The University of Western Australia

Dr Gavin Flematti

Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Contact details

Address

School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Western Australia (M313)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 4461

Fax

6488 1005

Email

gavin.flematti@uwa.edu.au

Location

Room 417, Bayliss Building, Crawley campus

Biography

Dr Gavin Flematti completed his undergraduate and PhD studies at UWA, followed by a three year post-doctoral position. He now holds an Australian Post-doctoral Research Fellowship to further his research.

Key research

Dr Flematti studies the compounds in smoke and how they stimulate germination of plant seeds. As a member of the first research group to identify the active compound in smoke that stimulates seed germination, Dr Flematti is now developing a synthetic version of this compound and researching exactly how it interacts with seeds. This research will aid in revegetation of native bushland, particularly in the rehabilitation of mine sites.

Publications

Book Chapters


Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. Germination Stimulant in Smoke: Isolation and Identification in Bioactive Natural Products: Detection, Isolation and Structural Determination 2nd Edition CRC Press. Edited by Steven M. Colegate and Russell J. Molyneux (2008).

Journal articles


Flematti, G.R., Goddard-Borger, E.D., Merritt, D.J., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. Preparation of 2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one derivatives and evaluation of their germination-promoting activity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55, 2189-2194 (2007).

Guo-Hua, M.A., Bunn, E., Dixon, K.W., Flematti, G.R. Comparative enhancement of germination and vigor in seed and somatic embryos by the smoke chemical 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one in Baloskion tetraphyllum (Restionaceae). In Vitro Cellullar and Developmental Biology: Plant, 42, 305-308 (2006).

Merritt, D.J., Kristiansen, M.V., Flematti, G.R., Turner, S.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Trengove, R.D., Dixon, K.W. Effects of a butenolide present in smoke on light-mediated germination of Australian Asteraceae, Seed Science Research, 16, 29-35, (2006).

Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D., Skelton, B.W., White, A.H. Structural analysis of a potent seed germination stimulant. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 58, 505-506, (2005).

Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. Synthesis of the seed germination stimulant 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one. Tetrahedron Letters, 46, 5719-5721, (2005)

Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. A compound from smoke that promotes seed germination. Science, 305, 977 (2004)

Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. Molecular weight of a germination-enhancing compound in smoke. Plant and Soil, 263, 1-4 (2004).

Funding received

ARC Discovery Grant

Memberships

Royal Australian Chemistry Institute

Honours and awards

2005 Royal Australian Chemistry Institute Cornforth Medal for Best PhD Thesis in the Chemical Sciences

Patents

Flematti, G.R., Ghisalberti, E.L., Dixon, K.W., Trengove, R.D. Vinylogous 4H-pyrones and their preparation and use in promoting plant growth. PCT International Application, WO 2005061515, (2005).

Teaching

Dr Flemati supervises Evanda Dench (Hons)

Current projects

Collaborators

Dr Kingsley Dixon, Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Dr David Merritt, Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Dr Jason Stephens, Kings Park and Botanic Garden
A/Prof Emilio Ghisalberti, Chemistry UWA
Prof Steven Smith, UWA
Dr David Nelson, UWA
Dr Shelia Chiwocha, UWA
A/Prof Rob Trengove, Murdoch University

Research profile

Research profile and publications