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
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.
2018
Conference Publication
Trial results - Tactical agronomy for sorghum and maize and agronomy for high yielding sorghum and wheat in the northern region
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Potgieter, Andries, James, Watson, Chapman, Scott, Zheng, Bangyou, Eldridge, Mark, Laws, Kenneth, Mace, Emma, Hunt, Colleen, Hathorn, Adrian, Borrell, Andrew, Hammer, Graeme and Jordan, David (2018). Trial results - Tactical agronomy for sorghum and maize and agronomy for high yielding sorghum and wheat in the northern region. 2nd Asia-Pacific Plant Phenotyping Conference, Nanjing, China, 23- 25 March 2018.
2017
Journal Article
QTL for stay-green traits in wheat in well-watered and water-limited environments
Christopher, Mandy, Chenu, Karine, Jennings, Raeleen, Fletcher, Susan, Butler, David, Borrell, Andrew and Christopher, Jack (2017). QTL for stay-green traits in wheat in well-watered and water-limited environments. Field Crops Research, 217, 32-44. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2017.11.003
Featured
2017
Journal Article
VERNALIZATION1 modulates root system architecture in wheat and barley
Voss-Fels, Kai P., Robinson, Hannah, Mudge, Stephen R., Richard, Cecile, Newman, Saul, Wittkop, Benjamin, Stahl, Andreas, Friedt, Wolfgang, Frisch, Matthias, Gabur, Iulian, Miller-Cooper, Anika, Campbell, Bradley C., Kelly, Alison, Fox, Glen, Christopher, Jack, Christopher, Mandy, Chenu, Karine, Franckowiak, Jerome, Mace, Emma S., Borrell, Andrew K., Eagles, Howard, Jordan, David R., Botella, Jose R., Hammer, Graeme, Godwin, Ian D., Trevaskis, Ben, Snowdon, Rod J. and Hickey, Lee T. (2017). VERNALIZATION1 modulates root system architecture in wheat and barley. Molecular Plant, 11 (1), 226-229. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.10.005
2017
Journal Article
Bigger is not always better: reducing leaf area helps stay-green sorghum use soil water more slowly
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Mortlock, Miranda Yolanda and Borrell, Andrew Kenneth (2017). Bigger is not always better: reducing leaf area helps stay-green sorghum use soil water more slowly. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 138, 119-129. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2017.03.002
2017
Journal Article
Integrating islands of knowledge for greater synergy and efficiency in crop research
Borrell, Andrew and Reynolds, Matthew (2017). Integrating islands of knowledge for greater synergy and efficiency in crop research. Food and Energy Security, 6 (1), 26-32. doi: 10.1002/fes3.107
2017
Conference Publication
Speeding genetic progress for wheat adaptation to water-limited environments by integrating novel phenotyping for stay-green and root traits, crop modelling and nested association mapping populations
Christopher, J. T., Richard, C., Christopher, M. J., Borrell, A. K., Hickey, L. and Chenu, K. (2017). Speeding genetic progress for wheat adaptation to water-limited environments by integrating novel phenotyping for stay-green and root traits, crop modelling and nested association mapping populations. TropAg2017, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 20-22 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
High-throughput phenotyping and genotyping of variation in photosynthesis traits for increased crop yields
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Potgieter, Andries, Chapman, Scott, Laws, Kenneth, Watson, James, Eldridge, Mark, van Oosterom, Erik, Geetika, Geetika, Mace, Emma, Hathorn, Adrian, Hunt, Collen, Borrell, Andrew, von Caemmerer, Susanne, Hammer, Graeme and Jordan, David (2017). High-throughput phenotyping and genotyping of variation in photosynthesis traits for increased crop yields. Chloroplast Metabolism and Photosynthesis Symposium, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 26-28 July 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Increasing genetic progress for wheat adaptation to water-limited environments by integrating novel phenotyping for stay-green and root traits, crop modelling and nested association mapping populations
Christopher, J. T., Richard, C., Veyradier, M., Christopher, M., Borrell, A. K., Hickey, L. and Chenu, K. (2017). Increasing genetic progress for wheat adaptation to water-limited environments by integrating novel phenotyping for stay-green and root traits, crop modelling and nested association mapping populations. Interdrought-V, Hyderabad, India, 21-25 February 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Field phenotyping for photosynthetic traits in sorghum
George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Potgieter, Andries, Chapman, Scott, Watson, James, Eldridge, Mark, Laws, Ken, George, Peter, Borrell, Andrew, Hammer, Graeme and Jordan, David (2017). Field phenotyping for photosynthetic traits in sorghum. TropAg2017, Convention and exhibition centre, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 20-22 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Adapting cereals to drought: genetic and management solutions
Borrell, A. K., George-Jaeggli, B., van Oosterom, E. J., Mace, E. S., Jordan, D. R., Kassahun, B., Matiwos, T., Vadez, V., Talwar, H., Christopher, J. T., Chenu, K., Richard, C., Robinson, H., Hickey, L., Nagothu, S. U. and Hammer, G. L. (2017). Adapting cereals to drought: genetic and management solutions. TropAg2017, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 20-22 November 2017. Trop Ag.
2016
Journal Article
Effect of organic, inorganic and slow-release urea fertilisers on CH4 and N2O emissions from rice paddy fields
Trinh, Mai Van, Tesfai, Mehreteab, Borrell, Andrew, Nagothu, Udaya Sekhar, Bui, Thi Phuong Loan, Quynh, Vu Duong and Thanh, Le Quoc (2016). Effect of organic, inorganic and slow-release urea fertilisers on CH4 and N2O emissions from rice paddy fields. Paddy and Water Environment, 15 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10333-016-0551-1
2016
Journal Article
Stay-green traits to improve wheat adaptation in well-watered and water-limited environments
Christopher, John T., Christopher, Mandy J. , Borrell, Andrew K. , Fletcher, Susan and Chenu, Karine (2016). Stay-green traits to improve wheat adaptation in well-watered and water-limited environments. Journal of Experimental Botany, 67 (17), 5159-5172. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erw276
2016
Journal Article
Genetic diversity of stay-green sorghums and their derivatives revealed by microsatellites
Galyuon, Isaac K. A., Madhusudhana, R., Borrell, Andrew K., Hash, Tom C. and Howarth, Catherine J. (2016). Genetic diversity of stay-green sorghums and their derivatives revealed by microsatellites. African Journal of Biotechnology, 15 (25), 1363-1374. doi: 10.5897/AJB2015.15074
2016
Journal Article
Genomic regions influencing seminal root traits in barley
Robinson, Hannah, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Mace, Emma, Kelly, Alison, Borrell, Andrew, Franckowiak, Jerome and Fox, Glen (2016). Genomic regions influencing seminal root traits in barley. The Plant Genome, 9 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2015.03.0012
2016
Conference Publication
Stay-green enhances lodging resistance under terminal water deficit in sorghum
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Cruickshank, Alan and Jordan, David (2016). Stay-green enhances lodging resistance under terminal water deficit in sorghum. Australian Summer Grains Conference, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, 7- 9 March 2016.
2016
Book Chapter
Molecular breeding for complex adaptive traits: how integrating crop ecophysiology and modelling can enhance efficiency
Hammer, Graeme, Messina, Charlie, van Oosterom, Erik, Chapman, Scott, Singh, Vijaya, Borrell, Andrew, Jordan, David and Cooper, Mark (2016). Molecular breeding for complex adaptive traits: how integrating crop ecophysiology and modelling can enhance efficiency. Crop systems biology: narrowing the gaps between crop modelling and genetics. (pp. 147-162) edited by Xinyou Yin and Paul C. Struik. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-20562-5_7
2016
Conference Publication
Integrating crop physiology and modelling with genetic improvement
Hammer, G., Chapman, S., Van Oosterom, E., Borrell, A., McLean, G. and Jordan, D. (2016). Integrating crop physiology and modelling with genetic improvement. International Crop Modelling Symposium, Berlin, Germany, 15-17 March 2016.
2016
Book Chapter
System of rice intensification: climate-smart rice cultivation system to mitigate climate change impacts in India
Geethalakshmi, V., Mehreteab, Tesfai, Lakshmanan, A., Borrell, Andrew, Nagothu, Udaya Sekhar, Arasu, Meenakshi Sundara, Senthilraja, K., Manikandan, N. and Sumathi, S. (2016). System of rice intensification: climate-smart rice cultivation system to mitigate climate change impacts in India. Climate change and agricultural development: improving resilience through climate smart agriculture, agroecology and conservation. (pp. 232-258) edited by Udaya Sekhar Nagothu. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315685953-19
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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