 192 (2), 1420-1434. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad034
Conference Publication: Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Fortuna, Nicole, Dun, Elizabeth, Lawson, Brodie, Cooper, Mark and Beveridge, Christine A. (2022). Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture Research Retreat, Hobart, TAS Australia, 30 May - 1 June 2022.
National Tree Genomics Program - Genotype Prediction (Molecular Physiology)
(2020–2024) Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
Crosstalk between branching and flowering regulatory pathways in shoot development
(2011–2019) ARC Discovery Projects
Molecular physiology investigation into the mechanism of how the flowering pathway impacts branching at vegetative nodes in garden pea and arabidopsis
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the molecular and physiological basis of flowering behaviour in mungbean
Doctor Philosophy
The roles and interactions of phytohormones and sugars in shoot branching
(2021) Doctor Philosophy
Strigolactones and shoot branching: what is the real hormone and how does it work?
Dun, Elizabeth A., Brewer, Philip B., Gillam, Elizabeth M. J. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2023). Strigolactones and shoot branching: what is the real hormone and how does it work?. Plant And Cell Physiology, 64 (9), 967-983. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcad088
Cao, Da, Chabikwa, Tinashe, Barbier, Francois, Dun, Elizabeth A, Fichtner, Franziska, Dong, Lili, Kerr, Stephanie C and Beveridge, Christine A (2023). Auxin-independent effects of apical dominance induce changes in phytohormones correlated with bud outgrowth. Plant Physiology, 192 (2), 1420-1434. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad034
Kerr, Stephanie C., Patil, Suyash, de Saint Germain, Alexandre, Pillot, Jean‐Paul, Saffar, Julie, Ligerot, Yasmine, Aubert, Grégoire, Citerne, Sylvie, Bellec, Yannick, Dun, Elizabeth A., Beveridge, Christine A. and Rameau, Catherine (2021). Integration of the SMXL/D53 strigolactone signalling repressors in the model of shoot branching regulation in Pisum sativum. The Plant Journal, 107 (6) tpj.15415, 1756-1770. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15415
Sugar availability suppresses the auxin‐induced strigolactone pathway to promote bud outgrowth
Bertheloot, Jessica, Barbier, François, Boudon, Frédéric, Perez‐Garcia, Maria Dolores, Péron, Thomas, Citerne, Sylvie, Dun, Elizabeth, Beveridge, Christine, Godin, Christophe and Sakr, Soulaiman (2020). Sugar availability suppresses the auxin‐induced strigolactone pathway to promote bud outgrowth. New Phytologist, 225 (2) nph.16201, 866-879. doi: 10.1111/nph.16201
An update on the signals controlling shoot branching
Barbier, Francois F., Dun, Elizabeth A., Kerr, Stephanie C., Chabikwa, Tinashe G. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2019). An update on the signals controlling shoot branching. Trends in Plant Science, 24 (3), 220-236. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2018.12.001
Barbier, Francois F. , Dun, Elizabeth A. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2017). Apical dominance. Current Biology, 27 (17), R864-R865. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.024
Phloem transport of the receptor, DWARF14 protein, is required for full function of strigolactones
Kameoka, Hiromu, Dun, Elizabeth A., Lopez-Obando, Mauricio, Brewer, Philip B., de Saint Germain, Alexandre, Rameau, Catherine, Beveridge, Christine A. and Kyozuka, Junko (2016). Phloem transport of the receptor, DWARF14 protein, is required for full function of strigolactones. Plant Physiology, 172 (3), 1844-1852. doi: 10.1104/pp.16.01212
Brewer, Philip B., Yoneyama, Kaori, Filardo, Fiona, Meyers, Emma, Scaffidi, Adrian, Frickey, Tancred, Akiyama, Kohki, Seto, Yoshiya, Dun, Elizabeth A., Cremer, Julia E., Kerr, Stephanie C., Waters, Mark T., Flematti, Gavin R., Mason, Michael G., Weiller, Georg, Yamaguchi, Shinjiro, Nomura, Takahito, Smith, Steven M., Yoneyama, Koichi and Beveridge, Christine A. (2016). Lateral branching oxidoreductase acts in the final stages of strigolactone biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, 113 (22), 6301-6306. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1601729113
Strigolactone inhibition of branching independent of polar auxin transport
Brewer, Philip B., Dun, Elizabeth A., Gui, Renyi, Mason, Michael G. and Beveridge, Christine A. (2015). Strigolactone inhibition of branching independent of polar auxin transport. Plant Physiology, 168 (4), 1820-1829. doi: 10.1104/pp.15.00014
Strigolactones stimulate internode elongation independently of Gibberellins
de Saint Germain, Alexandre, Ligerot, Yasmine, Dun, Elizabeth A., Pillot, Jean-Paul, Ross, John J., Beveridge, Christine A. and Rameau, Catherine (2013). Strigolactones stimulate internode elongation independently of Gibberellins. Plant Physiology, 163 (2), 1012-1025. doi: 10.1104/pp.113.220541
Dynamics of strigolactone function and shoot branching responses in Pisum sativum
Dun, Elizabeth A., de Saint Germain, Alexandre, Rameau, Catherine and Beveridge, Christine A. (2013). Dynamics of strigolactone function and shoot branching responses in Pisum sativum. Molecular Plant, 6 (1), 128-140. doi: 10.1093/mp/sss131
Agusti, Javier, Herold, Silvia, Schwarz, Martina, Sanchez, Pablo, Ljung, Karin, Dun, Elizabeth A., Brewer, Philip B., Beveridge, Christine A., Sieberer, Tobias, Sehr, Eva M. and Greb, Thomas (2012). Strigolactone signaling is required for auxin-dependent stimulation of secondary growth in plants (vol 108, pg 20242, 2011). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109 (35), 14277-14277. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211779109
Antagonistic action of strigolactone and cytokinin in bud outgrowth control
Dun, Elizabeth A., de Saint Germain, Alexandre, Rameau, Catherine and Beveridge, Christine A. (2012). Antagonistic action of strigolactone and cytokinin in bud outgrowth control. Plant Physiology, 158 (1), 487-498. doi: 10.1104/pp.111.186783
Strigolactone signaling is required for auxin-dependent stimulation of secondary growth in plants
Agusti, Javier, Herold, Silvia, Schwarz, Martina, Sanchez, Pablo, Ljung, Karin, Dun, Elizabeth A., Brewer, Philip B., Beveridge, Christine A., Sieberer, Tobias, Sehr, Eva M. and Greb, Thomas (2011). Strigolactone signaling is required for auxin-dependent stimulation of secondary growth in plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108 (50), 20242-20247. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1111902108
F-box protein MAX2 has dual roles in karrikin and strigolactone signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Nelson, David C., Scaffidi, Adrian, Dun, Elizabeth A., Waters, Mark T., Flematti, Gavin R., Dixon, Kingsley W., Beveridge, Christine A., Ghisalberti, Emilio L. and Smith, Steven M. (2011). F-box protein MAX2 has dual roles in karrikin and strigolactone signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 108 (21), 8897-8902. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1100987108
Dun, EA, Hanan, J and Beveridge, CA (2009). Computational Modeling and Molecular Physiology Experiments Reveal New Insights into Shoot Branching in Pea. PLANT CELL, 21 (11), 3459-3472. doi: 10.1105/tpc.109.069013
Pea has its tendrils in branching discoveries spanning a century from auxin to strigolactones
Beveridge, CA, Dun, EA and Rameau, C (2009). Pea has its tendrils in branching discoveries spanning a century from auxin to strigolactones. Plant Physiology, 151 (3), 985-990. doi: 10.1104/pp.109.143909
Computational analysis of flowering in pea (Pisum sativum)
Wenden, B, Dun, EA, Hanan, J, Andrieu, B, Weller, JL, Beveridge, CA and Rameau, C (2009). Computational analysis of flowering in pea (Pisum sativum). New Phytologist, 184 (1), 153-167. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02952.x
Strigolactones: discovery of the elusive shoot branching hormone
Dun, E.A., Brewer, P.B. and Beveridge, C.A. (2009). Strigolactones: discovery of the elusive shoot branching hormone. Trends in Plant Science, 14 (7), 364-372. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2009.04.003
Strigolactone acts downstream of auxin to regulate bud outgrowth in pea and arabidopsis
Brewer, Philip B., Dun, Elizabeth A., Ferguson, Brett J., Rameau, Catherine and Beveridge, Christine A. (2009). Strigolactone acts downstream of auxin to regulate bud outgrowth in pea and arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 150 (1), 482-493. doi: 10.1104/pp.108.134783
Strigolactone inhibition of shoot branching
Gomez-Roldan, V., Fermas, S., Brewer, P., Puech-Pagès, V., Dun, E., Pillot, J-P., Letisse. F., Matusova, R., Danoun, S., Portais, J-C., Bouwmeester, H., Bécard, G., Beveridge, C. A., Rameau, C. and Rochange, S.F. (2008). Strigolactone inhibition of shoot branching. Nature, 455 (7210), 189-194. doi: 10.1038/nature07271
Apical dominance and shoot branching. Divergent opinions or divergent mechanisms?
Dun, E. A., Ferguson, B. J. and Beveridge, C. A. (2006). Apical dominance and shoot branching. Divergent opinions or divergent mechanisms?. Plant Physiology, 142 (3), 812-819. doi: 10.1104/pp.106.086868
Johnson, X., Brcich, T., Dun, E. A., Goussot, M., Haurogne, K., Beveridge, C. A. and Rameau, C. (2006). Branching genes are conserved across species. Genes controlling a novel signal in pea are coregulated by other long-distance signals. Plant Physiology, 142 (3), 1014-1026. doi: 10.1104/pp.106.087676
Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Fortuna, Nicole, Dun, Elizabeth, Lawson, Brodie, Cooper, Mark and Beveridge, Christine A. (2022). Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture Research Retreat, Hobart, TAS Australia, 30 May - 1 June 2022.
Hypothesis-driven computational modelling of the shoot branching control network in pea
Dun, E., Hanan, J. and Beveridge, C. A. (2007). Hypothesis-driven computational modelling of the shoot branching control network in pea. CSIRO Transformational Biology Workshop, Black Mountain, Australia, 18-20 June, 2007. CSIRO.
Hypothesis driven modelling of long-distance signalling and plant development
Beveridge, Christine, Harding, Elizabeth, Renton, Michael, Bell, Paul, Parmenter, Kathy and Hanan, Jim (2004). Hypothesis driven modelling of long-distance signalling and plant development. 4th International Workshop on Functional-Structural Plant Models (FSPM 04), Montpellier, France, 7-11 June, 2004. Montpellier, France: UMR AMAP.
Novel signals and IAA cross-talk
Beveridge, C. A., Foo, E., Murray, M. D., Dun, E. A. and Brcich, T. A. (2004). Novel signals and IAA cross-talk. IPGSA 2004, Canberra, Australia, 20th - 24th September, 2004.
Branching in Pisum sativum (garden pea)
Harding, E. A. (2003). Branching in Pisum sativum (garden pea). The Inaugural Retreat for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Inh, Moreton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, 27th Feb To 2nd Mar, 2003. UQ: ARC Centre of Excellence For Integrative Legume Research.
Branching in Pea: Molecular Physiology and Computational Analysis
Elizabeth Dun (2007). Branching in Pea: Molecular Physiology and Computational Analysis. PhD Thesis, School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland.
National Tree Genomics Program - Genotype Prediction (Molecular Physiology)
(2020–2024) Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
Crosstalk between branching and flowering regulatory pathways in shoot development
(2011–2019) ARC Discovery Projects
Molecular physiology investigation into the mechanism of how the flowering pathway impacts branching at vegetative nodes in garden pea and arabidopsis
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Exploring the molecular and physiological basis of flowering behaviour in mungbean
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
The roles and interactions of phytohormones and sugars in shoot branching
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: