School of Marine and Tropical Biology > Our People > Academic and Research Staff

Dr Joe Holtum

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BSc (JCU)

PhD (ANU)

Research Interests

I study the ecophysiology of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), tropical epiphytes, seasonally dry tropical forests, the effects of increasing CO2 on tropical vegetation, and 'bush tucker' plants.

As an undergraduate, I studied botany, zoology and marine biology, obtaining Class 1 Honours in plant physiology. A PhD in plant physiology and biochemistry was followed by eight post-doctoral years in the USA and Germany studying carbon metabolism in CAM plants. I returned to Australia to explore biochemical mechanisms of resistance of herbicide-tolerant weeds in Australian crops. In 1993, I moved to north Queensland and JCU to take up a joint teaching and research position.

Recent and Current Projects Include

The biology of CAM

The biochemistry of CAM
Vacuolar metabolite transport in pineapple
CAM in tropical epiphytes
CAM in elkhorns and staghorns
CAM in ant plants
Carbon metabolism in bromeliads
The search for CAM Calandrinia
Growing tequila and dragon fruit in Australia

Responses of tropical plants to CO2

The OzFACE savanna experiment
Acacias, nectar, ants and rising CO2

Ecophysiology of Australian Vegetation

Safeguarding Australian Huperzia: linking discovery, conservation, horticultural progress and biotechnological promise
Taming bush tomatoes
Life strategies of plants of the seasonal tropics
Analysing ancient Acacias
Why are refrigerator trees?

Teaching

AG1003

Plant Biology for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

AG2002

Agricultural Plant Ecological Physiology

BT1001

Introduction to Plant Science

BT3010/BT5010

Biology of Plant Survival

Selected Publications

Holtum JAM, Winter K, Weeks MA, Sexton TR. Crassulacean acid metabolism in the ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. American Journal of Botany (accepted subject to revision)

Morgan TC, Jackson P, McDonald L, Holtum JAM Chemical ripeners increase early season sugar content in a range of sugarcane varieties. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58: 233-241

Winter K, Holtum JAM (2007) Environment or development? Life-time net CO2 exchange and control of expression of crassulacean acid metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. Plant Physiology 143: 98-107

Stork NE, Balston J, Farquhar GD, Franks PJ, Holtum JAM, Liddell MJ Tropical rainforest canopies and climate change: a commentary. Austral Ecology 32: 80-86

Submitted: awaiting decision

Stokes CJ, Ash AJ, Holtum JAM Initial growth responses of C4 grasses to free Air CO2 enrichment in a tropical savanna during drought.

2007

Holtum JAM, Winter K, Weeks MA, Sexton TR. Crassulacean acid metabolism in the ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. American Journal of Botany (accepted subject to revision)

Morgan TC, Jackson P, McDonald L, Holtum JAM Chemical ripeners increase early season sugar content in a range of sugarcane varieties. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58: 233-241

Stork NE, Balston J, Farquhar GD, Franks PJ, Holtum JAM, Liddell MJ Tropical rainforest canopies and climate change: a commentary. Austral Ecology 32: 80-86

2006

Holtum GJ, Kelly GJ, Latzko E (2006) Photosynthesis. Carbon metabolism: by day and by night. In Thirty years of photosynthesis 1974-2004 (Kelly GJ, Latzko E eds) Springer Verlag pp 130-156.

Kelly GJ, Holtum GJ, Latzko E (2006) Photosynthesis. Carbon metabolism: New regulators of CO2 fixation, the new importance of pyrophosphate, and the old problem of oxygen involvement revisited. In Thirty years of photosynthesis 1974-2004 (Kelly GJ, Latzko E eds) Springer Verlag pp 157-184.

2005

Choat B, Ball MC, Luly JG, Holtum JAM Hydraulic architecture of deciduous and evergreen dry rainforest tree species from north-eastern Australia. Trees - Structure and Function 19 (3): 305-311

Holtum JAM, Smith JAC, Neuhaus HE. Intracellular transport and pathways of carbon flow in plants with crassulacean acid metabolism. Functional Plant Biology 32 (5): 429-449

Holtum JAM, Winter K. Carbon isotope composition of canopy leaves in a tropical forest in Panama throughout a seasonal cycle. Trees - Structure and Function 19 (5): 545-55

Stokes C, Ash A, Tibbett M, Holtum JAM 2005 OzFACE: the Australian savanna free air CO2 enrichment facility and its relevance to carbon-cycling issues in a tropical savanna Australian Journal of Botany 53 (7): 677-687

Winter K, Aranda J, Holtum JAM Carbon isotope composition and water-use efficiency in plants with crassulacean acid metabolism. Functional Plant Biology 32 (5): 381-388

Winter K, Holtum JAM. The effects of salinity, crassulacean acid metabolism and plant age on the carbon isotope composition of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L., a halophytic C3-CAM species. Planta 222 (1): 201-209

2004

Burry RK, Bonnett GD, Holtum JAM Reassessing waterlogging: methods to compare the response of different sugarcane genotypes. Australian Society Sugar Cane Technologists 26: CD ROM

Holtum JAM, Aranda J, Virgo A, Gehrig HH, Winter K 2004 δ13C values and crassulacean acid metabolism in Clusia species from Panama. Trees- Structure and Function 18: 658-668

2003

Choat B, Ball MC, Luly JG, Holtum JAM 2003 Pit membrane porosity and water stress-induced cavitation in four co-existing dry rainforest tree species. Plant Physiology 131: 41-48

Stokes CJ, Ash AJ, Holtum JAM 2003 OZFACE: Australian savannas free air carbon dioxide enrichment facility. In Rangelands in the New Millenium: Proceedings of the VIIth International Rangelands Congress, Durban, South Africa. Eds N. Allsop, A. R. Palmer, K. P. Milton, G. I. H. Kirkman, G. I. H. Kerley, C. R. Hurt, and C. J. Brown, International Rangeland Congress, Durban: 1097-99

Holtum JAM, Winter K 2003 Photosynthetic CO2 uptake in seedlings of two tropical tree species exposed to oscillating elevated concentrations of CO2. Planta 218: 152-158

2002

Anthony P, Jackes B, Holtum JAM 2002 Shade acclimation of rainforest leaves to colonization by lichens. Functional Ecology 16(6): 808-816

Choat, B, Ball MC, Luly JG, Holtum JAM. Pit membrane porosity and vulnerability to embolism in four seasonally dry rainforest tree species. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts 87: 98

McRae S, Christopher JT, Holtum JAM, Smith JAC 2002 Sucrose transport across vacuolar membranes of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). Functional Plant Biology 29(6): 717-724

Winter K, Holtum JAM 2002 How closely do the δ13C values of CAM plants reflect the proportion of CO2 fixed during day and night? Plant Physiology 129(4): 1843-1851

Holtum JAM 2002 Crassulacean acid metabolism: plastic in expression, complexity of control. Functional Plant Biology 29(6): 657-661

2001

Holtum JAM 2001 CAM-2001: Scientific Programme and Abstracts. James Cook University Press ISBN 0 86443 682 3, pp 53

Holtum JAM, Winter K 2000 Are plants growing close to the floors of tropical forests exposed to markedly elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide? Australian Journal of Botany 49: 1-8.

Holtum JAM, Ridd P The effects of salinity on vegetation bordering lower Gustav Creek, Nelly Bay. Commissioned report for Townsville City Council

Morgan T, McDonald L, Jackson P, Holtum JAM 2001 Changes in sugar content of Australian sugarcane varieties after application of chemical ripeners. Proc 10th Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart. http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2001/2/d/morgan.htm

2000

Christopher JT, Holtum JAM Dicotyledons lacking the multisubunit form of the herbicide target enzyme acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase may be restricted to the family Geraniaceae. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 27: 845-850.

1999

Holtum JAM, Winter K Degrees of crassulacean acid metabolism in tropical epiphytic ferns. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 26: 749-757.

McRae S, Christopher JT, Holtum JAM, Smith JAC 1999 Sucrose transport across vacuolar membranes of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). In International Conference on Assimilate Transport & Partitioning: Scientific Programme and Abstracts (Heyes J et al eds) Lloyd Scott Enterprises, Newcastle. p 156

1998

Christopher JT, Holtum JAM Carbohydrate partitioning in the leaves Bromeliaceae perfoming C₃photosynthesis or Crassulacean acid metabolism. Australian Journal Plant Physiology 25:371-76.

Christopher JT, Holtum JAM Sensitivity to graminicide haloxyfop in the dicot Erodium moschatum. Is due to a herbicide susceptible acetyl-coenzymeA carboxylase. Planta 207: 275-279.

Christopher JT, Holtum JAM Dicotyledons sensitive to herbicides that inhibit acetylcoenzymeA carboxylase. In: Photosynthesis: from Light to Biosphere (Garab G ed) Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.

1996

Christopher JT, Holtum JAM 1996 Patterns of carbon partitioning in leaves of Crassulacean acid metabolism species during deacidification. Plant Physiology 112: 393-399

1995

Christopher JT, Wooley T, Holtum JAM 1995 Carbon partitioning in the leaves of CAM plants. In: Photosynthesis: from Light to Biosphere, Vol V (Mathis P ed) Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp 655-658.

Holtum JAM, Osmond CB 1995 The revolution in carbon-partitioning and source-sink interactions in plants from the perspective of CAM. In: Carbon Partitioning and Source-Sink Interactions in Plants (W Lucas, M Madore eds) Am Soc Plant Physiol, Maryland.

Keto LE, Holtum JAM, Robinson S, Christopher JT 1995 Platycerium bifurcatum ssp. veitchii: an Australian lithophytic elkhorn fern of the wet-dry tropics. In: Photosynthesis: from Light to Biosphere, Vol IV (Mathis P ed) Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp 629-632.

McAlister FM, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1995 Dinitroaniline herbicide resistance in rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). Weed Science 43: 55-62.

Tardif FJ, Preston C, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1995 Resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase-inhibiting herbicides endowed by a major gene encoding a resistant target site in a biotype of Lolium rigidum. Aust J Plant Physiology 23(1):15-23.

1994

Burnet MWM, Christopher JT, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1994 Identification of two mechanisms of sulfonylurea resistance within one population of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) using a selective germination medium. Weed Science 42(3): 468-473.

Burnet MWM, Hart Q, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1994 Multiple- and cross-resistance in a biotype of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). Weed Science 42(3): 369-377.

Hall LM, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1994 Mechanisms responsible for cross-resistance and multiple resistance. In Herbicide Resistance in Plants: Biology and Biochemistry (Powles SB, Holtum JAM eds). Lewis Publishers-CRC Press, Chelsea MI.

Holtum JAM, Häusler RE, Devine MD, Powles SB 1994 The recovery of transmembrane potentials in plants resistant to aryloxyphenoxypropanoate herbicides: a phenomenon awaiting explanation. Weed Science 42(2): 293-301.

Maneechote C, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1994 Resistant acetyl coA carboxylase is a mechanism of herbicide resistance in a biotype of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana. Plant Cell Physiol 35(4): 627-635.

Powles SB, Holtum JAM 1994 (eds) Herbicide Resistance in Plants; Biology and Biochemistry. Lewis Publishers-CRC Press, Chelsea MI.

1993

Burnet MWM, Loveys BR, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1993 A mechanism of chlortoluron resistance in Lolium rigidum. Planta 190: 182-189.

Burnet MWM, Loveys BR, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1993 Increased detoxification is a mechanism of simazine resistance in Lolium rigidum. Pestic Biochem Physiol 46: 207-218.

Holt JS, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1993 Herbicide resistance in weeds. Ann Rev Plant Physiol & Molec Biol 44: 203-229.

Tardif FJ, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1993 Occurrence of a herbicide-resistant acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase mutant in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) selected by sethoxydim. Planta 190: 176-181.

1992

Christopher JT, Powles SB, Holtum JAM 1992 resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) involves at least two mechanisms. Plant Physiol 100: 1909-1913.

Mansooji AM, Holtum JAM, Boutsalis P, Matthews JM, Powles SB 1992 Resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropoionate herbicides in two wild oat species (Avena fatua and Avena sterilis spp. ludoviciana). Weed Science 40: 599-605.

Powles SB, Holtum JAM 1992 Herbicide resistant weeds in Australia. Proc 1st Int Weed Science Conf 1: 11-16.

Preston C, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1992 On the mechanism of resistance to paraquat in Hordeum glaucum and H. leporinum. Plant Physiol 100: 630-636.

1991

Burnet MWM, Hildebrand OB, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1991 Amitrole, triazine, substituted urea and metribuzin resistance in a biotype of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). Weed Science 39: 317-323.

Christopher JT, Powles SB, Liljegren DR, Holtum JAM 1991 Cross-resistance to herbicides in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). II Chlorsulfuron resistance involves a wheat-like detoxification system. Plant Physiol 95: 1036-1043.

Häusler RE, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1991 Cross-resistance to herbicides in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). IV Correlation between membrane effects and resistance to graminicides. Plant Physiol 97: 1035-1043.

Holtum JAM, Matthews JM, Häusler RE, Liljegren DR, Powles SB 1991 Cross-resistance to herbicides in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). III On the mechanism of resistance to diclofop-methyl. Plant Physiol 97: 1026-1034.

Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1991 Annual ryegrass: an abundance of resistance, a plethora of mechanisms. Proc Brighton Crop Protection Conf-Weeds 3: 1071-1077.

Preston C, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1991 resistance to the herbicide paraquat and increased tolerance to photoinhibition are not correlated in several weed species. Plant Physiol 96: 314-318.

1990

Christopher JT, Liljegren DR, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1990 Sulfonylurea resistance in cross-resistant ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) may involve a wheat-like detoxification system. Proc. 9th Aust. Weed Conference 9: 255.

Häusler RE, Holtum JAM, Powles SB 1990 Effect of herbicides on the membrane potential of coleoptile cells from susceptible and cross-resistant biotypes of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). Proc. 9th Aust. Weed Conference 9: 251-254.

Matthews JM, Holtum JAM, Liljegren DR, Furness B, Powles SB 1990 Cross-resistance to herbicides in annual ryegrass. I. Properties of the herbicide target enzymes acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and acetolactate synthase. Plant Physiol 94: 1180-1186

Powles SB, Holtum JAM, Matthews JM, Liljegren DR 1990 herbicide cross-resistance in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud): the search for a mechanism. In: Managing Resistance to Agrochemicals: from Fundamental Research to Practical Strategies (eds Green MB, Moberg WK, LeBaron H). Am Chem Soc Symp Ser 421. Am Chem Soc, Washington. pp 394-406

1989

Kelly GJ, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1989 Photosynthesis; carbon metabolism. New regulators of CO2 fixation, the new importance of pyrophosphate, and the old problem of oxygen involvement revisited. Progress in Botany 50: 74-101.

Häusler RE, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1989 Cytosolic phosphofructokinase from spinach leaves. I. Purification, characteristics and regulation. Plant Physiol 90: 1498-1505

Häusler RE, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1989 Cytosolic phosphofructokinase from spinach leaves. II. Affinity for Mg2+ and nucleoside phosphates. Plant Physiol 90: 1506-1512

1988

Kreimer G, Melkonian M, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1988 Stromal free calcium concentration and light-mediated activation of chloroplast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Plant Physiol 86: 423-428

Neuhaus HE, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1988 Transport of phosphoenolpyruvate by chloroplasts from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. exhibiting Crassulacean acid metabolsm. Plant Physiol 87: 64-68.

Osmond CB, Holtum JAM, O'Leary MH, Roeske CA, Wong SC, Summons R, Avadhani PN 1988 Regulation of malic-acid metabolism in Crassulacean-acid-metabolism plants in the dark and light: In-vivo evidence from 13C-labeling patterns after 13CO2 fixation. Planta 175: 184-192

1987

Fahrendorf T, Holtum JAM, Mukherjee U, Latzko E 1987 Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, carbohydrate partitioning, and crassulacean acid metabolism. Plant Physiol 84: 182-187.

Holtum JAM, Fahrendorf T, Neuhaus HE, Mukherjee U, Latzko E 1987 Carbohydrate storage strategy, F-2,6-P2, and CAM. In: Progress in Photosynthesis Research, (ed Biggins J) Martinus Nijhoff Publishers III: 735-738

Häusler RE, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1987 CO2, not HCO3-, is the inorganic carbon substrate of NADP malic enzyme from maize and wheat germ. In: Progress in Photosynthesis Research, (ed Biggins J) Martinus Nijhoff Publishers III: 527-530

Kreimer G, Surek B, Heimann K, Burchert M, Lukow L, Holtum JAM, Woodrow IE, Melkonian M, Latzko E 1987 Calcium metabolism in chloroplasts and protoplasts. In: Progress in Photosynthesis Research, (ed Biggins J) Martinus Nijhoff Publishers III: 345-357

Leusing P, Holtum JAM 1988 The partitioning of photosynthetically assimilated 14C into amino acids in wheat. I. Partitioning during transport to the grain Annals of Botany 60:

Leusing P, Holtum JAM 1988 The partitioning of photosynthetically assimilated 14C into amino acids in wheat. II. Distribution in amino acids of wheat grain fractions. Annals of Botany 60:

Vogt H, Holtum JAM, Bücker J, Latzko E 1987 Daily pattern of proton extrusion by roots of Zea mays L. cv. Limac. J Plant Physiol 128: 405-415

1986

Holtum JAM, Kelly GJ, Latzko E 1986 Photosynthesis. Carbon metabolism: by day and by night. Progress in Botany 48: 97-123.

Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1986 Carbon and carbon metabolism in the environment. Bundesgesundheitsamt, Institut für Strahlen Hygiene Heft 92. pp143

1985

Kelly GJ, Mukherjee U, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1985 Purification, kinetic and regulatory properties of phosphofructokinase from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Plant Cell Physiol 26: 301-307

Kreimer G, Melkonian M, Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1985 Characterisation of calcium fluxes across the envelope of intact spinach chloroplasts. Planta 166: 515-523.

1984

Holtum JAM, Gibbs M, Latzko E 1984 D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and pentose monophosphates. In: Methods of Enzymic Analysis, 3rd edn vol VI (eds Bergmeyer J, GraBl M) Verlag Chemie. pp 417-427

Holtum JAM, Latzko E 1984 Carbon metabolism: Report of sixth International Congress on Photosynthesis. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenphysiol ?: 424-426

Holtum JAM, Summons R, Roeske CA, Comins HN, O'Leary MH 1984 Oxygen-18 incorporation into malic acid during nocturnal carbon dioxide fixation in Crassulacean acid metabolism plants. A new approach to investigating in vivo carbonic anhydrase activity. J Biol Chem 259(11): 6870-6881.

Holtum JAM, Summons R, Roeske CA, Comins HN, O'Leary MH 1984 In vivo activities of carbonic anhydrase and PEP carboxylase. In: Advances in Photosynthesis Research, (ed Sybesma C) Martinus Nijhoff Publishers III: 545-548

1983

Holtum JAM, O'Leary MH, Osmond CB 1983 Effect of varying CO2 partial pressure on photosynthesis and on carbon isotope composition of carbon-4 of malate from the Crassulacean acid metabolism plant Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet. et Perr. Plant Physiol 71: 602-609.

1982

Holtum JAM, Winter K 1982 Activity of enzymes of carbon metabolism during the induction of Crassulacean acid metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. Planta 155: 8-16.

Holtum JAM, Winter K 1982 Effect of low relative humidity on δ13C value in two C3 grasses and in Panicum milioides, a C3-C4 intermediate species. J Experimental Botany 33: 88-91

Winter K, Foster JG, Edwards GE, Holtum JAM 1982 Intracellular localization of enzymes of carbon metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum exhibiting C3 photosynthetic characteristics or performing Crassulacean acid metabolism. Plant Physiol 69: 300-307.

1981

Holtum JAM, Osmond CB 1981 The gluconeogenic metabolism of pyruvate during deacidification of plants with crassulacean acid metabolism. Aust J Plant Physiol 8: 31-44

Osmond CB, Holtum JAM 1981 Crassulacean acid metabolism. In: Biochemistry of Plants vol 8 (eds Hatch MD, Boardman NK) Academic Press, NY pp 283-328

Winter K, Edwards GE, Holtum JAM 1981 Nocturnal accumulation of malic acid occurs in mesophyll tissue without proton transport to epidermal tissue in the inducible Crassulacean acid metabolism plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. Evidence against a previous hypothesis. Plant Physiol 68: 355-357

Contact Details

Dr Joe Holtum

Campus: Townsville

Telephone: +61 7 4781 4391

Fax: +61 7 4725 1570

Email: Joseph.Holtum@jcu.edu.au

Note: Please direct all student enquiries through the School Secretary.