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
1998
Journal Article
Improving management of rice in semi-arid eastern Indonesia: responses to irrigation, plant type and nitrogen
Borrell, A. K., Kelly, R. M. and Van Cooten, D. E. (1998). Improving management of rice in semi-arid eastern Indonesia: responses to irrigation, plant type and nitrogen. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 38 (3), 261-271.
1998
Journal Article
Season, nitrogen rate and plant type affect nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency in rice
Borrell, A. K., Garside, A. L., Fukai, S. and Reid, D. J. (1998). Season, nitrogen rate and plant type affect nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency in rice. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 49 (5), 829-843. doi: 10.1071/A97057
1997
Journal Article
Season and plant type affect the response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilisation in a semi-arid tropical environment
Borrell, A. K., Garside, A. L., Fukai, S. and Reid, D. J. (1997). Season and plant type affect the response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilisation in a semi-arid tropical environment. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 49 (2), 179-190. doi: 10.1071/A97056
1997
Journal Article
Research on drought resistance in grain sorghum in Australia
Henzell, R. G., Hammer, G. L., Borrell, A. K., McIntyre, C. L. and Chapman, S. C. (1997). Research on drought resistance in grain sorghum in Australia. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter, 38, 1-9.
1997
Journal Article
Improving efficiency of water use for irrigated rice in a semi-arid tropical environment
Borrell, A. K., Garside, A. L. and Fukai, S. (1997). Improving efficiency of water use for irrigated rice in a semi-arid tropical environment. Field Crops Research, 52 (3), 231-248. doi: 10.1016/S0378-4290(97)00033-6
1997
Journal Article
Maintaining green leaf area in grain sorghum increases nitrogen uptake under post-anthesis drought
Borrell, A. K. and Douglas, A. C. L. (1997). Maintaining green leaf area in grain sorghum increases nitrogen uptake under post-anthesis drought. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter, 38, 89-92.
1995
Journal Article
A review of crop science in Australia
Borrell, A. K. (1995). A review of crop science in Australia. Agricultural Science, 8 (6), 29-33.
1995
Journal Article
AIAS delegate meets with Asian countries
Borrell, A. K. (1995). AIAS delegate meets with Asian countries. Agricultural Science, 8 (6), 27-28.
1994
Other Outputs
Improving efficiencies of nitrogen and water use for rice in semi-arid tropical Australia
Borrell, Andrew Kenneth (1994). Improving efficiencies of nitrogen and water use for rice in semi-arid tropical Australia. PhD Thesis, School of Land, Crop and Food Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/f438ef9
1993
Journal Article
The influence of the Rht1 and Rht2 alleles on the deposition and use of stem reserves in wheat
Borrell, Andrew K., Incoll, L. D. and Dalling, Michael J. (1993). The influence of the Rht1 and Rht2 alleles on the deposition and use of stem reserves in wheat. Annals of Botany, 71 (4), 317-326. doi: 10.1006/anbo.1993.1041
1991
Journal Article
Alternative methods of irrigation for rice production in tropical Australia
Borrell, A. K., Fukai, S. and Garside, A.L. (1991). Alternative methods of irrigation for rice production in tropical Australia. International Rice Research Newsletter, 16 (3), 28-28.
1991
Journal Article
The influence of the Rht1 and Rht2 alleles on the growth of wheat stems and ears
Borrell, Andrew K., Incoll, L. D. and Dalling, Michael J. (1991). The influence of the Rht1 and Rht2 alleles on the growth of wheat stems and ears. Annals of Botany, 67 (2), 103-110. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a088108
1989
Journal Article
Partitioning of dry matter and the deposition and use of stem reserves in a semi-dwarf wheat crop
Borrell, Andrew K., Incoll, L.D., Simpson, Richard J. and Dalling, Michael J. (1989). Partitioning of dry matter and the deposition and use of stem reserves in a semi-dwarf wheat crop. Annals of Botany, 63 (5), 527-539. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a087778
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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