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
  • Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland

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

673 works between 1977 and 2024
All (673) Journal Article (519) Book Chapter (85) Conference Publication (44) Book (16) Other Outputs (9)

41 - 60 of 673 works

2023

Journal Article

Sequence variations associated with novel purple-pericarp super-sweetcorn compared to its purple-pericarp maize and white super-sweetcorn parents

Anirban, Apurba, Masouleh, Ardashir Kharabian, Henry, Robert J. and O’Hare, Tim J. (2023). Sequence variations associated with novel purple-pericarp super-sweetcorn compared to its purple-pericarp maize and white super-sweetcorn parents. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 298 (6), 1395-1405. doi: 10.1007/s00438-023-02060-y

Sequence variations associated with novel purple-pericarp super-sweetcorn compared to its purple-pericarp maize and white super-sweetcorn parents

2023

Journal Article

Phylogenetic relationships among Australian native citrus species based upon complete chloroplast genomes and single copy nuclear genes

Nakandala, Upuli, Furtado, Agnelo, Smith, Malcolm W., Williams, Darren C. and Henry, Robert J. (2023). Phylogenetic relationships among Australian native citrus species based upon complete chloroplast genomes and single copy nuclear genes. Tropical Plants, 2, 1-8. doi: 10.48130/tp-2023-0021

Phylogenetic relationships among Australian native citrus species based upon complete chloroplast genomes and single copy nuclear genes

2023

Journal Article

Genomic characterization supporting the development of new food and crop options from the Australian flora

Henry, Robert J. (2023). Genomic characterization supporting the development of new food and crop options from the Australian flora. Sustainable Food Technology, 1 (3), 337-347. doi: 10.1039/d3fb00001j

Genomic characterization supporting the development of new food and crop options from the Australian flora

2022

Journal Article

Variant analysis of grain size related genes in the genus Sorghum

Ananda, Galaihalage K. S., Norton, Sally L., Barnes, Eve, Furtado, Agnelo, Møller, Birger Lindberg, Gleadow, Roslyn and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Variant analysis of grain size related genes in the genus Sorghum. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 70 (5), 1377-1394. doi: 10.1007/s10722-022-01508-1

Variant analysis of grain size related genes in the genus Sorghum

2022

Journal Article

Gene expression in the developing seed of wild and domesticated rice

Hasan, Sharmin, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2022). Gene expression in the developing seed of wild and domesticated rice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (21) 13351, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/ijms232113351

Gene expression in the developing seed of wild and domesticated rice

2022

Journal Article

Balancing incentives for innovation in new plant varieties

MacDonald, Hamish and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Balancing incentives for innovation in new plant varieties. Nature Plants, 8 (11), 1206-1208. doi: 10.1038/s41477-022-01246-3

Balancing incentives for innovation in new plant varieties

2022

Journal Article

Transcriptome and metabolome integration in sugarcane through culm development

Perlo, Virginie, Furtado, Agnelo, Botha, Frederik C., Margarido, Gabriel R. A., Hodgson‐Kratky, Katrina, Choudhary, Hemant, Gladden, John, Simmons, Blake and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Transcriptome and metabolome integration in sugarcane through culm development. Food and Energy Security, 11 (4) e421, 1-16. doi: 10.1002/fes3.421

Transcriptome and metabolome integration in sugarcane through culm development

2022

Journal Article

A haplotype resolved chromosomal level avocado genome allows analysis of novel avocado genes

Nath, Onkar, Fletcher, Stephen J., Hayward, Alice, Shaw, Lindsay M., Kharabian Masouleh, Ardashir, Furtado, Agnelo, Henry, Robert J. and Mitter, Neena (2022). A haplotype resolved chromosomal level avocado genome allows analysis of novel avocado genes. Horticulture Research, 9 uhac157, 1-10. doi: 10.1093/hr/uhac157

A haplotype resolved chromosomal level avocado genome allows analysis of novel avocado genes

2022

Journal Article

Progress in Plant Genome Sequencing

Henry, Robert J. (2022). Progress in Plant Genome Sequencing. Applied Biosciences, 1 (2), 113-128. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci1020008

Progress in Plant Genome Sequencing

2022

Journal Article

Systems seed biology to understand and manipulate rice grain quality and nutrition

Badoni, Saurabh, Parween, Sabiha, Henry, Robert J. and Sreenivasulu, Nese (2022). Systems seed biology to understand and manipulate rice grain quality and nutrition. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 43 (5), 716-733. doi: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2058460

Systems seed biology to understand and manipulate rice grain quality and nutrition

2022

Journal Article

The long read transcriptome of rice (oryza sativa ssp. japonica var. Nipponbare) reveals novel transcripts

Hasan, Sharmin, Huang, Lichun, Liu, Qiaoquan, Perlo, Virginie, O'Keeffe, Angela, Margarido, Gabriel Rodrigues Alves, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J (2022). The long read transcriptome of rice (oryza sativa ssp. japonica var. Nipponbare) reveals novel transcripts. Rice, 15 (1) 29, 29. doi: 10.1186/s12284-022-00577-1

The long read transcriptome of rice (oryza sativa ssp. japonica var. Nipponbare) reveals novel transcripts

2022

Journal Article

Evolution of an intermediate C4 photosynthesis in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae

Rangan, Parimalan, Wankhede, Dhammaprakash P., Subramani, Rajkumar, Chinnusamy, Viswanathan, Malik, Surendra K., Baig, Mirza Jaynul, Singh, Kuldeep and Henry, Robert (2022). Evolution of an intermediate C4 photosynthesis in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae. Photosynthesis Research, 153 (3), 125-134. doi: 10.1007/s11120-022-00926-7

Evolution of an intermediate C4 photosynthesis in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae

2022

Journal Article

Tracking habitat or testing its suitability? Similar distributional patterns can hide very different histories of persistence versus nonequilibrium dynamics

Yap, Jia-Yee Samantha, Rossetto, Maurizio, Das, Sourav, Wilson, Peter D., Beaumont, Linda J. and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Tracking habitat or testing its suitability? Similar distributional patterns can hide very different histories of persistence versus nonequilibrium dynamics. Evolution, 76 (6), 1209-1228. doi: 10.1111/evo.14460

Tracking habitat or testing its suitability? Similar distributional patterns can hide very different histories of persistence versus nonequilibrium dynamics

2022

Journal Article

Allele expression biases in mixed-ploid sugarcane accessions

Correr, Fernando Henrique, Furtado, Agnelo, Franco Garcia, Antonio Augusto, Henry, Robert James and Rodrigues Alves Margarido, Gabriel (2022). Allele expression biases in mixed-ploid sugarcane accessions. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 8778, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-12725-0

Allele expression biases in mixed-ploid sugarcane accessions

2022

Journal Article

Testing the linearity assumption for starch structure-property relationships in rices

Zhao, Yingting, Henry, Robert J. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2022). Testing the linearity assumption for starch structure-property relationships in rices. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9 916751, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.916751

Testing the linearity assumption for starch structure-property relationships in rices

2022

Journal Article

Unveiling the potential of water as a co-solvent in microwave-assisted delignification of sugarcane bagasse using ternary deep eutectic solvents

Chourasia, Vallari R., Bisht, Meena, Pant, Kamal K. and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Unveiling the potential of water as a co-solvent in microwave-assisted delignification of sugarcane bagasse using ternary deep eutectic solvents. Bioresource Technology, 351 127005, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127005

Unveiling the potential of water as a co-solvent in microwave-assisted delignification of sugarcane bagasse using ternary deep eutectic solvents

2022

Journal Article

Potential of genome editing to capture diversity from Australian wild rice relatives

Abdullah, Muhammad, Okemo, Pauline, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2022). Potential of genome editing to capture diversity from Australian wild rice relatives. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 4 875243. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.875243

Potential of genome editing to capture diversity from Australian wild rice relatives

2022

Journal Article

Reticulate evolution in AA-genome wild rice in Australia

Hasan, Sharmin, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2022). Reticulate evolution in AA-genome wild rice in Australia. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13 767635, 767635. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.767635

Reticulate evolution in AA-genome wild rice in Australia

2022

Journal Article

Transcriptome changes in the developing sugarcane culm associated with high yield and early-season high sugar content

Perlo, Virginie, Margarido, Gabriel R. A., Botha, Frederik C., Furtado, Agnelo, Hodgson-Kratky, Katrina, Correr, Fernando H. and Henry, Robert J. (2022). Transcriptome changes in the developing sugarcane culm associated with high yield and early-season high sugar content. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135 (5), 1619-1636. doi: 10.1007/s00122-022-04058-3

Transcriptome changes in the developing sugarcane culm associated with high yield and early-season high sugar content

2022

Journal Article

Supporting in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives using genomic technologies

Wambugu, Peterson W. and Henry, Robert (2022). Supporting in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives using genomic technologies. Molecular Ecology, 31 (8), 2207-2222. doi: 10.1111/mec.16402

Supporting in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives using genomic technologies

Current funding

  • 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

Availability

Professor Robert Henry is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

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 mechanisms of adaptive evolution

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genome diversity in the Macadamia genus

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Bruce Topp

  • 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

    Genetic solutions for determining fibre quality traits in sugarcane

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The identification of novel genes form Oryza austarliensis for rice improvement

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Rice gene editing

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Citrus Genomics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mango Genomics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biotechnological improvement of Vanilla planifolia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Propagation and genetic enhancement of Duboisia species for production of tropane alkaloids

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Bernard Carroll, Professor Neena Mitter

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Robert Henry directly for media enquiries about:

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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au