Overview
Background
Professor Emma Mace’s research interest is in developing and applying innovative genomics approaches to support sorghum improvement activities.
In Professor Mace’s current role leading sorghum genomics research components of research projects funded by the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Australian Research Council (ARC),her work focuses on generating significant innovative outcomes across a range of applications, from basic through to applied, specifically in using technologies to bridge the gene to phenotype gap, and to elucidate the genetic basis of quantitative and qualitative traits.
Availability
- Professor Emma Mace is:
- Not available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor, University of Nottingham
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Birmingham
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Birmingham
Research interests
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Sorghum
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Genomics
Research impacts
Australia produces at least 2 million tonnes of grain sorghum each year. Sorghum is one of the most diverse crop species with great potential for improvement in yield, drought resistance, insect resistance and grain quality. An understanding of the genetic control of key characteristics provides plant breeders with new opportunities to increase the rate of genetic gain and breed new improved genotypes. However, the complexity of gene function determination remains one of the major challenges facing plant biologists today, despite the development and application of new technologies, including high throughput genotyping and next-generation sequencing.
The UQ sorghum genomics team, together with researchers at DAF, are using an integrated set of technologies and germplasm collections to enhance gene function determination in sorghum.
Our capacity: marker-assisted selection, genomic selection and mapping
Applications
• high resolution genetic mapping for quantitative traits and identification of beneficial alleles
• development of customised SNP markers for target traits for Marker Assisted Selection
• development of whole-genome prediction models for applying genomic selection for target traits
The integrated application of new technologies and resources within the sorghum breeding program is being used in a range of research projects investigating a range of crop trait characteristics including drought tolerance, grain size, photosynthesis and grain yield.
Works
Search Professor Emma Mace’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Global Sorghum Conference Sorghum in the 21st Century, Montpellier, France, 5-9 June 2023.
2023
Journal Article
First report of Fusarium madaense as a cause of root and stalk rot on Sorghum bicolor in Australia
Gunasinghe, N., Vaghefi, N., Shivas, R. G., Tan, Y. P., Jordan, D., Mace, E., Cruickshank, A. and Martin, A. (2023). First report of Fusarium madaense as a cause of root and stalk rot on Sorghum bicolor in Australia. New Disease Reports, 47 (2) e12192, 1-3. doi: 10.1002/ndr2.12192
2023
Conference Publication
The physiological dissection of grain filling in sorghum
Otwani, Daniel, Hunt, Colleen, Cruickshank, Alan, Tao, Yongfu, Koltunow, Anna, Jordan, David and Mace, Emma (2023). The physiological dissection of grain filling in sorghum. Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Reed, Sean, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Variation in mitogenome structural conformation in wild and cultivated lineages of sorghum corresponds with domestication history and plastome evolution
Zhang, Shuo, Wang, Jie, He, Wenchuang, Kan, Shenglong, Liao, Xuezhu, Jordan, David R., Mace, Emma S., Tao, Yongfu, Cruickshank, Alan W., Klein, Robert, Yuan, Daojun, Tembrock, Luke R. and Wu, Zhiqiang (2023). Variation in mitogenome structural conformation in wild and cultivated lineages of sorghum corresponds with domestication history and plastome evolution. BMC Plant Biology, 23 (1) 91, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s12870-023-04104-2
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-North East NSW in 2008)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-North East NSW in 2008). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/414f4db
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-South East QLD in years 2004 to 2019)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-South East QLD in years 2004 to 2019). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/c0a373a
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Crop Wild Relatives-South East QLD in 2018)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Crop Wild Relatives-South East QLD in 2018). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/82ac313
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-Central QLD in years 2004 to 2019)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-Central QLD in years 2004 to 2019). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2e8465b
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-South West QLD in years 2006 to 2011)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (DGP-South West QLD in years 2006 to 2011). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ad0ed20
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Midge-South East QLD in years 2017 to 2020)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Midge-South East QLD in years 2017 to 2020). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/44b9cad
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-South West QLD in years 2006 to 2011)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-South West QLD in years 2006 to 2011). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/e05c9c6
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-Central QLD in years 2004 to 2020)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-Central QLD in years 2004 to 2020). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8bd7ba2
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-South East QLD in years 2004 to 2022)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-South East QLD in years 2004 to 2022). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/35920ea
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-North East NSW in years 2007 to 2018)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-North East NSW in years 2007 to 2018). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b1a9171
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Crop Wild Relatives-Central QLD in 2018)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Crop Wild Relatives-Central QLD in 2018). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/50244a4
2023
Other Outputs
Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-North West NSW in years 2004 to 2016)
Jordan, David, Cruickshank, Alan, Hunt, Colleen and Mace, Emma (2023). Core Sorghum Breeding (Breeding Trials-North West NSW in years 2004 to 2016). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8fb3d48
2022
Journal Article
Genetic and genomic diversity in the sorghum gene bank collection of Uganda
Chakrabarty, Subhadra, Mufumbo, Raphael, Windpassinger, Steffen, Jordan, David, Mace, Emma, Snowdon, Rod J. and Hathorn, Adrian (2022). Genetic and genomic diversity in the sorghum gene bank collection of Uganda. BMC Plant Biology, 22 (1) 378, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12870-022-03770-y
2022
Conference Publication
Ensuring the future of taro
Campbell, Bradley, Godwin, Ian, Mace, Emma, Sukal, Amit, Waqainabete, Logo, Restall, Jemma and Smith, Millicent (2022). Ensuring the future of taro. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Time gain compensation, the genetics of grain filling duration in sorghum.
Otwani, Daniel, Hunt, Colleen, Cruickshank, Alan, Tao, Yongfu, Koltunow, Anna, Jordan, David and Mace, Emma (2022). Time gain compensation, the genetics of grain filling duration in sorghum.. QAAFI student’s symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 30 September 2022.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Emma Mace is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the genome landscape of heterosis in sorghum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Professor David Jordan, Dr Peter Crisp, Dr Sofie Pearson
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Doctor Philosophy
Genetic dissection of cold tolerance in sorghum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Colleen Hunt
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving seed producibility in sorghum in a hotter, drier world
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Tolera Keno
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving sorghum pollen resilience to future climates
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Cooper, Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Professor David Jordan
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Doctor Philosophy
Genetic control of stomatal conductance in sorghum and its effects on drought adaptation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Alex Wu, Dr Erik Van Oosterom
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Doctor Philosophy
Network biology of quantitative traits in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Cooper, Dr Colleen Hunt, Dr Sofie Pearson, Professor David Jordan
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Master Philosophy
The relationship between grain fill duration and grain size in grain sorghum.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan
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Doctor Philosophy
Genomic prediction of lodging in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Cooper, Dr Esinam Nancy Amuzu-Aweh, Professor David Jordan, Dr Colleen Hunt
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the genetic architecture of grain fill duration for grain yield improvement in sorghum breeding programs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Colleen Hunt, Professor Anna Koltunow
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the efficiency of selection in hybrid maize breeding in Ethiopia through advanced statistical models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Professor David Jordan, Dr Alison Kelly
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring genetic diversity and rust resistance in historical and modern germplasm for wheat breeding in Ethiopia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Kai Voss-Fels, Professor Lee Hickey
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the epigenetic contribution to trait variation in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Peter Crisp
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into designer root systems for durum wheat improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Associate Professor Andries Potgieter, Dr Samir Alahmad, Professor Lee Hickey
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Improved methods of predicting genetic merit in plant breeding programs using linear mixed models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of variable water limited environments on grain sorghum yield and lodging in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Optimising molecular tools to study nitrogen utilisation for grain protein storage in Sorghum bicolor
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella, Professor Ian Godwin
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The journey of nitrate from source to sink in Sorghum bicolor: Uncovering the physiology and gene expression of nitrate storage, mobilisation, assimilation and remobilisation in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin
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2017
Master Philosophy
Genome wide analysis and allele mining of diverse sorghum genes involved in nitrogen use efficiency
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic differentiation, heterotic performance and grain yield determinate traits of locally adapted sorghum genotypes in contrasting environments in Ethiopia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Professor David Jordan
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic characterization of flowering time in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Professor David Jordan, Dr Erik Van Oosterom
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2003
Master Philosophy
GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES OF MAIZE GERMPLASM IN ZIMBABWE USING MOLECULAR MARKERS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin
Media
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