Overview
Background
Professor Mark Cooper is Chair of Prediction Based Crop Improvement at The University of Queensland, and a global leader in quantitative genetics and plant breeding. His work involves integrating genomic prediction and crop growth models into an ‘end to end’ framework for crop improvement.
Professor Cooper has pioneered the development of novel genetic modelling methodologies, based on gene networks, to study important properties of quantitative traits in biology, and demonstrated how this new genetic modelling framework can be successfully used in plant breeding to improve prediction of important traits under the influences of selection. Professor Cooper’s work at DuPont Pioneer on drought adaptation in one of the largest maize breeding programs in the world led to the AQUAmax hybrids that presently cover millions of hectares worldwide.
A quantitative geneticist by training, Professor Cooper spent 20 years working with industry in the United States and as CEO of his own consultancy firm Zenrun42, before returning to UQ to build upon the critical mass of predictive agricultural expertise in QAAFI and the wider university.
Availability
- Professor Mark Cooper is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Agriculture, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate in Education, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Mark Cooper’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Conference Publication
Utilising prior knowledge to improve breeding
Powell, Owen, Barbier, Francois, Voss-Fels, Kai, Beveridge, Christine and Cooper, Mark (2022). Utilising prior knowledge to improve breeding. GxExM Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 3-4 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Transferring prediction models: from model organisms to crops
Powell, Owen, Barbier, Francois, Fichtner, Franziska, Sukumaran, Sivakumar, McLean, Greg, Brider, Jason, Technow, Frank, Tang, Tom, Messina, Carlos D., Jordan, David, Hammer, Graeme, Beveridge, Christine and Cooper, Mark (2022). Transferring prediction models: from model organisms to crops. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Other Outputs
Methods for evaluating effects of transgenes for quantitative traits
Linares, Julien F., Coles, Nathan D., Mo, Hua, Habben, Jeffrey E., Humbert, Sabrina, Messina, Carlos, Tang, Tom, Cooper, Mark, Gho, Carla, Carrasco, Ricardo, Carter, Javier, Wicher Flounders, Jillian and Brummer, E. Charles (2022). Methods for evaluating effects of transgenes for quantitative traits. doi: 10.1101/2022.10.22.513367
2022
Other Outputs
Transgene by Germplasm Interactions Can Impact Transgene Evaluation
Linares, Julien F., Coles, Nathan D., Mo, Hua, Habben, Jeff E., Humbert, Sabrina, Messina, Carlos, Tang, Tom, Cooper, Mark, Gho, Carla, Carrasco, Ricardo, Carter, Javier, Wicher Flounders, Jillian and Brummer, E. Charles (2022). Transgene by Germplasm Interactions Can Impact Transgene Evaluation. doi: 10.1101/2022.10.22.513364
2022
Other Outputs
Plant Breeding in the face of climate change
Messina, Carlos D. and Cooper, Mark (2022). Plant Breeding in the face of climate change. doi: 10.1101/2022.10.07.511293
2022
Conference Publication
Prior knowledge-driven branching phenotype prediction for shoot architecture improvement
Wijerathna-Yapa, A., Fortuna, N., Cooper, M. and Beveridge, C. A. (2022). Prior knowledge-driven branching phenotype prediction for shoot architecture improvement. ComBio 2022, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCE), 27-30 September 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Increasing Predictive Ability for Crop Improvement: Linking Crop Growth Models with Whole Genome Prediction
Powell, Owen, McLean, Greg, Brider, Jason, Technow, Frank, Sukumaran, Sivakumar, Jordan, David, Hammer, Graeme and Cooper, Mark (2022). Increasing Predictive Ability for Crop Improvement: Linking Crop Growth Models with Whole Genome Prediction. AuSoRGM, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-19 August 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Global wheat production could benefit from closing the genetic yield gap
Senapati, Nimai, Semenov, Mikhail A., Halford, Nigel G., Hawkesford, Malcolm J., Asseng, Senthold, Cooper, Mark, Ewert, Frank, van Ittersum, Martin K., Martre, Pierre, Olesen, Jørgen E., Reynolds, Matthew, Rötter, Reimund P. and Webber, Heidi (2022). Global wheat production could benefit from closing the genetic yield gap. Nature Food, 3 (7), 532-541. doi: 10.1038/s43016-022-00540-9
2022
Conference Publication
Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Fortuna, Nicole, Dun, Elizabeth, Lawson, Brodie, Cooper, Mark and Beveridge, Christine A. (2022). Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture Research Retreat, Hobart, TAS Australia, 30 May - 1 June 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Radiation use efficiency increased over a century of maize (Zea mays L.) breeding in the US corn belt
Messina, Carlos D., Rotundo, Jose, Hammer, Graeme L., Gho, Carla, Reyes, Andres, Fang, Yinan, van Oosterom, Erik, Borras, Lucas and Cooper, Mark (2022). Radiation use efficiency increased over a century of maize (Zea mays L.) breeding in the US corn belt. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73 (16), 5503-5513. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac212
2022
Journal Article
Sustained improvement in tolerance to water deficit accompanies maize yield increase in temperate environments
Messina, Carlos, Ciampitti, Ignacio Antonio, Berning, Dan, Bubeck, Dave, Hammer, Graeme and Cooper, Mark (2022). Sustained improvement in tolerance to water deficit accompanies maize yield increase in temperate environments. Crop Science, 62 (6), 1-13. doi: 10.1002/csc2.20781
2022
Conference Publication
An Ecophysiology-Inspired Gene-Phenotype Map for Breeding
Powell, Owen, Technow, Frank, Messina, Carlos D., McLean, Greg, Brider, Jason, Van Oosterom, Erik, Wu, Alex, Jordan, David, Hammer, Graeme and Cooper, Mark (2022). An Ecophysiology-Inspired Gene-Phenotype Map for Breeding. Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 9-11 May 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Investigations into the emergent properties of gene-to-phenotype networks across cycles of selection: a case study of shoot branching in plants
Powell, Owen M., Barbier, Francois, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Beveridge, Christine and Cooper, Mark (2022). Investigations into the emergent properties of gene-to-phenotype networks across cycles of selection: a case study of shoot branching in plants. in silico Plants, 4 (1) diac006, 1-9. doi: 10.1093/insilicoplants/diac006
2022
Journal Article
Physiological trait networks enhance understanding of crop growth and water use in contrasting environments
Gleason, Sean M., Barnard, Dave M., Green, Timothy R., Mackay, D. Scott, Wang, Diane R., Ainsworth, Elizabeth A., Altenhofen, Jon, Brodribb, Timothy J., Cochard, Hervé, Comas, Louise H., Cooper, Mark, Creek, Danielle, DeJonge, Kendall C., Delzon, Sylvain, Fritschi, Felix B., Hammer, Graeme, Hunter, Cameron, Lombardozzi, Danica, Messina, Carlos D., Ocheltree, Troy, Maxwell Stevens, Bo, Stewart, Jared J., Vadez, Vincent, Wenz, Joshua, Wright, Ian J., Yemoto, Kevin and Zhang, Huihui (2022). Physiological trait networks enhance understanding of crop growth and water use in contrasting environments. Plant, Cell & Environment, 45 (9), 2554-2572. doi: 10.1111/pce.14382
2022
Other Outputs
Investigations into the emergent properties of gene-to-phenotype networks across cycles of selection: a case study of shoot branching in plants
Powell, Owen M., Barbier, Francois, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Beveridge, Christine A. and Cooper, Mark (2022). Investigations into the emergent properties of gene-to-phenotype networks across cycles of selection: a case study of shoot branching in plants. doi: 10.1101/2022.02.03.479064
2022
Journal Article
Can we harness digital technologies and physiology to hasten genetic gain in United States maize breeding?
Diepenbrock, Christine, Tang, Tom, Jines, Michael, Technow, Frank, Lira, Sara, Podlich, Dean, Cooper, Mark and Messina, Carlos (2022). Can we harness digital technologies and physiology to hasten genetic gain in United States maize breeding?. Plant Physiology, 188 (2), 1141-1157. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiab527
2022
Conference Publication
The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771)
Lambrides, Christopher , Basford, Kaye , DeLacy, Ian , Cooper, Mark , Hardner, Craig , Godwin, Ian , Dieters, Mark and Arief, Vivi (2022). The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771). Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 9-11 May 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Crop improvement for circular bioeconomy systems
Messina, Carlos D., van Eeuwijk, Fred, Tang, Tom, Truong, Sandra K., McCormick, Ryan F., Technow, Frank, Powell, Owen, Mayor, Laura, Gutterson, Neal, Jones, James W., Hammer, Graeme and Cooper, Mark (2022). Crop improvement for circular bioeconomy systems. Journal of the ASABE, 65 (3), 491-504. doi: 10.13031/ja.14912
2021
Journal Article
Can we harness “enviromics” to accelerate crop improvement by integrating breeding and agronomy?
Cooper, Mark and Messina, Carlos D. (2021). Can we harness “enviromics” to accelerate crop improvement by integrating breeding and agronomy?. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12 735143, 735143. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.735143
2021
Journal Article
Predicting phenotypes from genetic, environment, management, and historical data using CNNs
Washburn, Jacob D., Cimen, Emre, Ramstein, Guillaume, Reeves, Timothy, O'Briant, Patrick, McLean, Greg, Cooper, Mark, Hammer, Graeme and Buckler, Edward S. (2021). Predicting phenotypes from genetic, environment, management, and historical data using CNNs. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 134 (12), 3997-4011. doi: 10.1007/s00122-021-03943-7
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Cooper is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Rapid cycle multi-trait genomic prediction to evaluate plant development and architecture ideotypes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge, Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Phylogenomic and ecophysiological investigations of transferability of adaptation solutions within the Andropogoneae tribe
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental investigation in Arabidopsis thaliana of realised selection trajectories for complex branching and flowering traits under the control of gene networks following application of genomic prediction methods.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge, Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of machine learning methods to discover novel models of gene networks to improve genomic prediction for plant breeding
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr James Lefevre, Dr Melanie Wilkinson, Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic and ecological bases of shoot branching divergence across Arabidopsis species-wide accessions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge
-
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting Plant Success For Future Generations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Testing the branching model predictions using mutant perturbations of populations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yang Liu, Professor Christine Beveridge
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving sorghum pollen resilience to future climates
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Emma Mace, Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Professor David Jordan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Unification of selection and inheritance informs adaptive potential for generations to come
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan, Dr Yang Liu
-
Doctor Philosophy
Network biology of quantitative traits in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Emma Mace, Dr Colleen Hunt, Dr Sofie Pearson, Professor David Jordan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Optimising training populations for enhanced prediction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic prediction of lodging in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Emma Mace, Dr Esinam Nancy Amuzu-Aweh, Professor David Jordan, Dr Colleen Hunt
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving molecular and phenotypic predictions through network-based prior knowledge and AI
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Christine Beveridge, Dr David Kainer
-
Doctor Philosophy
APSIM-WGP for yield stability in soybean I
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Owen Powell, Dr Melanie Wilkinson
Completed supervision
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating quantitative genetic issues for a pedigree plant breeding program using computer simulation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Kaye Basford
-
2003
Master Agricultural Science
The inheritance of grain yield among Veery wheat lines under Qld environ.conditions.
Principal Advisor
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
THE CONTRIBUTION OF OSMOTIC ADJUSTMENT TO GRAIN YIELD IN SORGHUM PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTS
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating envirotyping methodology to evaluate contributions of stay-green traits to wheat yield in Australian environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karine Chenu, Professor Ben Hayes, Dr Kai Voss-Fels, Professor Lee Hickey
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
SIMULATING THE IMPACT OF MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION IN A WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Kaye Basford
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
AN EVALUATION OF MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION (MAS) STRATEGIES FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF WHEAT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
GENOTYPIC VARIATION IN SOYBEAN FOR STRATEGIES OF DROUGHT STRESS RESPONSE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Kaye Basford
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES IN ADAPTATION TO DROUGHT AND INFERTILE SOILS IN RAINFED LOWLAND RICE IN CAMBODIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Shu Fukai
Media
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