Professor Robert Henry
Professor

Robert Henry

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62445

Background

Professor Henry, is a graduate of the University of Queensland, B Sc (Hons), Macquarie University, M Sc (Hons) and La Trobe University (Ph D). In 2000 Professor Henry was awarded a higher doctorate (D Sc) by UQ for his work on analysis of variation in plants.

He is currently Professor of Innovation in Agriculture. Before being appointed QAAFI Director (May 2010-September 2020), he was Director of the Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics at Southern Cross University, a centre which he established in 1996. Other previous positions held by Professor Henry include Research Director of the Grain Foods Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) (until 2010) and Research Program Leader in the Queensland Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (until 1996).

Professor Henry’s speciality research area is the study of agricultural crops using molecular tools. He is particularly interested in Australian flora and plants of economic and social importance and has led the way in research into genome sequencing to capture novel genetic resources for the diversification of food crops to deliver improved food products.

Availability

Professor Robert Henry is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Crop and pasture production Food sciences Forestry sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Research) of Science, Macquarie University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, La Trobe University

Research interests

  • Australian wild crop relatives and potential food species

    The Australian flora is rich in wild relatives of major crops. Many species with traditional or potential new food uses are also present. Genomics characterization of these species provides improved access to this critical biodiversity for global crop diversification.

  • Adaptation of agriculture and food production to climate change

    Study of the variation in the genome of wild plants under natural selection can provide clues as to how we can adapt plants for use in agriculture in response to climate change.

  • Coffee

    Study of the variation in the genome of wild plants under natural selection can provide clues as to how we can adapt plants for use in agriculture in response to climate change.

  • Rice

    Rice is a major human food originally domesticated in Asia. Wild rice in Australia is a major source of genetic diversity to support sustainable rice production globally. The Australian populations have uniquely escaped the genetic pollution from domesticated rice that has impacted wild rice growing in Asia. Whole genome analysis of Australian wild rice is being used to better understand rice domestication and make this diverse genetic resource available for increased rice food security worldwide.

  • Sorghum

    The sorghum genus is largely found in Australia. Current research investigates the genomes of these species to explore their evolution and adaptation to environments.

  • Wheat

    Food security demands an accelerated rate of genetic improvement of major food crops such as wheat and rice. Wheat genes determining traits important for human use in production of bread and other food products are essential in commercial wheat production. These traits have been considered complex and selection for quality characteristics has limited the rate of genetic improvement of wheat. Genomics is being used to increase understanding of the genetic basis of these traits removing this constraint to more rapid improvements in wheat varieties and production globally.

  • Horticultural tree crops (macadamia, mango, avocado, almond and citrus)

    This program develops genomic resources to support the genetic improvement of major horticultural tree crops. These resources include reference genome and transcriptome sequences and re-sequencing of germplasm. Native Australain species of Macadamia and Citrus are a special focus of this work.

  • Eucalypts

    Eucalypts are a diverse group of Australian species that have been planted in many countries for a wide range of uses. Eucalypts have been grown for solid wood, pulp for paper, and a source of firewood but also have use as a feedstock for energy and biomaterials. Research uses our growing understanding of the Eucalypt genome to support selection of Eucalypts.

  • Sugarcane

    Sugarcane is a major industrial crop providing a source of energy, fuel and sugar. Research aims to deliver increased understanding the sugarcane genome and discovery of the genetic control of traits that are important in developing sugarcane as an energy and biomaterial crop.

  • Jojoba

    Jojoba is an oil producing plant from desert environments. The genome of this species is being studied to understand adaptation to desert environments and sex determination in plants.

  • Duboisia

    Duboisia species are found in Australia. These plants are the source of important alkaloids with a range of pharmaceutical applications.

Research impacts

Robert Henry uses DNA-based methods for identification of plants and their pathogens. His interests include; sequencing of plant genomes, development of molecular markers for plant breeding and the genetic transformation and gene editing of plants. A major focus is application of DNA analysis technology to the improvement of the quality of crops and agricultural and food products and analysis of wild-plant populations, especially in Australia, to support their conservation and use in agriculture or forestry.

His research seeks to improve food and energy security by applying biochemical and molecular tools to the development of improved crop varieties. This research involves analysis of domesticated crops, wild relatives of crop species and potential new crop species. Research aims to define the basis of human selection for quality in food and non-food crops. These traits are critical to satisfying food and energy security because new plant varieties that may have higher yields may not be accepted for production by farmers if they fail to meet consumer expectations of quality and as a result are not marketable. Current research focuses on the major global food crops, rice and wheat and the leading current and potential energy crops, sugarcane and Eucalypts. Analysis of nutritional and functional characteristics ranges from determination of human preferences for properties of foods from bread to coffee and the chemical composition that determines the suitability of plant biomass for biofuel or biomaterial production. Whole genome sequencing and targeted sequencing of the functional parts of the genome allow associations between genetic variation and important traits to be established. Chemical and biochemical dissection of vital traits is facilitated by linking genetic variation at the whole genome level to function at the biochemical and molecular level.

Search Professor Robert Henry’s works on UQ eSpace

686 works between 1977 and 2025
All (686) Journal Article (532) Book Chapter (85) Conference Publication (44) Book (16) Other Outputs (9)

201 - 220 of 686 works

2018

Journal Article

Evidence of inter-sectional chloroplast capture in Corymbia among sections Torellianae and Maculatae

Healey, Adam, Lee, David J., Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J. (2018). Evidence of inter-sectional chloroplast capture in Corymbia among sections Torellianae and Maculatae. Australian Journal of Botany, 66 (5), 369-378. doi: 10.1071/BT18028

Evidence of inter-sectional chloroplast capture in Corymbia among sections Torellianae and Maculatae

2018

Book

Wild Oryza Genomes

T. K. Mondal and R. J. Henry eds. (2018). Wild Oryza Genomes. Compendium of Plant Genomes, Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-71997-9

Wild Oryza Genomes

2018

Book Chapter

The wild Oryza genomes preface

Mondal, Tapan K. and Henry, Robert J. (2018). The wild Oryza genomes preface. The wild Oryza genomes. (pp. XIII-XV) edited by Tapan K. Mondal and Robert J. Henry. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

The wild Oryza genomes preface

2018

Journal Article

Towards a genetic road map of wheat-processing quality

Henry, R. J. and Wrigley, C. W. (2018). Towards a genetic road map of wheat-processing quality. Journal of Cereal Science, 79, 516-517. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2017.12.010

Towards a genetic road map of wheat-processing quality

2018

Book Chapter

A highly efficient and reproducible Fusarium spp. inoculation method for Brachypodium distachyon

Rana, Anuj, Karunakaran, Aneesh, Fitzgerald, Timothy L., Sabburg, Rosalie, Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Henry, Robert J., Powell, Jonathan J. and Kazan, Kemal (2018). A highly efficient and reproducible Fusarium spp. inoculation method for Brachypodium distachyon. Brachypodium genomics: methods and protocols. (pp. 43-55) edited by Gaurav Sablok, Hikmet Budak and Peter J. Ralph. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7278-4_4

A highly efficient and reproducible Fusarium spp. inoculation method for Brachypodium distachyon

2017

Journal Article

Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution of miR820 and miR396 microRNA Families in Oryza AA Genomes

Singh, Amit Kumar, Furtado, Agnelo, Brozynska, Marta, Mishra, Neeti Sanan and Henry, Robert J (2017). Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution of miR820 and miR396 microRNA Families in Oryza AA Genomes. Tropical Plant Biology, 11 (1-2), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s12042-017-9197-4

Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution of miR820 and miR396 microRNA Families in Oryza AA Genomes

2017

Journal Article

Transcriptome analysis of Brachypodium during fungal pathogen infection reveals both shared and distinct defense responses with wheat

Powell, Jonathan J., Carere, Jason, Sablok, Gaurav, Fitzgerald, Timothy L., Stiller, Jiri, Colgrave, Michelle L., Gardiner, Donald M., Manners, John M., Vogel, John P., Henry, Robert J. and Kazan, Kemal (2017). Transcriptome analysis of Brachypodium during fungal pathogen infection reveals both shared and distinct defense responses with wheat. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 17212, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17454-3

Transcriptome analysis of Brachypodium during fungal pathogen infection reveals both shared and distinct defense responses with wheat

2017

Journal Article

Association of variation in the sugarcane transcriptome with sugar content

Thirugnanasambandam, Prathima P, Hoang, Nam V, Furtado, Agnelo, Botha, Frederick C and Henry, Robert J (2017). Association of variation in the sugarcane transcriptome with sugar content. BMC genomics, 18 (909) 909, 1-22. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4302-5

Association of variation in the sugarcane transcriptome with sugar content

2017

Journal Article

Evaluating the sensory properties of unpolished Australian wild rice

Tikapunya, Tiparat, Henry, Robert J. and Smyth, Heather (2017). Evaluating the sensory properties of unpolished Australian wild rice. Food Research International, 103, 406-414. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2017.10.037

Evaluating the sensory properties of unpolished Australian wild rice

2017

Journal Article

The transcriptome of the developing grain: A resource for understanding seed development and the molecular control of the functional and nutritional properties of wheat

Rangan, Parimalan, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J. (2017). The transcriptome of the developing grain: A resource for understanding seed development and the molecular control of the functional and nutritional properties of wheat. BMC Genomics, 18 (1) 766, 766-776. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4154-z

The transcriptome of the developing grain: A resource for understanding seed development and the molecular control of the functional and nutritional properties of wheat

2017

Journal Article

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein gene expression is associated with yield of flour in the milling of wheat

Nirmal, Ravi C., Furtado, Agnelo, Rangan, Parimalan and Henry, Robert J. (2017). Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein gene expression is associated with yield of flour in the milling of wheat. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 12539, 12539. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12845-y

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein gene expression is associated with yield of flour in the milling of wheat

2017

Journal Article

Molecular structures and properties of starches of Australian wild rice

Tikapunya, Tiparat, Zou, Wei, Yu, Wenwen, Powell, Prudence O., Fox, Glen P., Furtado, Agnelo, Henry, Robert J. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2017). Molecular structures and properties of starches of Australian wild rice. Carbohydrate Polymers, 172, 213-222. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.05.046

Molecular structures and properties of starches of Australian wild rice

2017

Journal Article

Long-read sequencing of the coffee bean transcriptome reveals the diversity of full-length transcripts

Cheng, Bing, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J (2017). Long-read sequencing of the coffee bean transcriptome reveals the diversity of full-length transcripts. GigaScience, 6 (11) gix086, 1-13. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/gix086

Long-read sequencing of the coffee bean transcriptome reveals the diversity of full-length transcripts

2017

Journal Article

Effects of genotype and temperature on accumulation of plant secondary metabolites in Canadian and Australian wheat grown under controlled environments

Shamloo, Maryam, Babawale, Elizabeth A., Furtado, Agnelo, Henry, Robert J., Eck, Peter K. and Jones, Peter J. H. (2017). Effects of genotype and temperature on accumulation of plant secondary metabolites in Canadian and Australian wheat grown under controlled environments. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 9133, 9133. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09681-5

Effects of genotype and temperature on accumulation of plant secondary metabolites in Canadian and Australian wheat grown under controlled environments

2017

Journal Article

Association of gene expression with biomass content and composition in sugarcane

Hoang, Nam V., Furtado, Agnelo, O'Keeffe, Angela J., Botha, Frederik C. and Henry, Robert J. (2017). Association of gene expression with biomass content and composition in sugarcane. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0183417, e0183417. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183417

Association of gene expression with biomass content and composition in sugarcane

2017

Journal Article

Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?

Henry, Robert J., Rangan, Parimalan and Furtado, Agnelo (2017). Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?. Plant Physiology, 174 (4), 1992-1993. doi: 10.1104/pp.17.00837

Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?

2017

Journal Article

Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?

Henry, Robert J., Rangan, Parimalan, Furtado, Agnelo, Busch, Florian A. and Farquhar, Graham D. (2017). Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?. Plant Physiology, 174 (4), 1994-1995.

Does C-4 Photosynthesis Occur in Wheat Seeds?

2017

Journal Article

Sequencing of bulks of segregants allows dissection of genetic control of amylose content in rice

Wambugu, Peterson, Ndjiondjop, Marie-Noelle, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2017). Sequencing of bulks of segregants allows dissection of genetic control of amylose content in rice. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 16 (1), 100-110. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12752

Sequencing of bulks of segregants allows dissection of genetic control of amylose content in rice

2017

Journal Article

Sequencing of Australian wild rice genomes reveals ancestral relationships with domesticated rice

Brozynska, Marta, Copetti, Dario, Furtado, Agnelo, Wing, Rod A., Crayn, Darren, Fox, Glen, Ishikawa, Ryuji and Henry, Robert J. (2017). Sequencing of Australian wild rice genomes reveals ancestral relationships with domesticated rice. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 15 (6), 765-774. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12674

Sequencing of Australian wild rice genomes reveals ancestral relationships with domesticated rice

2017

Journal Article

Variation in bean morphology and biochemical composition measured in different genetic groups of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Tran, Hue T. M., Vargas, Carlos Alberto Cordero, Lee, L. Slade, Furtado, Agnelo, Smyth, Heather and Henry, Robert (2017). Variation in bean morphology and biochemical composition measured in different genetic groups of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.). Tree Genetics and Genomes, 13 (3) 54. doi: 10.1007/s11295-017-1138-8

Variation in bean morphology and biochemical composition measured in different genetic groups of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon
    ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Bio-based solutions for a sustainable agriculture
    Queensland-Germany Bioeconomy Collaborative Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    The past, present and future of Indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge
    ARC Discovery Indigenous
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Building an advanced genomics platform for Australian horticulture
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Novel propagation and conservation technologies for Australian macadamia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    The Cumberland Plain Woodland Knowledge Infrastructure (CPWKI) project
    The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2030
    Sorghum Properties and Improvement Research
    Carlsberg
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Blueberry Genotyping
    Mountain Blue Orchards Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Development of Duboisia in Australia for Enhanced Alkaloid Production
    India Glycols Limited
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Australia's native sorghums: a model for testing plant adaptation theories (ARC Discovery Project administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Suitable sugarcane to diversify income and add value
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Genome sequencing and functional analysis of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) to elucidate drought and salt tolerance using most advanced OMICS technologies
    King Faisal University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    A situational analysis for developing a Rice industry in Northern Australia
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Genomics of Mangifera species
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    National Tree Genomics Program - Genomics Toolbox
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Evaluation of the potential to expand horticultural industries in Northern Australia
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Investigate tissue culture propagation of Duboisia
    India Glycols Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Australia's native sorghums (ARC Discovery Project administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Development of Duboisia in Australia for Enhanced Alkaloid Production
    India Glycols Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Manipulation of carbon partitioning to enhance the value of sugarcane
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Bio-actives: Value-adding to industrial hemp production
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - FirstLink
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Molecular characterization of complex biological polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Australia, the centre of diversity and the centre of origin of rice?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Director Funding 2015
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Understanding Coffee Quality
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Director Funding 2014
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Accelerated crop development and environmental compliance of agricultural and food systems
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Australian wild rice characterization
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Genomic strategies for reducing losses during processing and improving the nutritional value of wheat in human diets
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Future biofuels
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Research Partnerships Program
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Queensland as a source of herbaceous plants for year round raw material supply system
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012
    High performance, high throughput genotyping equipment to drive research surrounding the improvement of agriculture and animal breeding at The University of Queensland.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Nucleic acid biobanking, extraction storage and analysis facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    Research Agreement for the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
    Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Sustainable production and use of forest biomass - native species
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Evaluation of biomass potential of some Australian native grasses (RIRDC project novated from SCU)
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Real time PCR and nanoparticle diagnostic facilities for high-throughput quantitative analysis of genomic structure and gene expression
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Robert Henry is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Domestication of new food crops

    Food security would be enhanced by the use of a wider range of plants. Capturing more Australian biodiversity for food production may utilize wild crop relatives or domesticate new species. This project will evaluate the potential of Australian species.

  • Genomics of horticultural crops

    Genome analysis provides a knowledge base on the biology of plants. This project will work with domesticated horticultural crops and their wild relatives. Key target species in the work include, banana, pineapple, mango, citrus, papaya, macadamia, avocado, passion fruit and custard apple

  • Genomics of Australian plants

    This project will conduct analysis of the genomics of Australian plants, including endangered species, to provide key tools to support their conservation.

  • Engineering plants to replace fossil carbon

    Plants are a renewable source of carbon with potential to replace fossil carbon in production of chemicals and carbon-based materials. This project will evaluate options for engineering plants to be more suitable for these uses.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Integrating Genomics, Tissue Culture, and CRISPR/Cas9 to Unlock the Agricultural Potential of Australian Wild Rice

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Analysis of the contribution of non-leaf photosynthesis to growth in cereal crops

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genome diversity in the Macadamia genus

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Bruce Topp

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Techno-economic analysis of options for the use of sugarcane bagasse as a source of chemicals and energy

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic analysis of mechanisms of adaptive evolution

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genome variation in mango and related species

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Conservation genomics - developing broadly applicable workflows that work from locally to internationally.

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Editing nutritional traits in rice.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The exploration of disease resistance across the wild Oryza species

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genetic solutions for determining fibre quality traits in sugarcane

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Impact of temperature, light intensity and quality on carbon partitioning in Theobroma Cacao grown in controlled environment

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Paul Gauthier

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing a rapid and cost effective genotyping method for blueberry breeding

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Bruce Topp, Associate Professor Craig Hardner

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Robert Henry directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biomaterials
  • DNA fingerprinting
  • Food
  • Genetic engineering - plants
  • Plant identification

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