Associate Professor Craig Hardner
Associate Professor

Craig Hardner

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+61 7 334 69465

Background

Associate Professor Craig Hardner holds a bachelor in Forest Science awarded by the University of Melbourne, and BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Tasmania. Prior to his PhD, A/Prof Hardner worked as a Research Fellow at Swedish Agricultural University 1988-1990 supporting willow breeding for energy production. Between 1996-2007, A/Prof Hardner lead the CSIRO macadamia breeding program. A/Prof Hardner joined the University of Queensland in 2007 and commenced a joint appointment with Queensland Government as a research fellow in horticulture breeding and genetics. He has an extensive collaboration network in horticulture breeding and conservation including domestic and international organisations and Universities.

A/Prof Hardner was lead author on a 128 page review of macadamia genetics and domestication published in 2009 and is curator of macadamia cultivar descriptions for HortScience. He was awarded a Churchill fellowship in 2012 to travel to Hawaii to trace the domestication pathway of macadamia.

Availability

Associate Professor Craig Hardner is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Forestry sciences Horticultural production

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Tasmania
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania

Research interests

  • Quantitative genetics

    I am a world leader in development and application of mixed model methods for prediction of genetic value in forestry, macadamia, sugar cane, mango, and apple. In particular, I am interested in use of multi-variate approaches to model complex experimental designs including multiple locations, repeated measures, and spatial variation, and genetics including individual, parental, non-additive variation and polyploidy. I am also developing approaches for using genomic relationship matrices to leverage historical breeding and variety testing data to expand knowledge of GxE in horticultural crops.

  • Conservation genetics of macadamia

    Macadamia is an iconic Australian genus, being the only international crop domesticated from Australian flora. My research in this area uses sequencing and molecular markers to improve understanding of structure of remnant wild populations and trace the domestication history of the major sources of germplasm utilised for commercial production. This research also investigates opportunities available for breeding from utilisation of the remnant wild resources. I published a 128 pages seminal review of macadamia genetics and domestication in 2009.

  • Tree breeding

    I have major research activity in the quantitative genetics and breeding of perennial crops. I have an extensive background in genetic improvement of eucalypt and macadamia crops.I bred and selected new macadamia cultivars targeted specifically to Australian industry that will be released in 2017, and continue as a co-principal investigator on the current breeding program with responsibility for genetic analyses, evaluation of alternative breeding strategies and estimation of economic weights for selection.

Research impacts

MACADAMIA

Dr Hardner is responsible for developing new macadamia cultivars selected specifically for Australian production systems, promising a 30% increase in productivity. He also leads research on tracing the domestication of macadamia and identifying the wild origin of domesticated cultivars to further improve knowledge of the cultural history of the plant. He initiated, and is a member, of the Macadamia Conservation Committee which brings together Australian industry, university researchers, government officers, and NGOs to develop and support strategies for conservation of macadamia in the wild.

IMPROVED SELECTION METHODS

Dr Hardner has developed statistical approaches, and software for implementation, to improve prediction of genetic value of selection candidates in sugar cane, apple and eucalypts. His research on analysis of alternative breeding strategies has contributed to more efficient breeding strategies for macadamia, apple, eucalypts and strawberry.

ADAPTATION IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Dr Hardner is working with international researchers to use genomic approaches to combine historical data collected previously on varieties planted in different locations to improve understanding of the GxE to underpin improved production efficiency through better matching of genotype and production environment. This work will also be used to improve adaption strategies under the effects of climate change.

Search Professor Craig Hardner’s works on UQ eSpace

104 works between 2000 and 2024
All (104) Journal Article (55) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (45) Other Outputs (1)

101 - 104 of 104 works

2001

Conference Publication

Assessment protocols for selection and management in Macadamia

Levitt, C. W., Hardner, C., Stephenson, R., Mathews, K. L. and Basford, K. E. (2001). Assessment protocols for selection and management in Macadamia. AMS 2001 Conference and Annual General Meeting, Tweed Heads, NSW, 25-27 October, 2001. Lismore, NSW: Australian Macadamia Society Limited.

Assessment protocols for selection and management in Macadamia

2001

Conference Publication

The diversity and origins of macadamia cultivars

Peace, C. P., Hardner, C., Brown, A. H. D., O'Connor, K., Vithanage, V., Turnbull, C. and Carroll, B. J. (2001). The diversity and origins of macadamia cultivars. AMS 2001 Conference and Annual General Meeting, Tweed Heads, NSW, 25-27 October, 2001. Australian Macadamia Society Limited.

The diversity and origins of macadamia cultivars

2001

Conference Publication

Quality and kernel composition - influences and interactions

Bradley, D., Hardner, C., Mathews, K. L., Mason, R. L. and Basford, K. E. (2001). Quality and kernel composition - influences and interactions. 2001 AMS Conference and Annual General Meeting, Tweed Heads, NSW, 25-27 October, 2001. Lismore, NSW: Australian Macadamia Society Limited.

Quality and kernel composition - influences and interactions

2000

Conference Publication

Resolving hybrid status in Macadamia

Peace, C., Hardner, C., Vithanage, V., Carroll, B. J. and Turnbull, C. G. (2000). Resolving hybrid status in Macadamia. QFRI/CRC-SPF Symposium, Noosa, QLD Australia, 9-14 April 2000. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Department of Primary Industries.

Resolving hybrid status in Macadamia

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2028
    National Passionfruit Breeding and Evaluation Program
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences (HIA project administered by DAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    National Macadamia Breeding and Evaluation Program
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2018 - 2020
    Using photothermal quotient to understand yield variation and the mechanisms of nut abscission in Macadamia
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    National Tree Genomics Program - Phenotype Prediction
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    National Strawberry Varietal improvement Program (Project BS17000) [led by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries]
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    2017 International Macadamia Research Symposium
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    After RosBREED: Developing and deploying new apple DNA tests
    Apple Horticultural and Post-Harvest Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Macadamia breeding and conservation - second generation
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    RosBREED: Combining disease resistance with horticultural quality in new rosaceous cultivars (USDA project led by WSU)
    Washington State University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2020
    Transforming subtropical/tropical tree crop productivity
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Verifying the wild origins of domesticated Hawaiian cultivars (HAL project administered by AMS)
    Australian Macadamia Society Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Seed Genetic Anlaysis and Comparison for Postitive Biofuel Traits
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Genetic structure of wild macadamia populations and origins of domesticated germplasm
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Quantitative Geneticist - UQ/QDPI&F joint appointment
    QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Craig Hardner is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Improved breeding methods for horticultural tree crops

    There are a number of areas that can be explored with in this research rea including: (i) use of mixed models to improve prediction accuracy of genetic potential, (ii) modelling of alternative breeding strategies, including understanding the efficiency of current observational based approaches, (iii) economic impact of breeding methods

  • Leveraging historical international data to better understand adaptation patterns in horticultural tree crops

    This study is part of a large international collaboration that I lead. The approach is to examine the success of using genomic data to combine existing data previously collected by field evaluation programs to improve understanding of genotype and environment matching and improve strategies for dealing with the impact of climate change. crops include apple, peach, strawberry, cherry, macadamia and possibly mango.

  • Structure and origin of domesticated macadamia germplasm

    This study will undertake historical research and use molecular approaches to better understand the different sources of macadamia germplasm introduced into Hawaii, California and South Africa during the 20th century and how that contributes to the currently utilised commercial cultivars.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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