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Dr Meredith Wilkes

Summary

I primarily investigate the quality of cereal grains and how different growth environments, processing and storage techniques affect their end-use quality.

Research interests

My recent research has focused on the processing and storage of cereal grains. I conduct collaborative research investigating the biochemistry of malting and malted grains and how different processing and storage conditions affect the quality of malt. More recently I have been investigating the malting quality of sorghum for gluten-free food production.

I also work collaboratively with the Plant Breeding Institute at the University investigating the role of genotype and environment interactions, and the effect of plant growth promoting microorganisms on grain quality.

Background

I completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Agricultural Chemistry and have been a Lecturer in Food Chemistry in the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources since 2005. In that time I have taught in Chemistry and Biochemistry of Foods and Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology units of study.

Prior to being appointed in this position I gained extensive biochemistry skills in research positions held both at the University and at the CSIRO. I have conducted and supervised research in a range of areas including wheat and malt biochemistry, starch synthesis in rice, glucose metabolism associated with diabetes and the molecular biology of mineral leaching microorganisms.

Recent publications

  • Copeland L and Wilkes MA. 2010. The potential for proteomics in cereal science. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 5: 040.
  • Wilkes MA, Seung D, Levavasseur G, Trethowan RM, Copeland L. 2010. Effects of Soil Type and Tillage on Protein and Starch Quality in Three Related Wheat Genotypes. Cereal Chem. 87(2): 95–99.
  • Nguyen GN, Hailstones DL, Wilkes M, Sutton BG. 2010. Role of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Drought-Induced Male Sterility in Rice Anthers. J Agron Crop Sci. 196(5): 346–357.
  • Eziah VY, Rose HA, Wilkes M and Clift AD, Mansfield S. 2010. Population dynamics of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in the Sydney Region of Australia. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 4(4): 1065–1082.
  • Eziah VY, Rose HA, Wilkes M and Clift AD. Biochemical mechanisms of insecticide resistance in the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidopterata: Yponomeutidae) in the Sydney region, Australia. 2009. Aust. J. Entomology 48(4): 321–327.
  • Nguyen GN, Hailstones DL, Wilkes M, Sutton GB. 2009. Drought-induced oxidative conditions in rice anthers leading to a programmed cell death and pollen abortion. J Agron Crop Sci. 195: 157–164.
  • Wilkes MA and Copeland L. 2008. Storage of wheat grains at elevated temperatures increases solubilization of glutenin subunits. Cereal Chem. 85(3): 335–38.
  • Seung D, Caldwell RA, Wilkes MA. Interactions between phytic acid and alpha amylase in germinating barley grains. 2010 Australian Cereal Chemistry Conference, September 19–23, Melbourne, Australia.
  • McKellar H, Sheehy M, Stewart D, Wilkes M. Oxalic acid: nothing to gush about. The 14th Australian Barley Technical Symposium, September 13–16, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 2009.

Contact

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