Overview
Background
Karine Chenu is a Professor at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, and Director of the ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon. She is an internationally recognised expert in ecophysiology and crop modelling, with a strong focus on improving plant adaptation to climate change and enhancing their potential to produce sustainable bioproducts.
Her research integrates physiology, genetics, and modelling to advance crop design and breeding strategies. This includes uncovering the physiological and genetic basis of key adaptive traits, developing gene-to-phenotype modelling approaches, and exploring innovative combinations of genotypes, environments, and management practices to enhance productivity under changing climates.
Professor Chenu works closely with a wide network of plant breeders, geneticists, biochemists, modellers, and agronomists across national and international collaborations in both public and private sectors. She also represents UQ on the APSIM Initiative Reference Panel, contributing to the ongoing development of the globally adopted APSIM crop modelling platform.
Availability
- Professor Karine Chenu is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, Montpellier 2 University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Montpellier 2 University
Works
Search Professor Karine Chenu’s works on UQ eSpace
2014
Conference Publication
High-throughput phenotyping for seminal root angle in wheat in a breeding context
Richard, C., Hickey, L., Chenu, K. and Christopher, J. (2014). High-throughput phenotyping for seminal root angle in wheat in a breeding context. 15th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, St Kilda, VIC, Australia, 26-29 October 2014.
2013
Conference Publication
Stay-green traits in wheat are linked to yield in well-watered environments
Christopher, Jack, Chenu, Karine, Veyradier, Mathieu, Christopher, Mandy, Jennings, Raeleen, Harvey, Greg, Fletcher, Susan and Borrell, Andrew (2013). Stay-green traits in wheat are linked to yield in well-watered environments. WBA2013: Wheat Breeders Assembly 2013, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 16-19 July, 2013. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Wheat Breeding Society Of Australia.
2013
Conference Publication
Quantifying the potential yield benefit of root traits in a target population of environments
Veyradier, Mathieu, Christopher, John (Jack) T. and Chenu, Karine (2013). Quantifying the potential yield benefit of root traits in a target population of environments. 7th International Conference on Functional-Structural Plant Models, Saariselkä, Finland, 9-14 June 2013. Helsinki, Finland: MELTA.
2013
Conference Publication
Fine-mapping candidates for 'stay-green' in sorghum reveals genes associated with canopy development and root growth
Borrell, A. K., Christopher, J. T., Veyradier, M., Harvey, G., Fletcher, S., Christopher, M., Jennings, R., Hammer, G. L. and Chenu, K. (2013). Fine-mapping candidates for 'stay-green' in sorghum reveals genes associated with canopy development and root growth. ID4: InterDrought-IV Conference 2013. The 4th International Conference on Integrated Approaches to Improve Crop Production under Drought-Prone Environments, Burswood, WA, Australia, 2-6 September, 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
StressMaster: a web application for dynamic modelling of the environment to assist in crop improvement for drought adaptation
Chenu, Karine, Doherty, Al, Rebetzke, Greg J. and Chapman, Scott C. (2013). StressMaster: a web application for dynamic modelling of the environment to assist in crop improvement for drought adaptation. 7th International Conference on Functional-Structural Plant Models, Saariselkä, Finland, 9-14 June, 2013. Helsinki, Finland: MELTA.
2012
Journal Article
Breeding for the future: what are the potential impacts of future frost and heat events on sowing and flowering time requirements for Australian bread wheat (Triticum aestivium) varieties?
Zheng, Bangyou, Chenu, Karine, Dreccer, M. Fernanda and Chapman, Scott C. (2012). Breeding for the future: what are the potential impacts of future frost and heat events on sowing and flowering time requirements for Australian bread wheat (Triticum aestivium) varieties?. Global Change Biology, 18 (9), 2899-2914. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02724.x
2012
Conference Publication
Modelling crop physiology and genetics to simulate Genotype x Management x Environment (GxMxE) interactions
Chenu, Karine, Hammer, Graeme, van Oosterom, Erik, Christopher, Jack, McLean, Greg, Doherty, Al and Chapman, Scott (2012). Modelling crop physiology and genetics to simulate Genotype x Management x Environment (GxMxE) interactions. APSIM Users and Developers Forum, Canberra, Australia, 14 March 2012.
2012
Journal Article
Water and thermal regimes for field pea in Australia and their implications for breeding
Sadras, V.O., Lake, L., Chenu, K., McMurray, L.S. and Leonforte, A. (2012). Water and thermal regimes for field pea in Australia and their implications for breeding. Crop and Pasture Science, 63 (1), 33-44. doi: 10.1071/CP11321
2012
Journal Article
Protocols for experimental plot sampling, handling and processing of cereal experiments: standardised methods for use in large agronomic, physiological and genetic field studies
Rebetzke, G., van Herwaarden, A., Chenu, K., Moeller, C., Biddulph, B., Richards, R. and Rattey, A. (2012). Protocols for experimental plot sampling, handling and processing of cereal experiments: standardised methods for use in large agronomic, physiological and genetic field studies. Prometheus Wiki.
2012
Conference Publication
Modelling genotype and environment effects to aid crop improvement
Chenu, Karine, Hammer, Graeme and Chapman, Scott (2012). Modelling genotype and environment effects to aid crop improvement. 6th International Crop Science Congress (ICSC), 6-12 August 2012, Bento Goncalves, Brazil.
2012
Conference Publication
Drought experienced by Australian wheat: current and future trends
Chenu, Karine and Chapman, Scott (2012). Drought experienced by Australian wheat: current and future trends. 16th Australian Agronomy Conference, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 14-18 October 2012. Armidale, NSW, Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
2012
Conference Publication
Grain number and the response to increasing temperatures in wheat
Chenu, Karine, Chapman, Scott, Wockner, Kimberly, Liu, Wenjie, Miralles, Daniel and Dreccer, M. (2012). Grain number and the response to increasing temperatures in wheat. ASA, CSSA and SSSA Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, United States, 21-24 October 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Large-scale characterization of drought pattern: current and future trends in the Australian wheatbelt
Chenu, K. and Chapman, S. C. (2012). Large-scale characterization of drought pattern: current and future trends in the Australian wheatbelt. 6th International Crop Science Congress (ICSC), Bento Goncalves, Brazil, 6-12 August 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
How high temperature affects wheat growth and development
Chenu, K., Oudin, F., Chapman, S. C., Dreccer, M. F. and Hammer, G. L. (2012). How high temperature affects wheat growth and development. 6th International Crop Science Congress (ICSC), Bento Goncalves, Brazil, 6-12 August 2012.
2011
Conference Publication
New lysimeter platforms to phenotype daily transpiration over the crop cycle in contrasting wheat lines
Chenu, K., Christopher, J. T., McLean, G., Payero, J. O. and Hammer, G. L. (2011). New lysimeter platforms to phenotype daily transpiration over the crop cycle in contrasting wheat lines. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Perth, Australia, 24-26 August 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Characterisation of drought patterns across the Australian Wheat Belt
Chenu, K., Deihimfard, R., Hammer, G. L., Doherty, A. and Chapman, S. C. (2011). Characterisation of drought patterns across the Australian Wheat Belt. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Perth, Australia, 24-26 August 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Adapting wheat germplasm for elevated CO2 and higher temperatures – environment characterisation, trait screening and crop modelling
Chapman, S.C., Dreccer, M.F., Palta-Paz, J., Bourgault, M., Wockner, K., Zheng, B., Kearns, R., Dias De Oliveria, E. and Chenu, K. (2011). Adapting wheat germplasm for elevated CO2 and higher temperatures – environment characterisation, trait screening and crop modelling. ComBiom2011, Cairns, Australia, 25-29 September.
2011
Conference Publication
Wheat response to increasing temperatures: The role of genetic variability
Wockner, K. B., Chenu, K., Oudin, F., Chapman, S. C. and Dreccer, M. F. (2011). Wheat response to increasing temperatures: The role of genetic variability. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Perth, Australia, 24-26 August 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Frost and heat limits to the wheat flowering ‘window’ in present and future climates
Zheng, B., Chenu, K., Dreccer, M. F. and Chapman, S. C. (2011). Frost and heat limits to the wheat flowering ‘window’ in present and future climates. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Perth, Australia, 24-26 August 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Revealing the yield impacts of organ-level quantitative trait loci associated with drought response in maize – a gene-to phenotype modelling approach
Chenu, Karine, Chapman, Scott, Tardieu, Francois, McLean, Greg, Welcker, Claude and Hammer, Graeme L. (2011). Revealing the yield impacts of organ-level quantitative trait loci associated with drought response in maize – a gene-to phenotype modelling approach. XVIII International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 23-30 July 2011.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karine Chenu is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Physiological traits and environmental characterisation to improve yield stability in barley
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Millicent Smith, Dr Alan Severini
-
Doctor Philosophy
Root plasticity: A new avenue to breed for drought tolerant wheat varieties
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Vijaya Singh, Dr Raul Gimenez
-
Doctor Philosophy
Drought tolerance in sorghum: the roots of the solution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Rodriguez, Dr Dongxue Zhao
-
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting better parents to accelerate genetic gain in wheat breeding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Eric Dinglasan, Professor Ben Hayes, Dr Alison Kelly
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating root-shoot dynamics to improve water-use efficiency of barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alex Wu, Dr Hannah Robinson, Dr Millicent Smith, Dr Dongxue Zhao, Professor Lee Hickey
-
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-omics prediction to increase chickpea yield potential
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Shanice Van Haeften, Dr Millicent Smith
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of post-flowering heat stress on yield components, grain protein and contribution of carbon assimilation in wheat
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Characterizing genotypic variation in wheat root architecture late in crop development to improve yield and yield stability under water stress
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Genetic and Physiological Basis of Transpiration Efficiency in Australian Wheat
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
In-season phenotyping of crop growth via the integration of imaging, modelling, and machine learning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating envirotyping methodology to evaluate contributions of stay-green traits to wheat yield in Australian environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Cooper, Professor Ben Hayes, Honorary Professor Kai Voss-Fels, Professor Lee Hickey
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Breeding wheat for drought adaptation: Development of selection tools for root architectural traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey
Media
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