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
2022
Conference Publication
Maximising water-limited yield in cereals by balancing pre- and post-anthesis growth
Borrell, Andrew, Christopher, Jack, Kelly, Alison, Collins, Brian and Chenu, Karine (2022). Maximising water-limited yield in cereals by balancing pre- and post-anthesis growth. Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
2022
Conference Publication
A field-based technique for screening heat tolerance of wheat lines differing in maturity at matched developmental phases
Ullah, Najeeb, Christopher, Jack, Frederiks, Troy and Chenu, Karine (2022). A field-based technique for screening heat tolerance of wheat lines differing in maturity at matched developmental phases. Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
2022
Conference Publication
Paddock-scale yield estimation using fused PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 imagery and crop modelling
Sadeh, Yuval, Zhu, Xuan, Dunkerley, David, Walker, Jeffrey P., Chen, Yang and Chenu, Karine (2022). Paddock-scale yield estimation using fused PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 imagery and crop modelling. Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
2022
Conference Publication
Late, deep root development varies between wheat cultivars subjected to terminal water stress
Shazadi, K., Chenu, K. and Christopher, J.T. (2022). Late, deep root development varies between wheat cultivars subjected to terminal water stress. Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
2022
Conference Publication
From lab to field: a major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Aldiss, Z., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Potgieter, A.B., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). From lab to field: a major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat. International Wheat Congress, Beijing, China, 11-15 September 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Characterizing genetic variation in wheat root architecture late in crop development to improve yield and yield stability under drought
Shazadi, K., Christopher, J. T. and Chenu, K. (2022). Characterizing genetic variation in wheat root architecture late in crop development to improve yield and yield stability under drought. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Adapting wheat to heat and drought in current and future climates
Chenu, Karine, Collins, Brian, Ullah, Najeeb and Christopher, Jack (2022). Adapting wheat to heat and drought in current and future climates. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
A major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Aldiss, Z., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Potgieter, A.B., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). A major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Exploring root-shoot dynamics to enhance yield potential and stability of future wheat cultivars
Alahmad, S., Kang, Y., Rambla, C., Meer, S.V., Smith, M., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Smith, D., Chapman, S., Watt, M., Ober, E., Potgieter, A.B., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). Exploring root-shoot dynamics to enhance yield potential and stability of future wheat cultivars. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments
Chenu, Karine (2022). Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments. International Association for Cereal Science and Technology Conference, Vienna, Austria, 5-7 July 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Unsupervised plot-scale LAI phenotyping via UAV-based imaging, modelling, and machine learning
Chen, Qiaomin, Zheng, Bangyou, Chenu, Karine, Hu, Pengcheng and Chapman, Scott C. (2022). Unsupervised plot-scale LAI phenotyping via UAV-based imaging, modelling, and machine learning. Plant Phenomics, 2022 9768253, 1-19. doi: 10.34133/2022/9768253
2022
Journal Article
Editorial: Enviromics in Plant Breeding
Resende, Rafael Tassinari, Chenu, Karine, Rasmussen, Soren K., Heinemann, Alexandre Bryan and Fritsche-Neto, Roberto (2022). Editorial: Enviromics in Plant Breeding. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13 935380, 935380. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.935380
2022
Conference Publication
Wheat growing risks according to phenological sensitivities to climate change
Launay, M., Le Roux, R., Durand, A., Bancal, M.-O., Chenu, K., Deswarte, J.-C., de Noblet-Ducoudré, N. and Garcia de Cortazar-Atauri, I. (2022). Wheat growing risks according to phenological sensitivities to climate change. Phenology, Avignon, France, 20-24 June 2022.
2022
Journal Article
The concepts of seed germination rate and germinability: a re-evaluation for cool-season grasses
Ghaleb, Wagdi, Ahmed, Lina Q., Wagner, Marie-Hélène, Eprinchard-Ciesla, Annie, Olivares-Rodríguez, Wendy E., Perrot, Cédric, Chenu, Karine, Norton, Mark and Escobar-Gutiérrez, Abraham J. (2022). The concepts of seed germination rate and germinability: a re-evaluation for cool-season grasses. Agronomy, 12 (6) 1291, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12061291
2022
Conference Publication
Wheat Yield Estimation - from The Pixel to A Regional-Level
Sadeh, Y., Zhu, X., Dunkerley, D., Walker, J.P. and Chenu, K. (2022). Wheat Yield Estimation - from The Pixel to A Regional-Level. The European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium, Bonn, Germany, 23-27 May 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Characterizing genetic variation in wheat root architecture late in crop development to improve yield and yield stability under terminal water stress
Shazadi, K., Chenu, K. and Christopher, J. (2022). Characterizing genetic variation in wheat root architecture late in crop development to improve yield and yield stability under terminal water stress. Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 9-12 May 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
A robust field-based technique to screen heat tolerance across wheat lines differing in maturity
Ullah, N., Christopher, J., Frederiks, T. and Chenu, K. (2022). A robust field-based technique to screen heat tolerance across wheat lines differing in maturity. Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 9-12 May 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Adapting wheat to heat and drought in current and future climates
Chenu, K., Collins, B., Zheng, B. and Chapman, S. (2022). Adapting wheat to heat and drought in current and future climates. Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 9-12 May 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments – How to produce more crops per drops?
Chenu, K., Fletcher, A., Collins, B., Kelly, A. and Christopher, J. (2022). Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments – How to produce more crops per drops?. Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 9-12 May 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Digging deeper to improve yield stability: harnessing roots using new breeding technologies
Hickey, L., Voss-Fels, K., Chenu, K., Smith, M., Hayes, B., Godwin, I., Djordjevic, M., Rattey, A., Godoy, J. and Robinson, H. (2022). Digging deeper to improve yield stability: harnessing roots using new breeding technologies. Australian Barley Technical Symposium, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 22-25 August 2022.
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
Root plasticity: A new avenue to breed for drought tolerant wheat varieties
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Vijaya Singh, Dr Raul Gimenez
-
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
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
-
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
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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