
Overview
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
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Research) of Science, Macquarie University
- Doctor of Philosophy, La Trobe University
Research interests
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor Robert Henry’s works on UQ eSpace
1995
Journal Article
Optimisation of tissue culture conditions for transformation studies using immature embryos of Australian barley cultivars
Walmsley, A. M., Henry, R. J. and Birch, R. G. (1995). Optimisation of tissue culture conditions for transformation studies using immature embryos of Australian barley cultivars. Australian Journal of Botany, 43 (5), 499-504. doi: 10.1071/BT9950499
1995
Conference Publication
RAPD analysis of sugarcane during tissue culture
Taylor, P. W. J., Fraser, T. A., Ko, H. -L and Henry, R. J. (1995). RAPD analysis of sugarcane during tissue culture. 8th International Congress on Plant Tissue and Cell Culture, Florence, Italy, 12-17 June 1994. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic.
1995
Journal Article
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION IN THE DIASTATIC POWER OF AUSTRALIAN BARLEY
ARENDS, AM, FOX, GP, HENRY, RJ, MARSCHKE, RJ and SYMONS, MH (1995). GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION IN THE DIASTATIC POWER OF AUSTRALIAN BARLEY. JOURNAL OF CEREAL SCIENCE, 21 (1), 63-70. doi: 10.1016/S0733-5210(95)80009-3
1994
Journal Article
IDENTIFICATION OF BARLEY VARIETIES USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION
KO, HL and HENRY, RJ (1994). IDENTIFICATION OF BARLEY VARIETIES USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION. JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF BREWING, 100 (6), 405-407. doi: 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1994.tb00838.x
1994
Journal Article
POLYMORPHISMS IN THE ALPHA-AMY1 GENE OF WILD AND CULTIVATED BARLEY REVEALED BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION
WEINING, S, KO, L and HENRY, RJ (1994). POLYMORPHISMS IN THE ALPHA-AMY1 GENE OF WILD AND CULTIVATED BARLEY REVEALED BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS, 89 (4), 509-513. doi: 10.1007/BF00225388
1994
Journal Article
IDENTIFICATION OF CEREALS USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION
KOHL, HENRYRJ, GRAHAMGC, FOX, GP, CHADBONEDA and HAAKIC (1994). IDENTIFICATION OF CEREALS USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION. JOURNAL OF CEREAL SCIENCE, 19 (2), 101-106. doi: 10.1006/jcrs.1994.1014
1994
Conference Publication
Genetic engineering of resistance to starch hydrolysis caused by pre-harvest sprouting
Henry, R. J., McKinnon, G. E., Haak, I. A. and Brennan, P. S. (1994). Genetic engineering of resistance to starch hydrolysis caused by pre-harvest sprouting. Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Cereal Chemistry Division Symposium on Improvement of Cereal Quality by Genetic Engineering, Sydney, Australia, 12-16 September 1993. New York, NY, United States: Plenum.
1994
Journal Article
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF FUNGAL GENOMIC DNA FOR PCR AND RAPD ANALYSIS
GRAHAM, GC, MAYERS, P and HENRY, RJ (1994). A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF FUNGAL GENOMIC DNA FOR PCR AND RAPD ANALYSIS. BIOTECHNIQUES, 16 (1), 48-50.
1994
Journal Article
Molecular methods for cereal identification
Henry, R. J. (1994). Molecular methods for cereal identification. Australasian biotechnology, 4 (3), 150-152.
1994
Conference Publication
Rapid cereal genotype analysis
Ko, H. L. and Henry, R. J. (1994). Rapid cereal genotype analysis. Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Cereal Chemistry Division Symposium on Improvement of Cereal Quality by Genetic Engineering, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 12-16 September 1993. New York, NY, United States: Plenum.
1994
Journal Article
RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L) VARIETIES
KO, HL, COWAN, DC, HENRY, RJ, GRAHAM, GC, BLAKENEY, AB and LEWIN, LG (1994). RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L) VARIETIES. EUPHYTICA, 80 (3), 179-189. doi: 10.1007/BF00039649
1994
Journal Article
Genetic diversity in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis
Lawson, W. R., Henry, R. J., Kochman, J. K. and Kong, G. A. (1994). Genetic diversity in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 45 (7), 1319-1327. doi: 10.1071/AR9941319
1994
Book
Improvement of Cereal Quality by Genetic Engineering
Robert J. Henry and John A. Ronalds eds. (1994). Improvement of Cereal Quality by Genetic Engineering. Boston, MA, United States: Springer US. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-2441-0
1994
Journal Article
IDENTIFICATION OF NAVY BEAN VARIETIES USING RANDOM AMPLIFICATION OF POLYMORPHIC DNA
GRAHAM, GC, HENRY, RJ and REDDEN, RJ (1994). IDENTIFICATION OF NAVY BEAN VARIETIES USING RANDOM AMPLIFICATION OF POLYMORPHIC DNA. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE, 34 (8), 1173-1176. doi: 10.1071/EA9941173
1993
Journal Article
A RAPID SMALL-SCALE METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MALT EXTRACT
FOX, GP and HENRY, RJ (1993). A RAPID SMALL-SCALE METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MALT EXTRACT. JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF BREWING, 99 (1), 73-75. doi: 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1993.tb01150.x
1993
Conference Publication
Use of alpha-amylase inhibitors to control sprouting
Henry, R. J., McKinnon, G. E., Haak, I. C. and Brennan, P. S. (1993). Use of alpha-amylase inhibitors to control sprouting. Sixth International Symposium on Pre-Harvest Sprouting in Cereals, Coeur d'Alene, ID, United States, 25-29 July 1992. St. Paul, Minn., United States: American Association of Cereal Chemists.
1993
Journal Article
Use of DNA from dry leaves for PCR and RAPD analysis
Thomson D. and Henry R. (1993). Use of DNA from dry leaves for PCR and RAPD analysis. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 11 (3), 202-206. doi: 10.1007/BF02669845
1992
Journal Article
Enantiomeric ratios of pantolactone, solerone, 4-carboethoxy-4-hydroxy-butyrolactone and of sotolon, a flavour impact compound of flor-sherry and botrytized wines
Guichard, Elisabeth, Etiévant, Patrick, Henry, Robert and Mosandl, Armin (1992). Enantiomeric ratios of pantolactone, solerone, 4-carboethoxy-4-hydroxy-butyrolactone and of sotolon, a flavour impact compound of flor-sherry and botrytized wines. Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung, 195 (6), 540-544. doi: 10.1007/BF01204559
1992
Journal Article
AN INTER-LABORATORY STUDY OF STARCH DEGRADING ENZYME ASSAYS
HENRY, RJ and BUTLER, D (1992). AN INTER-LABORATORY STUDY OF STARCH DEGRADING ENZYME ASSAYS. JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF BREWING, 98 (1), 25-26. doi: 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1992.tb01087.x
1992
Journal Article
Control of wheat a-amylase using inhibitors from cereals
Henry, R. J., Battershell, V. G., Brennan, P. S. and Oono, K. (1992). Control of wheat a-amylase using inhibitors from cereals. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 58 (2), 281-284. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.2740580218
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Robert Henry is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of the contribution of non-leaf photosynthesis to growth in cereal crops
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Pauline Okemo
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Doctor Philosophy
Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Citrus genomics: chromosome-level genome assemblies, annotations, and phylogenetic relationships of Australian native species and four commercial citrus varieties
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of the Genomes of Australian Wild Rice and Application of Gene Editing to Their Domestication
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo
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Doctor Philosophy
The exploration of disease resistance across the wild Oryza species
Principal Advisor
-
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
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Doctor Philosophy
Genetic solutions for determining fibre quality traits in sugarcane
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Editing nutritional traits in rice.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo
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Doctor Philosophy
Techno-economic analysis of options for the use of sugarcane bagasse as a source of chemicals and energy
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Conservation genomics - developing broadly applicable workflows that work from locally to internationally.
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genome diversity in the Macadamia genus
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Bruce Topp
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Doctor Philosophy
Citrus genomics: chromosome-level genome assemblies, annotations, and phylogenetic relationships of Australian native species and four commercial citrus varieties
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic analysis of mechanisms of adaptive evolution
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo
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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
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-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic solutions for determining fibre quality traits in sugarcane
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Biotechnological improvement of Vanilla planifolia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing a rapid and cost effective genotyping method for blueberry breeding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bruce Topp, Associate Professor Craig Hardner
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing a rapid and cost effective genotyping method for blueberry breeding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bruce Topp, Associate Professor Craig Hardner
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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
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Citrus genomics: chromosome-level genome assemblies, annotations, and phylogenetic relationships of Australian native species and four commercial citrus varieties
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The genomes of the four Macadamia species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Bruce Topp
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS VALORISATION USING DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS FOR SUSTINABLE BIOREFINERIES
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic basis of sexual dimorphism in Jojoba
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of genome and transcriptome variation in AA genome Australian wild rice
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of water-stress tolerance in jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) using genomics technology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Sorghum genomics: Diversity and evolution of the genus Sorghum and the role of cyanogenesis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic and Transcriptomic Changes in the Developing Sugarcane Culm Associated with High Yield and Early-Season High Sugar Content.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of biomass traits in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the transcriptional control of UDP-Glucose metabolism in Sugarcane
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of gene expression in the developing seed with the quality of wheat
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Canopy Position Influences on Gene Expression and Coffee Quality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Heather Smyth
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic diversity of Australian wild rice
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic studies of biochemical compounds determining arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) quality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Heather Smyth
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic and phenotypic characterization of commercial Corymbia hybrids for lignocellulosic biofuel production
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of genes controlling biomass traits in the genome of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic characterization of African cultivated and wild Oryza species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Grain quality of Australian wild rice (compared to domesticated rice)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Heather Smyth, Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Genomics of consumer traits in chapatti quality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic characterization of Australian wild rice species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Identifying sources of resistance to Fusarium diseases using the model plant Brachypodium distachyon
Principal Advisor
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Biotechnological improvement of Vanilla planifolia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Propagation and genetic enhancement of Duboisia species for production of tropane alkaloids
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding digestibility properties, sensory data of Australian wild rice from the molecular level
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Genome Sequencing, annotation and application in avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alice Hayward
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The development of purple-pericarp super-sweetcorn
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alice Hayward
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic-assisted exploitation of wild germplasm for improvement of macadamia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Craig Hardner, Dr Mobashwer Alam, Professor Bruce Topp
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment and identification of molecular markers underpinning for H. armigera Hübner resistance in Australian wild Cajanus species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Selection strategies to improve yield in macadamia using component traits and genomics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Craig Hardner, Dr Mobashwer Alam, Professor Ben Hayes, Professor Bruce Topp
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The molecular analysis of yellow canopy syndrome-induced yellowing in the sugarcane leaf
Associate Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Genetically modified corn using site directed mutagenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Plant pathogenic Magnaporthales in Australia, with particular reference to Pyricularia oryzae on wild and cultivated rice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Geering
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Relationship between Starch Structure and Biosynthesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Robert Henry directly for media enquiries about:
- Biomaterials
- DNA fingerprinting
- Food
- Genetic engineering - plants
- Plant identification
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