Overview
Background
Chris O'Brien is a research fellow at QAAFI leading the cryopreservation program. The program involves the conservation of exceptional species such as avocado and macadamia as well as other plants like Gossia spp which are affected by myrtle rust. The lab focuses on developing and optimizing protocols to store plant germplasm in liquid nitrogen. Storing plants in liquid nitrogen is the safest way to ensure long-term ex situ conservation.
Chris is also leading a project looking at avocado genomics/tissue culture propagation technologies to deliver world-first technology platforms for avocado improvement. This innovative tech-development will address critical challenges of traditional breeding, enabling rapid development of future-smart avocado cultivars.
Availability
- Dr Chris O'Brien is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Applied Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework), Griffith University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Plant tissue culture
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Plant molecular biology
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Plant cryopreservation
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Plant Genetic Improvement
Works
Search Professor Chris O'Brien’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Tissue Culture Innovations for Propagation and Conservation of Myrteae—A Globally Important Myrtaceae Tribe
Bao, Jingyin, O’Donohue, Billy, Sommerville, Karen D., Mitter, Neena, O’Brien, Chris and Hayward, Alice (2024). Tissue Culture Innovations for Propagation and Conservation of Myrteae—A Globally Important Myrtaceae Tribe. Plants, 13 (16) 2244, 2244. doi: 10.3390/plants13162244
2023
Conference Publication
Incorporating cold pretreatment in cryopreserving shoot tips of sweet myrtle (Gossia fragrantissima)
Bao, Jingyin, O’Brien, Chris, Sommerville, Karen, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2023). Incorporating cold pretreatment in cryopreserving shoot tips of sweet myrtle (Gossia fragrantissima). Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Maryland Heights, MO USA: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.104742
2023
Conference Publication
Innovative cryopreservation technology for Australian macadamia
Li, Xueying, O’Brien, Chris, Sommerville, Karen, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2023). Innovative cryopreservation technology for Australian macadamia. Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Maryland Heights, MO USA: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.104759
2022
Conference Publication
Cold pretreatment for cryopreservation of an endangered Australian native plant species Gossia fragrantissima
Bao, Jingyin, O’Brien, Chris, Sommerville, Karen, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2022). Cold pretreatment for cryopreservation of an endangered Australian native plant species Gossia fragrantissima. CRYO2022 Joint Meeting of SLTB and Society for Cryobiology, Dublin, Ireland, 19-22 July 2022. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2022.11.045
2022
Conference Publication
Innovative cryopreservation technology for Australian macadamia
Li, Xueying, O’brien, Chris, Sommerville, Karen, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2022). Innovative cryopreservation technology for Australian macadamia. CRYO2022 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for Cryobiology, Dublin, Ireland, 19-22 July 2022. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2022.11.198
2022
Journal Article
Tissue culture tools for selenium hyperaccumulator Neptunia amplexicaulis for development in phytoextraction
O'Donohue, Billy, Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Gleeson, Madeleine, O'Brien, Chris, Harvey, Maggie-Anne, van der Ent, Antony, Pinto Irish, Katherine, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2022). Tissue culture tools for selenium hyperaccumulator Neptunia amplexicaulis for development in phytoextraction. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 12 (1) 28, 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s13659-022-00351-2
2021
Other Outputs
Cryopreservation of avocado shoot tips for the conservation of Persea germplasm
O'Brien, Christopher Michael (2021). Cryopreservation of avocado shoot tips for the conservation of Persea germplasm. PhD Thesis, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/7b83f15
2021
Journal Article
Cryopreservation of woody crops: The avocado case
O’Brien, Chris, Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Folgado, Raquel, Hayward, Alice, Lahmeyer, Sean, Folsom, Jim and Mitter, Neena (2021). Cryopreservation of woody crops: The avocado case. Plants, 10 (5) 934, 934. doi: 10.3390/plants10050934
2020
Journal Article
First report on cryopreservation of mature shoot tips of two avocado (Persea americana Mill.) rootstocks
O'Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J. C. A., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A., Folsom, J. and Mitter, N. (2020). First report on cryopreservation of mature shoot tips of two avocado (Persea americana Mill.) rootstocks. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 144 (1), 103-113. doi: 10.1007/s11240-020-01861-y
2020
Journal Article
A method to increase regrowth of vitrified shoot tips of avocado (Persea americana Mill.): First critical step in developing a cryopreservation protocol
O’Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A., Folsom, J. and Mitter, N. (2020). A method to increase regrowth of vitrified shoot tips of avocado (Persea americana Mill.): First critical step in developing a cryopreservation protocol. Scientia Horticulturae, 266 109305, 109305. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109305
2020
Journal Article
Phase change related microRNA profiles in the plant regeneration process of avocado through shoot-tip culture
Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Hayward, Alice, O’Brien, Chris, Ahsan, Umair, Gleeson, Madeline, Xue, Yuxin and Mitter, Neena (2020). Phase change related microRNA profiles in the plant regeneration process of avocado through shoot-tip culture. Annals of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, 4 (2). doi: 10.22606/as.2020.42001
2020
Conference Publication
Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) apical shoot tips using different antioxidants
O’Brien, C., Hiti-Bandaralage, J.C.A., Folgado, R., Lahmeyer, S., Hayward, A. and Mitter, N. (2020). Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) apical shoot tips using different antioxidants. International Horticultural Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-16 August 2018. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/actahortic.2020.1285.3
2020
Book Chapter
Advances in avocado propagation for the sustainable supply of planting materials
Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni, Hayward, Alice, O’Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Nak, William and Mitter, Neena (2020). Advances in avocado propagation for the sustainable supply of planting materials. Achieving sustainable cultivation of tropical fruits. (pp. 215-237) Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. doi: 10.19103/as.2019.0054.19
2019
Conference Publication
Avocado micropropagation: growth in leaps and bounds for a clonal rootstock propagation solution
Hiti Bandaralage, J. C. A., Hayward, A., O'Brien, C., Beveridge, C. and Mitter, N. (2019). Avocado micropropagation: growth in leaps and bounds for a clonal rootstock propagation solution. Fifth International Conference of the IUFRO Working Party Unit 2.09.02 “Somatic embryogenesis and other vegetative propagation technologies”, Coimbra, Portugal, 10 - 15 September 2018. Coimbra, Rua Bernardino: João Duarte, Unipessoal.
2019
Conference Publication
The Use Of Sucrose Pre-Culture For Cryopreservation Of Avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) Cultivar ‘Velvick’
O'Brien, Chris, Bandaralage, Jayeni Hiti, Folgado, Raquel, Lahmeyer, Sean, Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2019). The Use Of Sucrose Pre-Culture For Cryopreservation Of Avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) Cultivar ‘Velvick’. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Cryobiology CRYO 2019, San Diego, CA United States, 22-25 July 2019. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.10.056
2018
Conference Publication
Temporal profile of juvenility-associated microRNAs during tissue culture of avocado
Hiti Bandaralage, J. C.A., Hayward, A., O’Brien, C. and Mitter, N. (2018). Temporal profile of juvenility-associated microRNAs during tissue culture of avocado. International Symposia on Tropical and Temperate Horticulture - ISTTH2016, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 20-25 November 2016. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1205.97
2018
Conference Publication
Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) shoot tips
O’Brien, Chris, Hiti Bandaralage, Jayeni C. A., Folgado, Raquel, Lahmeyer, Sean, Hayward, Alice and Mitter, Neena (2018). Developing a cryopreservation protocol for avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) shoot tips. CRYO2018, Madrid, Spain, 10-13 July 2018. Maryland Heights, MO United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.10.199
2018
Journal Article
Acclimatization of micropropagated mature avocado
Hiti Bandaralage, J.C.A., Hayward, A., O’Brien, C., Beveridge, C. and Mitter, N. (2018). Acclimatization of micropropagated mature avocado. Acta Horticulturae, 1224 (1224), 13-20. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1224.3
2017
Conference Publication
Micropropagation: The Future of Clonal Propagation of Avocado
Hiti Bandalarage, Jayeni , Hayward, Alice , O'Brien, Christopher and Mitter, Neena (2017). Micropropagation: The Future of Clonal Propagation of Avocado. International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 20-22 November 2017. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: TropAg.
2016
Journal Article
Cryopreservation of somatic embryos for avocado germplasm conservation
O'Brien, C., Constantin, M., Walia, A., Yiing, J. L. Y. and Mitter, N. (2016). Cryopreservation of somatic embryos for avocado germplasm conservation. Scientia Horticulturae, 211, 328-335. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2016.09.008
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Chris O'Brien is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Establishment of avocado genome editing: Dwarfing avocado
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alice Hayward, Professor Neena Mitter
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Propagation and Conservation Technologies for Australian Macadamia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alice Hayward, Dr Albert Wong, Professor Neena Mitter
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Master Philosophy
Developing cryopreservation for endangered Myrtaceae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins, Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Alice Hayward, Dr Eveline Kong
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Doctor Philosophy
Cryobiotechnology Innovations for Threatened Australian Myrtaceae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Professor Paul Gauthier, Dr Alice Hayward, Dr Eveline Kong
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Doctor Philosophy
Innovating Cryopreservation for Conservation of Endangered Gossia gonoclada
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Alice Hayward
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel propagation and conservation technologies for Australian macadamia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Neena Mitter, Dr Alice Hayward
Media
Enquiries
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