Overview
Background
Overview
Dr Borrell obtained bachelor and master’s degrees in Agricultural Science at The University of Melbourne, focusing on the Green Revolution genes (Rht1 and Rht2) in wheat for his thesis. He then completed a PhD at The University of Queensland on improving the efficiencies of nitrogen and water use for rice in the semi-arid tropics. Andrew was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study the impact of rice research in Asia and the US on rice production in the Australian tropics. Much of his post-doctoral research has focused on improving drought adaptation in sorghum, rice, wheat and barley.
Dr Borrell is a crop physiologist and Centre Leader of the Queensland Government’s Hermitage Research Facility, a centre of excellence for crop improvement in water-limited environments. For more than a decade, Andrew has led an international project (Australia/US) aimed at discovering key genes underpinning the stay-green drought adaptation trait in cereals, using sorghum as a model crop. Prior to this, he conducted research to better understand the physiological basis of stay-green in sorghum. Dr Borrell began his career as a rice agronomist with the Queensland Government.
Dr Borrell co-leads projects in sub-Saharan Africa and India to develop drought-adapted sorghum germplasm. In addition to drought physiology in major cereals, Andrew has supervised a research program aimed at discovering frost adaptation in winter cereals at heading stage. He has also worked extensively in South-East Asia for the past 25 years developing sustainable cropping systems, including recent research on rice production and adaptation to climate change in Vietnam. Dr Borrell has served as Secretary-General of the Asian Crop Science Association.
Availability
- Professor Andrew Borrell is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Research Interests
Producing more food with less water is one of the major challenges facing humanity. My research involves elucidating the physiological/molecular basis of drought adaptation in cereals, including the discovery of genes and gene networks that regulate adaptation, e.g. the stay-green drought adaptation trait in sorghum, wheat and barley; root architecture in sorghum, wheat and barley; early vigour in barley. Strong international collaborations to advance these areas of research include partners in USA (Texas A&M University), India (ICRISAT, IIMR), and Ethiopia (EIAR, Jimma University) with funding from GRDC, TAMU, GCP, ACIAR and BMGF. Other research interests include the efficiency with which resources (radiation, water and nitrogen) are utilized by crop plants, and developing sustainable cropping systems. This research has focused on developing novel water-saving strategies for climate-smart rice production in Australia and Asia. International partners for this research have included Indonesia (University of Mataram, Lombok), Vietnam (VAAS), and Norway (NIBIO), with funding from GRDC, ACIAR and NIBIO. Photosynthesis is another research interest, with particular focus on extending the duration of photosynthesis in C3 (wheat) and C4 (sorghum) plants. This research is funded by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis.
Works
Search Professor Andrew Borrell’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Characterization and association mapping for drought adaptation in Ethiopian sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) germplasm
Tebeje, Alemu, Bantte, Kassahun, Matiwos, Temesgen and Borrell, Andrew (2020). Characterization and association mapping for drought adaptation in Ethiopian sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) germplasm. Vegetos, 33 (4), 722-743. doi: 10.1007/s42535-020-00163-0
2020
Conference Publication
How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Oosterom, Erik van, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, Guoquan, Wong, Albert, Matiwos, Temesgen, Bantte, Kassahun, Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2020). How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036208
2020
Book Chapter
Physiology of growth, development and yield
Borrell, A., van Oosterom, E., George-Jaeggli, B., Vadez, V., Singh, V. and Hammer, G. (2020). Physiology of growth, development and yield. Sorghum in the 21st century: food – fodder – feed – fuel for a rapidly changing world. (pp. 127-155) edited by Vilas A. Tonapi, Harvinder Singh Talwar, Ashok Kumar Are, B. Venkatesh Bhat, Ch. Ravinder Reddy and Timothy J. Dalton. Singapore, Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-8249-3_6
2020
Conference Publication
Quantifying drought tolerant crop traits using sensing technologies to enhance selection in sorghum breeding trials
Potgieter, A.B., Laws, Kenneth, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Hunt, Colleen, Reynolds Massey-Reed, Sean, Lamprecht, Marnie, Liedtke, Jana D., Zhao, Yan, Chapman, Scott, Borrell, Andrew K., Mace, Emma S., Hammer, Graeme L. and Jordan, David R. (2020). Quantifying drought tolerant crop traits using sensing technologies to enhance selection in sorghum breeding trials. Interdrought 2020, Mexico City, Mexico, 9-13 March 2020.
2019
Conference Publication
Drought adaptation in sorghum: scaling-up from gene to farmer's field
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik, Hammer, Graeme, Godwin, Ian, Liu, G., Wong, Albert, Hunt, Colleen and Jordan, David (2019). Drought adaptation in sorghum: scaling-up from gene to farmer's field. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 8-10 July 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, G., Wong, Albert, Temesgen, M., Kassahun, B., Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2019). Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals. Climate Change Linked Stress Tolerance in Plants (M4) (Keystone Symposia), Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany, 13-16 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Variation in leaf vein density in sorghum and implications for C4 photosynthesis
Borrell, Andrew, Fraija, Juan, Wang, Rui, Hunt, Colleen, Jordan, David, Mace, Emma, Ghannoum, Oula, Cano, F. Javier, Pan, Ling and George-Jaeggli, Barbara (2019). Variation in leaf vein density in sorghum and implications for C4 photosynthesis. Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security, Brisbane, Australia, 30 June - 3 July 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
High-throughput phenotyping of canopy radiation use efficiency and its component traits
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Potgieter, Andries, Zhi, Xiaoyu, Reynolds Massey-Reed, Sean, Watson, James, Lamprecht, Marnie, Chapman, Scott, Laws, Kenneth, Hunt, Colleen, Borrell, Andrew, Jordan, David, van Oosterom, Erik, Wu, Alex and Hammer, Graeme (2019). High-throughput phenotyping of canopy radiation use efficiency and its component traits. 6th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Nanjing, China, 22-26 October 2019.
2019
Book Chapter
The use of hyperspectral proximal sensing for phenotyping of plant breeding trials
Potgieter, Andries B., Watson, James, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, McLean, Gregory, Eldridge, Mark, Chapman, Scott C., Laws, Kenneth, Christopher, Jack, Chenu, Karine, Borrell, Andrew, Hammer, Graeme and Jordan, David R. (2019). The use of hyperspectral proximal sensing for phenotyping of plant breeding trials. Fundamentals, sensor systems, spectral libraries, and data mining for vegetation. (pp. 127-148) edited by Prasad S. Thenkabail, John G. Lyon and Alfredo Huete. Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315164151-5
2019
Conference Publication
High-throughput phenotyping tools to test whether leaf-level photosynthesis traits are measurable at the crop level
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Potgieter, Andries, Zhi, Xiaoyu, Reynolds Massey-Reed, Sean, Watson, James, Lamprecht, Marnie, Chapman, Scott, Laws, Kenneth, Hunt, Colleen, Borrell, Andrew, Jordan, David, van Oosterom, Erik, Wu, Alex and Hammer, Graeme (2019). High-throughput phenotyping tools to test whether leaf-level photosynthesis traits are measurable at the crop level. TropAg 2019, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-13 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Variation in leaf vein density in sorghum and implications for C4 photosynthesis
Borrell, Andrew, Fraija, Juan, Wang, Rui, Hunt, Colleen, Jordan, David, Mace, Emma, Tao. Yongfu, Ghannoum, Oula, Cano, Francisco Javier, Pan, Ling and George-Jaeggli, Barbara (2019). Variation in leaf vein density in sorghum and implications for C4 photosynthesis. Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security, Brisbane, Australia, 30 June - 3 July.
2019
Conference Publication
Seeing canopy photosynthesis through the eyes of a Gecko
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Zhi, Xiaoyue, Wu, Alex, Potgieter, Andries, Reynolds Massey-Reed, Sean, Watson, James, Hunt, Colleen, Lamprecht, Marnie, Chapman, Scott, Borrell, Andrew, Jordan, David and Hammer, Graeme (2019). Seeing canopy photosynthesis through the eyes of a Gecko. Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 30 June - 3 July 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Predicting lodging using sensing technologies to enhance selection in sorghum breeding trials
Potgieter, Andries, Laws, Kenneth, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Hunt, Colleen, Guo, Wei, Reynolds Massey-Reed, Sean, Chapman, Scott, Borrell, Andrew, Mace, Emma, Hammer, Graeme and Jordan, David (2019). Predicting lodging using sensing technologies to enhance selection in sorghum breeding trials. 6th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Nanjing, China, 22-26 October 2019.
2018
Book Chapter
The use of hyperspectral proximal sensing for phenotyping of plant breeding trials
Potgieter, Andries B., Watson, James, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, McLean, Gregory, Eldridge, Mark, Chapman, Scott C., Laws, Kenneth, Christopher, Jack, Chenu, Karine, Borrell, Andrew, Hammer, Graeme L. and Jordan, David R. (2018). The use of hyperspectral proximal sensing for phenotyping of plant breeding trials. Fundamentals, sensor systems, spectral libraries, and data mining for vegetation. (pp. 127-147) Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315164151-5
2018
Journal Article
Root architectural traits and yield: exploring the relationship in barley breeding trials
Robinson, Hannah, Kelly, Alison, Fox, Glen, Franckowiak, Jerome, Borrell, Andrew and Hickey, Lee (2018). Root architectural traits and yield: exploring the relationship in barley breeding trials. Euphytica, 214 (9) 151. doi: 10.1007/s10681-018-2219-y
2018
Journal Article
Selection in early generations to shift allele frequency for seminal root angle in wheat
Richard, Cecile, Christopher, Jack, Chenu, Karine, Borrell, Andrew, Christopher, Mandy and Hickey, Lee (2018). Selection in early generations to shift allele frequency for seminal root angle in wheat. Plant Genome, 11 (2) 170071, 170071. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2017.08.0071
2018
Conference Publication
Phenotypic selection of cereal root traits for terminal drought-stressed environments
Christopher, J. T., Richard, C., Hickey, L., Chenu, K., Christopher, M. J. and Borrell, A. K. (2018). Phenotypic selection of cereal root traits for terminal drought-stressed environments. 5th Biennial International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 2-5 October 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Determining crop growth dynamics in sorghum breeding trials through remote and proximal sensing technologies
Potgieter, Andries B., Watson, James, Eldridge, Mark, Laws, Kenneth, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Hunt, Colleen, Borrell, Andrew, Mace, Emma, Chapman, Scott C., Jordan, David R. and Hammer, Graeme L. (2018). Determining crop growth dynamics in sorghum breeding trials through remote and proximal sensing technologies. 38th IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Valencia, Spain, Jul 22-27, 2018. NEW YORK: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8519296
2018
Conference Publication
Variation in Leaf Vein Density (LVD) in sorghum: leaf anatomy and C4 photosynthesis
Borrell, Andrew, Fraija, Juan, Wang, Rui, Hunt, Colleen, Mace, Emma, Jordan, David and George-Jaeggli, Barbara (2018). Variation in Leaf Vein Density (LVD) in sorghum: leaf anatomy and C4 photosynthesis. Variation in Leaf Vein Density (LVD) in sorghum: leaf anatomy and C4 photosynthesis, Redcliffe, QLD, Australia, 17-18 July 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
A novel phenotyping platform allows selection for cereal root traits
Richard, C., Hickey, L., Chenu, K., Christopher, M. J., Borrell, A. K. and Christopher, J. T. (2018). A novel phenotyping platform allows selection for cereal root traits. 4th International Society of Root Research Conference, Jerusalem, Israel, 8-12 July 2018.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Andrew Borrell is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Genetic control of stomatal conductance in sorghum and its effects on drought adaptation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Dr Alex Wu
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Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing natural genetic variation and genome engineering to optimise barley root systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Dr Karen Massel, Dr Peter Crisp, Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Hannah Robinson
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Manipulation of plant architecture genes in sorghum to manage drought adaptation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Dr Erik Van Oosterom
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into designer root systems for durum wheat improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Associate Professor Andries Potgieter, Dr Samir Alahmad, Professor Lee Hickey
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Building Blocks for Designer Ideotypes: Dissecting Plant Architecture Genes using CRISPR/Cas9
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Karen Massel, Professor Ian Godwin
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2023
Master Philosophy
Investigating the genetics and value of root traits to support yield in barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Dr Samir Alahmad, Professor Lee Hickey
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Hyperspectral sensing methods and genome-wide association studies to improve photosynthetic capacity in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Graeme Hammer, Dr Alex Wu, Associate Professor Andries Potgieter, Dr Barbara George-Jaeggli
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating root traits for drought adaptation in barley: an insight into the genetics influencing root system architecture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Professor Lee Hickey
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Breeding wheat for drought adaptation: Development of selection tools for root architectural traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Associate Professor Karine Chenu
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Andrew Borrell directly for media enquiries about:
- Climate-smart crops
- Discovering genes for drought adaptation in cereals
- Drought adaptation in crops
- Root architecture in crops
- Science and food security
- Stay-green trait
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