Assoc/Prof Wallace Cowling
Associate Professor/Deputy Director, ICPBER
Contact details
| Address | School of Plant Biology The University of Western Australia (M084) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 6488 7979 |
| Fax | 6488 1108 |
| wcowling@cyllene.uwa.edu.au |
Biography
I grew up in the large city of Melbourne, but a love of farms and plants lead me to the Agricultural Science degree at Melbourne University, from which I graduated in 1975. I was awarded a University of Melbourne Travelling Scholarship and studied for the PhD in Plant Pathology at the University of California at Davis, completed in 1980. My PhD supervisor was Dr David Gilchrist, Professor in Plant Pathology at UC Davis. Plant breeding for disease resistance and associated molecular and genetic research has dominated my career since that time, starting with a CSIRO Postdoctoral Studentship at Cornell University and then as a plant breeder for lupins at Agriculture Western Australia. In February 1999 I took up the position as Associate Professor in Plant Breeding at the University of Western Australia. This is an industry-funded position and is 70% involved in canola breeding in the company Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd, and 30% in teaching and research.
As a practicing plant breeder, I have released several commercial lupin and canola varieties. I have also undertaken research into genetics and physiology of resistance to various diseases in lupins and canola, and published several research papers in this field. I was co-author with international authors on a book chapter on lupin breeding (Cowling et al., 1998b), and published a monograph on lupin genetic resources through the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (Cowling et al., 1998a).
More recently, my research in canola is moving into molecular genetics and identifying genes by molecular markers and other means in wide crosses of canola with related species. I continue to develop my research interests in disease resistance and molecular markers for crop improvement, and to explore new ways to improve Brassica oilseeds through interspecific crossing, doubled haploidy, gene transformation or hybrid development. This involves international collaboration with our German plant breeding partners NPZ Lembke, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada’s canola molecular genetics laboratory at Saskatoon, Canada, and others. I am also developing a research interest in the role of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in diseases of plants, in collaboration with Prof David Gilchrist at the University of California, Davis.
I acted as convenor of the 12th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference in 2002 and the 1st Australian Lupin Technical Symposium in 1994.
As a practicing plant breeder, I have released several commercial lupin and canola varieties. I have also undertaken research into genetics and physiology of resistance to various diseases in lupins and canola, and published several research papers in this field. I was co-author with international authors on a book chapter on lupin breeding (Cowling et al., 1998b), and published a monograph on lupin genetic resources through the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (Cowling et al., 1998a).
More recently, my research in canola is moving into molecular genetics and identifying genes by molecular markers and other means in wide crosses of canola with related species. I continue to develop my research interests in disease resistance and molecular markers for crop improvement, and to explore new ways to improve Brassica oilseeds through interspecific crossing, doubled haploidy, gene transformation or hybrid development. This involves international collaboration with our German plant breeding partners NPZ Lembke, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada’s canola molecular genetics laboratory at Saskatoon, Canada, and others. I am also developing a research interest in the role of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in diseases of plants, in collaboration with Prof David Gilchrist at the University of California, Davis.
I acted as convenor of the 12th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference in 2002 and the 1st Australian Lupin Technical Symposium in 1994.
Key research
- My research goal is to apply knowledge of evolutionary genetics, molecular genetics and biotechnology for efficient genetic improvement in plants.
- In my research, I have applied the principles of population and quantitative genetics to plant breeding, and explored ways of improving breeding for multiple traits such as disease resistance and other important agronomic characters. I am using molecular genetics to improve plant breeding and to better understand the genetics and biochemistry of plant host-parasite relationships. I am concerned about the efficient use of plant genetic resources, and understanding and exploiting natural genetic variation in plants.
- Current projects include:
- • Using molecular markers to follow genes and chromosomal segments in wide crosses between Brassica napus and B. juncea.
- • Making use of known genes in Arabidopsis and other close relatives of B. napus to identify key genes involved in disease resistance and oil quality in B. napus.
- • Improving resistance of peas to blackspot fungus through rapid cycles of recurrent selection, in combination with improvements in stem strength.
- • Understanding the role of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the host-parasite interaction of the blackleg fungus and B. napus, and other necrotrophic diseases of legume crops and canola.
- • Improving doubled haploid technology from microspore culture in lupins.
- • Establishing a molecular map of lupin using RFLP and other locus-specific and cross-transferable markers in Lupinus angustifolius, L. albus and other lupin species.
Major research interests
- Canola breeding
- Disease resistance
- Gene expression
- Molecular biology
- Molecular genetics
- Plant breeding methodology
- Plant molecular markers
Publications
Research Papers in Refereed Journals:
1 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1980. Influence of the pathogen on disease severity in Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa in California. Phytopathology 70:1148-1153.
2 Cowling, W.A., D.G. Gilchrist, and J.H. Graham. 1981. Biotypes of Stemphylium botryosum on alfalfa in North America. Phytopathology 71:679-684.
3 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1982. Expression of pathogen virulence and host resistance during infection of alfalfa with Stemphylium botryosum. Phytopathology 72:36-42.
4 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1982. Effect of light and moisture on severity of Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa. Plant Disease 66:291-294.
5 Gilchrist, D.G., L.R. Teuber, A.N. Martensen, and W.A. Cowling. 1982. Progress in selecting for resistance to Stemphylium botryosum (cool-temperature biotype) in alfalfa. Crop Science 22:1155-1159.
6 Cowling, W.A., P.McR. Wood, and A.G.P. Brown. 1984. Use of a paraquat-diquat herbicide for the detection of Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection in lupins. Australasian Plant Pathology 13:45-46.
7 Cowling, W.A. 1986. Collection of wild Lupinus in Greece. FAO/IBPGR Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 65:20-22.
8 Cowling, W.A., and H.D. VanEtten. 1986. Genetic evidence for a single functional deficiency in isolates of Nectria haematococca unable to demethylate pisatin. Canadian Journal of Botany 64:350-354.
9 Cowling, W.A., J. Hamblin, P. McR. Wood, and J.S. Gladstones. 1987. Resistance to Phomopsis stem blight in Lupinus angustifolius L. Crop Science 27:648-652.
10 Cowling, W.A., J.G. Allen, and P. McR. Wood. 1988. Resistance to Phomopsis stem blight reduces the lupinosis toxicity of narrow-leafed lupin stems. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28:195-202.
11 Cowling, W.A. and P.McR. Wood. 1989. Resistance to Phomopsis stem and pod blight of narrow-leafed lupin in a range of environments and its association with reduced Phomopsis seed infection. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29:43-50.
12 Clements, J.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1990. Summary of wild and semi-domesticated lupin accessions introduced to Australia from 1974 to 1989. Australian Plant Introduction Review 21:1-14.
13 Williamson, P.M., K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1991. Formation of subcuticular coralloid hyphae by Phomopsis leptostromiformis upon latent infection of narrow-leafed lupins. Plant Disease 75:1023-1026.
14 Carstairs, S.A., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1992. Chromosome number, size and interspecific crossing ability of three Old World lupins, Lupinus princei Harms, L. atlanticus Gladstones and L. digitatus Forskål, and implications for cytosystematic relationships among the rough-seeded lupins. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 75:83-88.
15 Cowling, W.A. and J.C.Clements. 1993. Association between collection site soil pH and chlorosis in Lupinus angustifolius induced by a fine-textured, alkaline soil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44:1821-1836.
16 Clements, J.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Patterns of morphological diversity and geographical origins of wild Lupinus angustifolius from the Aegean region. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 41:109-122.
17 Williamson, P.M., A.S. Highet, W. Gams, K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Diaporthe toxica sp. nov., the cause of lupinosis in sheep. Mycological Research 98:1364-1368.
18 Williamson, P.M., K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Increased calcium concentration in narrow-leafed lupin epidermal tissue reduces infection by Diaporthe toxica. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34:381-384.
19 Williamson, P.M., K.A. Than, K. Sivasithamparam, W.A. Cowling, and J.A. Edgar. 1995. Detection of resistance to Diaporthe toxica in asymptomatically infected lupin seedlings based on an immunoassay for phomopsin. Plant Pathology 44:95-97.
20 Tapscott, H.L. and W.A. Cowling. 1995. Predictors of yield of Lupinus angustifolius (cv. Gungurru) seedlots from different sources in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35:745-751.
21 Jones, R.A.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1995. Resistance to seed transmission of cucumber mosaic virus in narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46:1339-1352.
22 Sweetingham, M.W., W.A. Cowling, B.J. Buirchell, A.G.P. Brown and R.G. Shivas. 1995. Anthracnose of lupins in Western Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 24:271.
23 Yang, H.A., M.W. Sweetingham and W.A. Cowling. 1996. The leaf infection process and resistance to Pleiochaeta setosa in three lupin species. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47:787-799.
24 Clements, J.C., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1996. Relationship between morphological variation and geographical origin or selection history in Lupinus pilosus. Plant Breeding 115:16-22.
25 Gupta, S., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1996. Interspecific reproductive barriers and genomic similarity among the rough-seeded Lupinus species. Plant Breeding 115:123-127.
26 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling, and M.W. Sweetingham. 1996. The expression of resistance to latent stem infection by Diaporthe toxica in narrow-leafed lupin. Phytopathology 86:692-697.
27 Cowling, W.A. 1996. Plant breeding for stable agriculture: Presidential Address 1994. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 79:183-194.
28 Cowling, W.A., M.W. Sweetingham, D. Diepeveen and B.R. Cullis. 1997. Heritability of resistance to brown spot and root rot of narrow-leafed lupins caused by Pleiochaeta setosa (Kirchn.) Hughes in field experiments. Plant Breeding 116:341-345.
29 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling and M.W. Sweetingham. 1998. Histological observations of latent infection and tissue colonisation by Diaporthe toxica in resistant and susceptible narrow-leafed lupins. Canadian Journal of Botany 76:1305-1316.
30 Shankar, M., A. Gregory, M.J. Kalkhoven, W.A. Cowling and M.W. Sweetingham. 1998. A competitive ELISA for detecting resistance to latent stem infection by Diaporthe toxica in narrow-leafed lupins. Australasian Plant Pathology 27:251-258.
31 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling, M.W. Sweetingham, K.A. Than, J.A. Edgar, and A. Michalewicz. 1999. Screening for resistance to Diaporthe toxica in lupins by estimation of phomopsins and glucoseamine in individual plants. Plant Pathology 48:320-324.
32 Yang, H., Sweetingham, M.W., Cowling, W.A., and P.M.C. Smith. 2001. DNA fingerprinting based on microsatellite-anchored fragment length polymorphisms, and isolation of sequence-specific PCR markers in lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Molecular Breeding 7:203-209.
33 Shankar, M., Sweetingham, M.W. and W.A. Cowling. 2002. Identification of alleles at two loci controlling resistance to Phomopsis stem blight in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Euphytica 125:35-44.
34 Gremigni, P., Hamblin, J., Harris, D., and W.A. Cowling. 2003. The interaction of phosphorus and potassium with seed alkaloid concentrations, yield and mineral content in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Plant and Soil 253:413-427.
35 Li, C.-X, and W. A. Cowling. 2003. Identification of a single dominant allele for resistance to blackleg in Brassica napus ‘Surpass 400’. Plant Breeding 122:485-488.
36 Clements, J.C., Zvyagin A.V., Dilusha Silva, K.K.M.B., Wanner, T., Sampson, D.D. and W.A Cowling. 2004. Optical coherence tomography as a novel tool for non-destructive measurement of the hull thickness of lupin seeds. Plant Breeding 123:266-270.
37 Schelfhout, C.J., Snowdon, R., Cowling, W.A. and J.M. Wroth. 2004. A PCR based B-genome-specific marker in Brassica species. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (in press).
38 Bayliss, K.L., Wroth, J.M. and W.A. Cowling. 2004. Pro-embryos of Lupinus spp. produced from isolated microspore culture. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55:589-593.
39 Cowling, W.A. and A. Tarr. 2004. Effect of genotype and environment on seed quality in sweet narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55:745-751.
40 Ma, Q., Turner, D.W., Levy, D. and W.A. Cowling. 2004. Solute accumulation and asomotic adjustment in leaves of Brassica oilseeds in response to soil water deficit. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research (in press).
Books, Book Chapters and Thesis:
1 Cowling, W.A. 1980. Environmental, genetic, and physiological factors influencing disease severity in Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa in California. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Davis. 211 pp.
2 Allen, J.G., P.McR. Wood, K.P. Croker, W.A. Cowling, and D.N. Sawkins. 1985. The prevention of lupinosis in sheep. Pages 80-88 in: A.A. Seawright, M.P. Heggarty, R.F. Keeler, and C.F. James (eds.) Plant Toxicology. Queensland Poisonous Plants Committee, Yeerongpilly, 4105, Australia.
3 Allen, J.G. and W.A. Cowling. 1992. A preliminary report on the use of new Phomopsis-resistant cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius to prevent lupinosis. Pages 539-541 in: James, L.F., Keeler, R.F., Bailey, E.M., Cheek, P.R. and M.P. Hegarty (eds.) Poisonous Plants. Iowa State University Press, Ames.
4 Cowling, W.A., B.J. Buirchell and M.E. Tapia. 1998. Lupin. Lupinus spp. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 23. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 105 pp.
5 Cowling, W.A., C. Huyghe and W. Swiecicki. 1998. Lupin breeding. Pages 93-120 in: Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., and J. Hamblin (eds.) Lupins as Crop Plants: Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International, London.
6 Buirchell, B.J., and W.A. Cowling. 1998. Genetic resources in lupins. Pages 41–66 in: Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., and J. Hamblin (eds.) Lupins as Crop Plants: Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International, London.
7 Cowling, W.A., and J.S. Gladstones. 2000. Lupin breeding in Australia. Pages 541-547 in: Knight, R. (ed.) Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century. Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
8 Swiecicki, W.K., B.J. Buirchell, and W.A. Cowling. 2000. Lupinus spp: conserved resources, priorities for collection and future prospects. Pages 635-644 in: Knight, R. (ed.) Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century. Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
9 Cowling, W. 2001. Lupins (Lupinus L.). Pages 191-206 in: Maxted, N., and S.J. Bennett (eds.) Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
10 Erskine, W., K. Siddique, T. Khan and W. Cowling. 2001. Utilisation of grain legume diversity. Pages 311-326 in: Maxted, N., and S.J. Bennett (eds.) Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
1 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1980. Influence of the pathogen on disease severity in Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa in California. Phytopathology 70:1148-1153.
2 Cowling, W.A., D.G. Gilchrist, and J.H. Graham. 1981. Biotypes of Stemphylium botryosum on alfalfa in North America. Phytopathology 71:679-684.
3 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1982. Expression of pathogen virulence and host resistance during infection of alfalfa with Stemphylium botryosum. Phytopathology 72:36-42.
4 Cowling, W.A., and D.G. Gilchrist. 1982. Effect of light and moisture on severity of Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa. Plant Disease 66:291-294.
5 Gilchrist, D.G., L.R. Teuber, A.N. Martensen, and W.A. Cowling. 1982. Progress in selecting for resistance to Stemphylium botryosum (cool-temperature biotype) in alfalfa. Crop Science 22:1155-1159.
6 Cowling, W.A., P.McR. Wood, and A.G.P. Brown. 1984. Use of a paraquat-diquat herbicide for the detection of Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection in lupins. Australasian Plant Pathology 13:45-46.
7 Cowling, W.A. 1986. Collection of wild Lupinus in Greece. FAO/IBPGR Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 65:20-22.
8 Cowling, W.A., and H.D. VanEtten. 1986. Genetic evidence for a single functional deficiency in isolates of Nectria haematococca unable to demethylate pisatin. Canadian Journal of Botany 64:350-354.
9 Cowling, W.A., J. Hamblin, P. McR. Wood, and J.S. Gladstones. 1987. Resistance to Phomopsis stem blight in Lupinus angustifolius L. Crop Science 27:648-652.
10 Cowling, W.A., J.G. Allen, and P. McR. Wood. 1988. Resistance to Phomopsis stem blight reduces the lupinosis toxicity of narrow-leafed lupin stems. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28:195-202.
11 Cowling, W.A. and P.McR. Wood. 1989. Resistance to Phomopsis stem and pod blight of narrow-leafed lupin in a range of environments and its association with reduced Phomopsis seed infection. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29:43-50.
12 Clements, J.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1990. Summary of wild and semi-domesticated lupin accessions introduced to Australia from 1974 to 1989. Australian Plant Introduction Review 21:1-14.
13 Williamson, P.M., K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1991. Formation of subcuticular coralloid hyphae by Phomopsis leptostromiformis upon latent infection of narrow-leafed lupins. Plant Disease 75:1023-1026.
14 Carstairs, S.A., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1992. Chromosome number, size and interspecific crossing ability of three Old World lupins, Lupinus princei Harms, L. atlanticus Gladstones and L. digitatus Forskål, and implications for cytosystematic relationships among the rough-seeded lupins. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 75:83-88.
15 Cowling, W.A. and J.C.Clements. 1993. Association between collection site soil pH and chlorosis in Lupinus angustifolius induced by a fine-textured, alkaline soil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44:1821-1836.
16 Clements, J.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Patterns of morphological diversity and geographical origins of wild Lupinus angustifolius from the Aegean region. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 41:109-122.
17 Williamson, P.M., A.S. Highet, W. Gams, K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Diaporthe toxica sp. nov., the cause of lupinosis in sheep. Mycological Research 98:1364-1368.
18 Williamson, P.M., K. Sivasithamparam, and W.A. Cowling. 1994. Increased calcium concentration in narrow-leafed lupin epidermal tissue reduces infection by Diaporthe toxica. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34:381-384.
19 Williamson, P.M., K.A. Than, K. Sivasithamparam, W.A. Cowling, and J.A. Edgar. 1995. Detection of resistance to Diaporthe toxica in asymptomatically infected lupin seedlings based on an immunoassay for phomopsin. Plant Pathology 44:95-97.
20 Tapscott, H.L. and W.A. Cowling. 1995. Predictors of yield of Lupinus angustifolius (cv. Gungurru) seedlots from different sources in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35:745-751.
21 Jones, R.A.C. and W.A. Cowling. 1995. Resistance to seed transmission of cucumber mosaic virus in narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46:1339-1352.
22 Sweetingham, M.W., W.A. Cowling, B.J. Buirchell, A.G.P. Brown and R.G. Shivas. 1995. Anthracnose of lupins in Western Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 24:271.
23 Yang, H.A., M.W. Sweetingham and W.A. Cowling. 1996. The leaf infection process and resistance to Pleiochaeta setosa in three lupin species. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47:787-799.
24 Clements, J.C., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1996. Relationship between morphological variation and geographical origin or selection history in Lupinus pilosus. Plant Breeding 115:16-22.
25 Gupta, S., B.J. Buirchell and W.A. Cowling. 1996. Interspecific reproductive barriers and genomic similarity among the rough-seeded Lupinus species. Plant Breeding 115:123-127.
26 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling, and M.W. Sweetingham. 1996. The expression of resistance to latent stem infection by Diaporthe toxica in narrow-leafed lupin. Phytopathology 86:692-697.
27 Cowling, W.A. 1996. Plant breeding for stable agriculture: Presidential Address 1994. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 79:183-194.
28 Cowling, W.A., M.W. Sweetingham, D. Diepeveen and B.R. Cullis. 1997. Heritability of resistance to brown spot and root rot of narrow-leafed lupins caused by Pleiochaeta setosa (Kirchn.) Hughes in field experiments. Plant Breeding 116:341-345.
29 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling and M.W. Sweetingham. 1998. Histological observations of latent infection and tissue colonisation by Diaporthe toxica in resistant and susceptible narrow-leafed lupins. Canadian Journal of Botany 76:1305-1316.
30 Shankar, M., A. Gregory, M.J. Kalkhoven, W.A. Cowling and M.W. Sweetingham. 1998. A competitive ELISA for detecting resistance to latent stem infection by Diaporthe toxica in narrow-leafed lupins. Australasian Plant Pathology 27:251-258.
31 Shankar, M., W.A. Cowling, M.W. Sweetingham, K.A. Than, J.A. Edgar, and A. Michalewicz. 1999. Screening for resistance to Diaporthe toxica in lupins by estimation of phomopsins and glucoseamine in individual plants. Plant Pathology 48:320-324.
32 Yang, H., Sweetingham, M.W., Cowling, W.A., and P.M.C. Smith. 2001. DNA fingerprinting based on microsatellite-anchored fragment length polymorphisms, and isolation of sequence-specific PCR markers in lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Molecular Breeding 7:203-209.
33 Shankar, M., Sweetingham, M.W. and W.A. Cowling. 2002. Identification of alleles at two loci controlling resistance to Phomopsis stem blight in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Euphytica 125:35-44.
34 Gremigni, P., Hamblin, J., Harris, D., and W.A. Cowling. 2003. The interaction of phosphorus and potassium with seed alkaloid concentrations, yield and mineral content in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Plant and Soil 253:413-427.
35 Li, C.-X, and W. A. Cowling. 2003. Identification of a single dominant allele for resistance to blackleg in Brassica napus ‘Surpass 400’. Plant Breeding 122:485-488.
36 Clements, J.C., Zvyagin A.V., Dilusha Silva, K.K.M.B., Wanner, T., Sampson, D.D. and W.A Cowling. 2004. Optical coherence tomography as a novel tool for non-destructive measurement of the hull thickness of lupin seeds. Plant Breeding 123:266-270.
37 Schelfhout, C.J., Snowdon, R., Cowling, W.A. and J.M. Wroth. 2004. A PCR based B-genome-specific marker in Brassica species. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (in press).
38 Bayliss, K.L., Wroth, J.M. and W.A. Cowling. 2004. Pro-embryos of Lupinus spp. produced from isolated microspore culture. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55:589-593.
39 Cowling, W.A. and A. Tarr. 2004. Effect of genotype and environment on seed quality in sweet narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55:745-751.
40 Ma, Q., Turner, D.W., Levy, D. and W.A. Cowling. 2004. Solute accumulation and asomotic adjustment in leaves of Brassica oilseeds in response to soil water deficit. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research (in press).
Books, Book Chapters and Thesis:
1 Cowling, W.A. 1980. Environmental, genetic, and physiological factors influencing disease severity in Stemphylium leafspot of alfalfa in California. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Davis. 211 pp.
2 Allen, J.G., P.McR. Wood, K.P. Croker, W.A. Cowling, and D.N. Sawkins. 1985. The prevention of lupinosis in sheep. Pages 80-88 in: A.A. Seawright, M.P. Heggarty, R.F. Keeler, and C.F. James (eds.) Plant Toxicology. Queensland Poisonous Plants Committee, Yeerongpilly, 4105, Australia.
3 Allen, J.G. and W.A. Cowling. 1992. A preliminary report on the use of new Phomopsis-resistant cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius to prevent lupinosis. Pages 539-541 in: James, L.F., Keeler, R.F., Bailey, E.M., Cheek, P.R. and M.P. Hegarty (eds.) Poisonous Plants. Iowa State University Press, Ames.
4 Cowling, W.A., B.J. Buirchell and M.E. Tapia. 1998. Lupin. Lupinus spp. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 23. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 105 pp.
5 Cowling, W.A., C. Huyghe and W. Swiecicki. 1998. Lupin breeding. Pages 93-120 in: Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., and J. Hamblin (eds.) Lupins as Crop Plants: Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International, London.
6 Buirchell, B.J., and W.A. Cowling. 1998. Genetic resources in lupins. Pages 41–66 in: Gladstones, J.S., Atkins, C.A., and J. Hamblin (eds.) Lupins as Crop Plants: Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International, London.
7 Cowling, W.A., and J.S. Gladstones. 2000. Lupin breeding in Australia. Pages 541-547 in: Knight, R. (ed.) Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century. Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
8 Swiecicki, W.K., B.J. Buirchell, and W.A. Cowling. 2000. Lupinus spp: conserved resources, priorities for collection and future prospects. Pages 635-644 in: Knight, R. (ed.) Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century. Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
9 Cowling, W. 2001. Lupins (Lupinus L.). Pages 191-206 in: Maxted, N., and S.J. Bennett (eds.) Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
10 Erskine, W., K. Siddique, T. Khan and W. Cowling. 2001. Utilisation of grain legume diversity. Pages 311-326 in: Maxted, N., and S.J. Bennett (eds.) Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
Roles, responsibilities and expertise
I am Chief Executive Officer and Research Director of Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd, a small company associated with The University of Western Australia. I recently qualified as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As a plant breeder, I have released several lupin and canola cultivars during my career, and I am enthusiastically applying new breeding approaches to canola in our new and exciting company CBWA. I achieve great satisfaction from seeing the results of research in new and improved canola varieties on farms.
Future research
Hybrid breeding requires advanced understanding of “heterotic pools” of germplasm that may be exploited in hybrids with strong hybrid vigour or heterosis. I am involved in a new international ACIAR project between Australia, China and India where I will apply molecular markers to determining genetic distance between canola germplasm in the different countries and measure the heterosis in cross progeny between the different countries. Is there an association between genetic distance and heterosis?
With research colleagues, I hope to further explore the application of molecular genetics to the study of gene transfer in wide crosses in the Brassica family. We are already seeing great practical benefits from our previous research in this area, and hope to extend the research to new Brassica species and related species.
I have a strong interest in the basic mechanism of disease resistance and susceptibility in plants, and would like to pursue our current results that suggest that the susceptible reaction in lesions caused by necrotrophic fungal pathogens is the result of apoptosis in plant tissue induced by the fungus.
With research colleagues, I hope to further explore the application of molecular genetics to the study of gene transfer in wide crosses in the Brassica family. We are already seeing great practical benefits from our previous research in this area, and hope to extend the research to new Brassica species and related species.
I have a strong interest in the basic mechanism of disease resistance and susceptibility in plants, and would like to pursue our current results that suggest that the susceptible reaction in lesions caused by necrotrophic fungal pathogens is the result of apoptosis in plant tissue induced by the fungus.
Funding received
From 2000 to 2004 I won competitive grant funding of approximately $300,000 per year and $500,000 per year of commercial plant breeding income through the CBWA project at UWA. The latter is significant because it includes my salary which is totally industry funded, 70% by CBWA Pty Ltd for canola breeding and 30% by Export Grains Centre Ltd for research and teaching.
Industrial relevance
My work ranges from pure research through to applied plant breeding. However, all my work has industry relevance. For example, if we are successful in understanding the molecular basis of disease resistance, this will have major ramifications for plant breeding around the world. My canola breeding activities are focussed on industry outcomes – CBWA must survive in the competitive world of canola breeding to produce relevant and valuable outcomes for industry.
Languages
I learned French and German in High School. This was a good start but I need much work to improve on my languages! Now I have the honour of working with colleagues all over the world and unfortunately my language skills in their country are not as good as their English language skills are in mine.
Memberships
Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science. 1971 – 1994, 1999 - present
Member, Australasian Plant Pathology Society. 1977 - present.
Member, American Phytopathological Society. 1976 - present.
Member, Sigma XI Scientific Research Society. 1980 - present.
Member, International Lupin Association. 1984 - present.
Hon. Treasurer (1984-88), Hon. Editor (1990-92) and President (1993-94), Royal Society of Western Australia.
Member, Australasian Plant Pathology Society. 1977 - present.
Member, American Phytopathological Society. 1976 - present.
Member, Sigma XI Scientific Research Society. 1980 - present.
Member, International Lupin Association. 1984 - present.
Hon. Treasurer (1984-88), Hon. Editor (1990-92) and President (1993-94), Royal Society of Western Australia.
Honours and awards
Churchill Fellowship (sponsored by the Grain Pool of Western Australia), 1990.
CSIRO Postdoctoral Studentship, 1981-82.
University of California Regent's Fellowship, 1979-1980.
Elected to full membership of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, 1980.
Elected to full membership of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1979.
University of California Non-resident Tuition Fee Fellowship, 1977-1979.
University of Melbourne Travelling Scholarship, 1976-1979.
Sir Samuel Wadham Medal, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, 1974.
First place and Wrixon Exhibition for the degree Bachelor of Agricultural
Science with First Class Honours, 1974.
Australian Agricultural Council Scholarship, 1971-74.
Dux, Ringwood High School, Ringwood, Victoria, 1970.
CSIRO Postdoctoral Studentship, 1981-82.
University of California Regent's Fellowship, 1979-1980.
Elected to full membership of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, 1980.
Elected to full membership of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1979.
University of California Non-resident Tuition Fee Fellowship, 1977-1979.
University of Melbourne Travelling Scholarship, 1976-1979.
Sir Samuel Wadham Medal, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, 1974.
First place and Wrixon Exhibition for the degree Bachelor of Agricultural
Science with First Class Honours, 1974.
Australian Agricultural Council Scholarship, 1971-74.
Dux, Ringwood High School, Ringwood, Victoria, 1970.
Previous positions
1982-1999 Plant Breeder/Senior Plant Breeder, Agriculture WA, South Perth, Western Australia
1981-1982 CSIRO Postdoctoral Student and Visiting Fellow, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
1980 Postgraduate Research Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA.
1976-1980 Graduate Student and Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA.
1975 Research Officer, Land Conservation Council, Victoria, Australia.
1975 Tutor in Plant Sciences, School of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
1981-1982 CSIRO Postdoctoral Student and Visiting Fellow, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
1980 Postgraduate Research Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA.
1976-1980 Graduate Student and Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA.
1975 Research Officer, Land Conservation Council, Victoria, Australia.
1975 Tutor in Plant Sciences, School of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Patents
Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) is a form of intellectual property protection. PBR was obtained on the following cultivars for which I was the breeder or major contributor to release:
1 1995 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Myallie PBR 1996/204 granted 22 Dec 1998
2 1996 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Kalya PBR 1996/245 granted 19 Dec 1997
3 1997 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tallerack PBR 1997/094 granted 21 Dec 1998
4 1997 Lupinus luteus cv. Wodjil PBR 1997/093 granted 23 Dec 1998
5 1998 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tanjil PBR 1998/140 granted 22 Dec 1999
6 1997 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Belara PBR 1997/122 granted 22 Dec 1998
7 1999 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Quilinock PBR 1999/230 granted 29 Apr 2001
8 2003 Brassica napus cv. Trilogy PBR 2003/067 accepted 15 May 2003
9 2003 Brassica napus cv. Tribune PBR 2003/065 accepted 15 May 2003
10 2003 Brassica napus cv. Trigold PBR 2003/066 accepted 15 May 2003
1 1995 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Myallie PBR 1996/204 granted 22 Dec 1998
2 1996 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Kalya PBR 1996/245 granted 19 Dec 1997
3 1997 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tallerack PBR 1997/094 granted 21 Dec 1998
4 1997 Lupinus luteus cv. Wodjil PBR 1997/093 granted 23 Dec 1998
5 1998 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tanjil PBR 1998/140 granted 22 Dec 1999
6 1997 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Belara PBR 1997/122 granted 22 Dec 1998
7 1999 Lupinus angustifolius cv. Quilinock PBR 1999/230 granted 29 Apr 2001
8 2003 Brassica napus cv. Trilogy PBR 2003/067 accepted 15 May 2003
9 2003 Brassica napus cv. Tribune PBR 2003/065 accepted 15 May 2003
10 2003 Brassica napus cv. Trigold PBR 2003/066 accepted 15 May 2003
Teaching
I teach a third year BScAgr course GENE3310 “Genetics and Plant Breeding”, and contribute to other courses on genetics in the Faculty. I supervise or co-supervise 5 PhD students. I help to co-ordinate the "Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding Research Group" where research students and associates meet to discuss their work and interests.
Current external positions
Chief Executive Officer and Research Director of Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd, a small company associated with The University of Western Australia.
New and noteworthy
The release of Trilogy, Tribune, and Trigold canola represents a “first” for Australian canola breeding, and a “first” for UWA. They are the first doubled haploid canola varieties produced in Australia, and were developed in 4 years from crossing in 2000 – perhaps a world record from crossing to growers' fields in 2004. UWA was the first university to join a private plant breeding company (CBWA) in 2001 with co-investors including growers (Council of Grain Grower Organisations Ltd) and the Export Grains Centre, and more recently NPZ Lembke (a German plant breeding company).
Current projects
Cowling/Bayliss/Kailis 2002-2005
ARC Linkage-Project LP0210571
Exploiting the Arabidopsis genome sequence as a molecular ‘toolbox’ for Brassica improvement.
Cowling/Nelson/Barker 2002-2005
GRDC Project UWA372
Development of molecular marker and mapping technology for lupin breeding: UWA component. Comparative mapping across lupin species.
Cowling/Wroth/Khan 2001-2005
GRDC Project UWA356
Rapid recurrent selection to improve resistance to black spot in peas.
Cowling/Wroth 2000-2003
ARC SPIRT Project C00002521
DNA marker-assisted breeding in interspecific crosses to improve canola (Brassica napus L.)
Cowling/Wroth/Bayliss 2000-2002
GRDC Project UWA341
Isolated Microspore Culture of Lupinus spp.
ARC Linkage-Project LP0210571
Exploiting the Arabidopsis genome sequence as a molecular ‘toolbox’ for Brassica improvement.
Cowling/Nelson/Barker 2002-2005
GRDC Project UWA372
Development of molecular marker and mapping technology for lupin breeding: UWA component. Comparative mapping across lupin species.
Cowling/Wroth/Khan 2001-2005
GRDC Project UWA356
Rapid recurrent selection to improve resistance to black spot in peas.
Cowling/Wroth 2000-2003
ARC SPIRT Project C00002521
DNA marker-assisted breeding in interspecific crosses to improve canola (Brassica napus L.)
Cowling/Wroth/Bayliss 2000-2002
GRDC Project UWA341
Isolated Microspore Culture of Lupinus spp.
RFCD
300203
Research profile
