Centre for Crop Science - Summer Research Programs
General information on the program, including how to apply, is available from the UQ Student Employability Centre’s program website.
Characterisation of phytochemical profiles and nutritional value of pigeonpea seeds
Primary Supervisor: Dr Mahendraraj Sabampillai | m.sabampillai@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (24 hours per week); Hybrid
Pigeonpea is a perennial legume mainly grown in semi-arid and subtropics. It is an important source of protein in human diets and dried seeds are also used for animal feed. Pigeonpea is not only rich in protein (22%), but also contains carbohydrates, fats, various polyphenolic compounds and anti-nutritional factors such as tannins, phytic acids and protease inhibitors. The presence of these compounds influences the physiochemical properties including nutritional availability and milling property. This study intends to prospect for the physiochemical and nutritional characterisation of pigeonpea breeding lines to select genotypes with high nutritional value.
Expected outcomes:
The scholar will gain knowledge on physiochemical properties of pigeonpea seeds and knowledge on extraction and analysis of polyphenolic compounds present. He / She will gain knowledge on the extraction procedure and analysis using HPLC and Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The outcome of this study might lead to a publication.
Suitability: Student having a background on analytical chemistry would be advantageous.
Agronomy interventions for managing fall armyworm damage in sorghum and maize
Primary Supervisor: Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (20-36 hours per week); On-site Gatton campus
The decision to control pre-anthesis FAW infestations in sorghum and maize requires information on crop yield and loss potential. Existing control thresholds for FAW are based on crop defoliation levels, but defoliation has a poor correlation with yield loss. FAW only feed on leaves developing inside the whorl with few cost-efficient control options available once the full extent of crop damage becomes evident. Identifying the most susceptible crop growth stages to yield limiting FAW infestation will inform the timing of effective control options. Understanding crop management practices and environmental conditions influence on the likelihood and potential magnitude of yield limiting FAW infestation will inform the most cost-effective FAW control action.
Previous experiments showed 20 to 30% yield losses when sorghum and maize crops with 3 expanded leaves was infested with FAW until the crop had 12 expanded leaves at Ayr or Gatton in 2022. Yields were correlated with FAW defoliation quantified as the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fiPAR) at anthesis and the population density of fertile plants. The effects of FAW infestation during the canopy expansion and growth stage on yields could be simulated with APSIM by
attenuating model co-efficient for the potential largest leaf size until fiPAR matched observed values. This means that yield loss was either a result of direct FAW reduction of immature leaves size, indirectly through limiting photosynthate supply to developing leaves or both resulting in reduced total canopy size. Barrenness due to direct effects of FAW feeding or shading of FAW stunted plants by neighbouring plants was a secondary contribution to yield loss.
Pre-flowering FAW infestations elsewhere show a highly variable yield loss and the cause of this variability remain unclear. While many ecological factors affect the FAW population density and infestation persistence within the crop, this study focuses on crop physiological aspects. Previous research has shown that crop growth rate relative to pest growth rate, crop health, crop growth cycle duration and host plant defences most frequently attenuate pest damage magnitude.
Here we conduct empirical research to develop relationships between FAW population density and timing on potential canopy size then estimate crop loss variability by incorporating new FAW canopy attenuation routines into a process-based crop modelling (APSIM https://www.apsim.info/ ) to predict crop losses across different agro-ecologies and seasons.
Empirical field trials will test the hypothesis that the most sensitive canopy development stage to FAW infestation is consistent regardless of temperature, radiation, plant growth and development rates. The effects of canopy size and crop growth rate on the relationship between timing of FAW infestations relative to crop canopy development stage on potential sorghum yield formation. Growth rate treatments will be imposed by manipulating the photo-thermal quotation with levels of shading and sowing date.
Crop canopy attenuation routines that represent the effect of pre-anthesis FAW infestations on canopy size potential will be incorporated into the APSIM sorghum & maize modules based on empirical trial findings. Simulations validated against on-farm trials will then be run to quantify the potential crop losses across Australian production environments and systems.
A database of simulated FAW crop losses for sorghum and maize production scenarios will be delivered to the economic threshold tool design team. This team will develop a web tool so that farmers and consultants can input their own crop and FAW status to inform economic value of control options by interrogating the simulation database.
Expected outcomes: Scholars will be expected to contribute to analysis, interpretation and report writing on one of the following topics within this project;
- Field crop agronomy – The effect of FAW infestation on sorghum and maize yield components,
- Entomology – The relationship between FAW larvae infestation and crop damage ratings,
- Crop-physiology – The effect of FAW infestation and plant population density on crop growth rates.
- Crop modelling – Simulation modelling sorghum and maize production systems.
This research will involve field trial measurements, laboratory assay, desktop analysis and report writing.
Scholars will be expected to provide Joseph Eyre j.eyre@uq.edu.au with a ½ to 1 page statement on their motivation for a specific topic within this project and their CV. An appropriate work plan will be developed between the research team and the incumbent based on experience, motivations and demonstrated learning capacity.
Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background and interest in agronomy, crop modelling and biochemistry
Enhancing soil hydrology with circular nutrient recyling systems
Primary Supervisor: Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (20-36 hours per week); On-site Gatton, St Lucia or Toowoomba campus
Cropping in the semi-arid tropic is risky because of highly variable rainfall amount, intensive storms and highly weathered soils lack the capacity to hold plant available water between rainfall events. High intensity rainfall further degrades the soil surface restricting infiltration into the soil and resulting in excessive runoff into waterways. Soil management practices and ameliorating technologies are known but are too costly, impractical or have negative environmental impacts.
Here we evaluate combinations of environmentally friendly and cost efficient management practices with biological products to simultaneously improve soil structure needed to capture intensive storm rains and prevent losses of nutrients into the environment
Expected outcomes: Scholars will be expected to contribute to measurement, analysis, interpretation and report writing on one of the following topics within this project;
- Rainfall simulation – Evaluate the effects of soil management on rate of infiltration into soils using a rainfall simulation within the laboratory,
- Crop modelling – Simulation modelling the effects of rainfall infiltration on crop production.
This research will involve laboratory assay, desktop analysis and report writing.
Gain skills in field crop trial design, agronomy and soil data collection, statistical and APSIM data analysis and have an opportunity to co-contribute to publications from their research.
Subject to the incumbents’ progress, opportunities will be provided for to extend participation in the project as a casual research assistant, honours or higher degree program
Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background and interest in agronomy, soil science and climate change mitigation.
Grain sorghum yield and quality formation
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Jaqueline Moura Nadolny | j.mouranadolny@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (20-36 hours per week); On-site Gatton or St Lucia.
The objective of this project is to quantify the value of available white, red and waxy type hybrid sorghums to grain growers and livestock producers when grown in farmers’ fields across heat and water stress gradients. The value to grain grower will be evaluated at the sorghum crop (productivity and economics) and cropping systems (water balance) levels with a view to understanding the whole cropping system drought resilience.
Background: Sorghum is one of the most important crops across the semi-arid tropics worldwide with economic, environmental, and social benefits both from grain and stover at the crop and cropping systems levels. However, immediate economic benefits from grain sales for animal feedstock, human consumption and ethanol conversion are limited by inconsistent quality threatening the entire cropping system sustainability. Understanding the genetic and environmental drivers of grain quality will inform when and how to grow high value sorghum to benefit short-term cash flow from grain sales and longer-term system drought resilience, environmental sustainability and cropping systems profitability.
The objective of this project is to quantify the value of available white, red and waxy type hybrid sorghums to grain growers and livestock producers when grown in farmers’ fields across heat and water stress gradients. The value to grain grower will be evaluated at the sorghum crop (productivity and economics) and cropping systems (water balance) levels with a view to understanding the whole cropping system drought resilience.
Our previous research showed that new grain sorghums have greater value to livestock per hectare (Digestible Energy [DE], MJ/ha) than industry stand hybrids. However, the grain weight to energy conversion factors were established for crops grown in conditions not representative of Australia’s commercial sorghum cropping systems i.e. non-adapted germplasm grown on a research station. For example, poultry feed rations developed based on established grain sorghum quality analysis preformed well below expectation in 2017 suggesting a grain quality variation is not adequately captured in current grain energy models. Our results also showed that the new sorghum mean grain size was lower and screenings higher than industry standards in some sites and this may have greater negative impacts on livestock performance than grain composition benefits.
Total starch, amylose content and protein digestibility explain 94% of the variation in sorghum grain digestibility (Wong et al. 2010). Total ethanol, fermentation rate and conversion efficiency of sorghum grain is similarly influenced by total starch, amylose to amylopectin ratio, protein content and protein composition (Wu et al. 2008; Zhao et al. 2008; Fox and Manley 2009; Wu et al. 2010; Li et al. 2015). The genes influencing grain quality are affected by high temperatures resulting in 8 to 9% reduction in energy conversion. Finally, market demand, end user willingness to pay premiums and ability to differentiate specialist grain sorghums is unresolved.
Research questions;
Q1 - What are the environmental drivers of grain quality attributes influencing beef cattle performance with white, red and waxy type hybrid sorghums?
Q2 - What is the value of white, red and waxy type hybrid sorghums to grain growers and beef producers?
Q3 - Where, when and how can each sorghum hybrid type be grown to maximise value to grain growers and beef producers?
Research activities include
A1 - Characterise potential growth, development and yield formation for red, white and waxy cultivars in a non-stressed on-station field trial.
A2 - Quantify the relationship between whole grain size, waxy vs non-waxy grain type and grain processing method on cattle digestible energy for archived grain samples from historical trials and/or samples for A1.
A3 - Calibrate whole and processed grain NIRs/MIRs signals to grain quality attributes and digestable energy and estimate quality for all samples in A1.
A4 - Ex-ante characterise heat and water stresses and simulated impact on grain size and yield combinations in Australian production systems.
Expected outcomes: Scholars will be expected to contribute to measurement, analysis, interpretation and report writing on one of the following topics within this project;
- Field crop agronomy – Grain density distribution of waxy, white and red sorghum types and the morphological attributes,
- Cattle nutrition – Effect of sorghum grain density and genotype on in-vitro digestible energy.
- Grain quality analysis - MIR/NIRs methods to quantify grain sorghum quality,
- Crop-physiology – Environmental drivers of grain sorghum quality variability for selected waxy, white and red sorghum types.
- Crop modelling – Simulation modelling sorghum and maize production systems.
This research will involve field trial measurements, laboratory assay, desktop analysis and report writing.
Gain skills in field crop trial design, agronomy and entomology data collection, statistical and APSIM data analysis and have an opportunity to co-contribute to publications from their research.
Subject to the incumbents’ progress, opportunities will be provided for to extend participation in the project as a casual research assistant, honours or higher degree program
Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background and interest in agronomy, crop modelling and biochemistry.
Life Cycle Assessment of alternate source of proteins
Primary Supervisor:
Ms Cresha Nadar | c.nadar@uq.edu.au
A/Prof Sudhir Yadav | sudhir.yadav@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (25 hours per week); Hybrid
This project focuses on conducting a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of alternative food sources. With the advancement of biotechnology, researchers are exploring a number of pathways to meet growing nutrition and food demand. The different processes and technologies utilized in food production are known to have varying environmental impacts. Moreover, the choice of LCA methodology and data sources significantly influences the computed results.
Our primary objectives are to educate participants in the fundamental principles of LCA and engage them in running diverse simulation scenarios. This hands-on experience will enable students to assess and compare the environmental footprints of different food production technologies, thereby getting an insight into sustainable food systems.
Expected outcomes: Participants in this project can expect to:
- Learn the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment, a widely recognized method for evaluating the environmental impacts of products and processes.
- Gain practical experience by working with our team to run different simulation scenarios to compute environmental footprints.
- Develop a deep understanding of the environmental implications of emerging technologies
At the end of the project, student may be asked to prepare a report and based on the student’s work, it might lead to a manuscript.
Suitability: A background in Bioprocessing/Food processing/Biotechnology or Environmental science would be preferrable. Both 3rd and 4th year students are welcome to apply.
Assessment of Weed-Competitive Cultivars of Mungbean
Primary Supervisor:
Prof Bhagirath Chauhan | b.chauhan@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (24 hours per week); On-site (Gatton)
Background: Weeds significantly reduce the yield of mungbean crops by competing for resources such as light, water, and nutrients. Early vigour in mungbean cultivars could provide a competitive advantage against weeds, leading to improved crop establishment and yield.
Aim: This project aims to evaluate various mungbean cultivars for their early vigour and weed competitiveness. By identifying cultivars with strong early growth, the project seeks to contribute to more effective weed management strategies and enhanced mungbean yields.
Hypothesis: Mungbean cultivars with higher early vigour will exhibit better weed competitiveness, resulting in reduced weed interference and improved crop establishment.
Expected outcomes: Scholars may gain skills in data collection and may have an opportunity to generate publications from their research.
Suitability: Suitable for 4th year (agriculture only) or MS students (agronomy/plant protection/horticulture).
Differential responses of rice genotypes to a new herbicide and irrigation regimes
Primary Supervisor:
Prof Bhagirath Chauhan | b.chauhan@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (24 hours per week); On-site (Gatton)
Background: Rice is a crucial staple crop globally. Herbicide resistance and efficient water management are essential for sustainable rice cultivation. However, the responses of different rice genotypes to herbicides and irrigation regimes remain underexplored.
Aim: This project aims to investigate the varying responses of diverse rice genotypes to a specific herbicide and different irrigation regimes. Understanding how different genotypes react to these factors is pivotal for optimizing herbicide application and water use efficiency in rice production systems.
Hypothesis: We hypothesise that different rice genotypes will exhibit distinct responses to the herbicide and varying irrigation regimes. Certain genotypes might show enhanced tolerance to the herbicide, while others could exhibit better growth and yield under specific irrigation conditions. These findings will contribute to tailored weed and water management strategies for different rice genotypes, thereby enhancing agricultural sustainability and productivity.
Expected outcomes: Scholars may gain skills in data collection and may have an opportunity to generate publications from their research.
Suitability: Suitable for 4th year (agriculture only) or MS students (agronomy/plant protection/horticulture).
Characterising crop water use and root activity in field experimentation
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Dongxue Zhao | dongxue.zhao@uq.edu.au
Prof Daniel Rodriguez | d.rodriguez@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (36 hours per week); On-site
Droughts are a major constraint to dryland agriculture worldwide. Climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of droughts, making the need to increase crop resilience urgent. Under drought, the crop root system determines the capacity of the crop to take up water for photosynthesis, underpinning yield. Rapidly screening crop water use and root activity directly in the field would be the short route to help identify and incorporate root traits that enhance drought tolerance in breeding programs, and to inform more resilient crop managements.
This project aims to 1) develop a new, inexpensive, quick, and accurate method for 3D characterization of crop water use and root activity in the field (Fig. 1) and 2) to untangle the G*E*M interactions on sorghum water use and drought resilience.
Expected outcomes: This project will skill up students in the use of proximal sensing technologies for characterizing crop water use and root activity in the field. Students will also gain experience in optimise crop designs to improve crop water use efficiency and drought resilience.
Suitability: This project will suit students with interest in combining desktop analysis and field trial measurement. This is a Gatton Campus DigitalAg Building (8115) based position.
Crop improvement using gene editing
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Karen Massel | k.massel@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (36 hours per week); On-site (St Lucia)
To overcome the strain that the changing climate impose on food security, it's imperative to study methods that can lead to expedited genetic gains in crop plants. Cutting-edge genome editing systems can create targeted genetic alterations such as gene knockouts, nucleotide modifications, large insertions/deletions, as well as regulation of genetic networks for expedited mutation breeding. We will use these new breeding strategies in sorghum to target key genes involved in growth and branching to alter the development in both vegetative and reproductive structures for crop improvement
Expected outcomes: Students will learn fundamental molecular and biotechnological wet-lab skills. They will be involved in tissue culturing, transformation, DNA extractions, PCR, gel electrophoresis. There may also be components of bioinformatics and/or plant physiology. Students will be asked to contribute to lab meetings and produce an oral presentation at the end of their project.
Suitability: This project is open to 3-4th year students who have a keen interest in plant/crop science and have completed some genetics and/or genomics courses. Preferred candidates will have, or will be taking, the plant biotechnology course (BIOL3213).
Improving crops from the ground up: genetic solutions to optimise plant architecture
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Yasmine Lam | yasmine.lam@uq.edu.au
Prof Lee Hickey | l.hickey@uq.edu.au
Duration: 6 weeks (25-36 hours per week); On-site
Harnessing plant plasicity has been an elusive target for developing more robust crop varieties. This project utilises biotechnological tools and the development of high through-put phenotyping platforms to target and analyse key regulators of plant architecture in key cereal crops. For the duration of this project, students will have the opportunity to gain experience in cereal crop transformation and tissue culture, crop physiology, and basic micrscopy.
Expected outcomes: Students will gain experience in cereal transformation and gene editing, bioinformatics, foundational molecular skills, and high-throughput phenotyping. All tasks performed will be relevant to on-going work towards publications, in which the student will have the opportunity to be included as an author depending on the outputs delivered during the project.
Suitability: Suitable students will have a background in plant biology, agriculture, molecular biology, and/or agricultural biotechnology. We are currently looking for 2nd-4th year students for this project.