
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
2020
Journal Article
Genetic structure of wild germplasm of macadamia: species assignment, diversity and phylogeographic relationships
Mai, Thuy, Alam, Mobashwer, Hardner, Craig, Henry, Robert and Topp, Bruce (2020). Genetic structure of wild germplasm of macadamia: species assignment, diversity and phylogeographic relationships. Plants, 9 (6) 714, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/plants9060714
2020
Journal Article
The Nagoya Protocol and historical collections of plants
Sherman, Brad and Henry, Robert James (2020). The Nagoya Protocol and historical collections of plants. Nature Plants, 6 (5), 430-432. doi: 10.1038/s41477-020-0657-8
2020
Conference Publication
Control of sugar and fibre: insights from sugarcane transcriptome analyses
Thirugnanasambandam, Prathima Perumal, Kasirajan, Lakshmi, Furtado, Agnelo, Botha, Frikkie C. and Henry, Robert J. (2020). Control of sugar and fibre: insights from sugarcane transcriptome analyses. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036204
2020
Conference Publication
Isolation and characterization of full-length phenylalanine ammonium lyase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase genes involved in lignin biosynthesis of Erianthus arundinaceus
Kasirajan, Lakshmi, Thirugnanasambandam, Prathima Perumal, Furtado, Agnelo, Botha, Frikkie C. and Henry, Robert J. (2020). Isolation and characterization of full-length phenylalanine ammonium lyase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase genes involved in lignin biosynthesis of Erianthus arundinaceus. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036174
2020
Conference Publication
Analysis of differences in gene expression associated with variation in biomass composition in sugarcane
Perlo, Virginie, Furtado, Agnelo, Botha, Frikkie and Henry, Robert (2020). Analysis of differences in gene expression associated with variation in biomass composition in sugarcane. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036164
2020
Conference Publication
Transcriptomics analysis for the detection of novel drought tolerance genes in Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis)
Al-Dossary, Othman, Kharabian, Ardashir, Al-Mssallem, Ibrahim, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2020). Transcriptomics analysis for the detection of novel drought tolerance genes in Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis). The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036135
2020
Journal Article
Biotic exchange leaves detectable genomic patterns in the Australian rain forest flora
Yap, Jia-Yee S., van der Merwe, Marlien, Ford, Andrew J., Henry, Robert J. and Rossetto, Maurizio (2020). Biotic exchange leaves detectable genomic patterns in the Australian rain forest flora. Biotropica, 52 (4), 627-635. doi: 10.1111/btp.12776
2020
Journal Article
Slower development of lower canopy beans produces better coffee
Cheng, Bing, Smyth, Heather E., Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J. (2020). Slower development of lower canopy beans produces better coffee. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71 (14), 4201-4214. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraa151
2020
Journal Article
Genome-wide association studies for yield component traits in a macadamia breeding population
O’Connor, Katie, Hayes, Ben, Hardner, Craig, Nock, Catherine, Baten, Abdul, Alam, Mobashwer, Henry, Robert and Topp, Bruce (2020). Genome-wide association studies for yield component traits in a macadamia breeding population. BMC Genomics, 21 (1) 199, 199. doi: 10.1186/s12864-020-6575-3
2020
Journal Article
Molecular and morphological divergence of Australian wild rice
Lam, Dinh Thi, Ichitani, Katsuyuki, Henry, Robert J. and Ishikawa, Ryuji (2020). Molecular and morphological divergence of Australian wild rice. Plants, 9 (2) 224, 224. doi: 10.3390/plants9020224
2020
Journal Article
Structural elements that modulate the substrate specificity of plant purple acid phosphatases: avenues for improved phosphorus acquisition in crops
Feder, Daniel, McGeary, Ross P., Mitić, Natasa, Lonhienne, Thierry, Furtado, Agnelo, Schulz, Benjamin L., Henry, Robert J., Schmidt, Susanne, Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2020). Structural elements that modulate the substrate specificity of plant purple acid phosphatases: avenues for improved phosphorus acquisition in crops. Plant Science, 294 110445, 110445. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110445
2020
Book Chapter
Avocado transcriptomic resources
Shaw, Lindsay, Nath, Onkar, Fletcher, Stephen, Henry, Robert, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2020). Avocado transcriptomic resources. Reference Module in Food Science. (pp. 544-557) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-100596-5.22733-9
2020
Journal Article
Crop wild relatives as a genetic resource for generating low-cyanide, drought-tolerant Sorghum
Cowan, Max F., Blomstedt, Cecilia K., Norton, Sally L., Henry, Robert J., Lindberg Møller, Birger and Gleadow, Roslyn (2020). Crop wild relatives as a genetic resource for generating low-cyanide, drought-tolerant Sorghum. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 169 103884, 103884. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103884
2020
Book Chapter
Wild Oryza for quality improvement
Hasan, Sharmin and Henry, Robert J. (2020). Wild Oryza for quality improvement. The future of rice demand: quality beyond productivity. (pp. 299-329) edited by Antonio Costa de Oliveira, Camila Pegoraro and Vívian Ebeling Viana. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-37510-2_13
2020
Conference Publication
Introgression of large grain size from Australian wild rice and its agronomical importance
Ishikawa, Ryuji, Mishimaki, Takahiro, Toyomoto, Daiki, Katano, Koki, Ichitani, Katsuyuki and Henry, Robert (2020). Introgression of large grain size from Australian wild rice and its agronomical importance. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11 – 13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: M D P I AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036121
2020
Journal Article
Transcriptome profiling of wheat genotypes under heat stress during grain-filling
Rangan, Parimalan, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2020). Transcriptome profiling of wheat genotypes under heat stress during grain-filling. Journal of Cereal Science, 91 102895, 102895. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102895
2020
Book Chapter
Cereal genomics databases and plant genetic resources in crop improvement
Henry, Robert J. (2020). Cereal genomics databases and plant genetic resources in crop improvement. Cereal genomics: methods and protocols. (pp. 9-14) edited by Luis M. Vaschetto. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9865-4_2
2020
Conference Publication
Phylogenetic relationship among Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla wild accessions
Mai, Thuy Thi Phuong, Alam, Mobashwer, Henry, Robert, Hardner, Craig and Topp, Bruce (2020). Phylogenetic relationship among Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla wild accessions. Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: M D P I AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036067
2020
Journal Article
Modelled distributions and conservation priorities of wild sorghums (Sorghum Moench)
Myrans, Harry, Diaz, Maria V., Khoury, Colin K., Carver, Daniel, Henry, Robert J. and Gleadow, Roslyn (2020). Modelled distributions and conservation priorities of wild sorghums (Sorghum Moench). Diversity and Distributions, 26 (12) ddi.13166, 1727-1740. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13166
2019
Conference Publication
Relationships between Iraqi rice varieties at the nuclear and plastid genome levels
Badro, Hayba, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2019). Relationships between Iraqi rice varieties at the nuclear and plastid genome levels. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036024
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Robert Henry is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
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
Editing nutritional traits in 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
Conservation genomics - developing broadly applicable workflows that work from locally to internationally.
Principal Advisor
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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
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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
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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
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
Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Dr Pauline Okemo
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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
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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
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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
Biotechnological improvement of Vanilla planifolia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella
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Doctor Philosophy
Biotechnological improvement of Vanilla planifolia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella
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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
Propagation and genetic enhancement of Duboisia species for production of tropane alkaloids
Associate Advisor
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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
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
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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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic and phenotypic characterization of commercial Corymbia hybrids for lignocellulosic biofuel production
Principal Advisor
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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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