Centre for Crop Science - Winter Research Programs
General information on the program, including how to apply, is available from the UQ Student Employability Centre’s program website.
Impact of heat stress on wheat
Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Karine Chenu | karine.chenu@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); onsite
The student will be involved in a project looking at the impact of heat on grain yield and quality in different wheat genotypes. The student will gain experience in measuring and analysing traits related to grain yield and grain quality, such as grain protein, plant biomass and stem water-soluble carbohydrate contents.
Expected outcomes: Scholars will gain experience in data collection and analysis, and have an opportunity to participate to publication related to their research.
Suitability: Motivate students with an interest in plant physiology and crop adaptation.
Pathways of scaling agricultural innovations for sustainable intensification
Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Sudhir Yadav | +61 7 334 62199
Duration: 4 weeks (32 hours per week); Hybrid with opportunities to interact with colleagues based in Bangladesh.
The project offers scholars the chance to acquire knowledge on sustainable intensification methods, interventions, and approaches for small-holder farmers in Asia. Participants will have the opportunity to analyse both survey and field experiment data to draft a report or manuscript on growers' decision-making dynamics when choosing crops and evaluating the synergies and tradeoffs associated with different cropping systems.
This project is a collaborative research with International Rice Research Institute and Kansas State University.
The project aims to improve food security, human nutrition, and livelihoods of the rural polder communities in southern Bangladesh.
The project’s major objectives are:
Adoption of more productive, diverse, resilient, and profitable production system options tailored to different parts of the landscape and community preferences;
Agri-entrepreneurship for mechanisation established with public-private sector investment to improve productivity and livelihoods in the region; and
Supportive policies established, and greater investment put in place for appropriate catchment-level crop and water management.
More details about the project can be seen at https://www.irri.org/siil-polder
Expected outcomes: The project will offer opportunities of understanding the complexities of agri landscape and statistical methods to deal with qualitative and quantitative data and insights into growers' decision dynamics. Depending on student's interest and progress, they might be able to generate a publication.
Suitability: Background in agronomy or social science and basic/intermediate knowledge of statistics would be preferred
Characterising soils and sensing root activity in field experimentation
Primary Supervisor: Dr Dongxue Zhao | dongxue.zhao@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); Hybrid with opportunities to interact with colleagues based in Bangladesh.
Crop phenotyping is a rapidly advancing field of research due to the widespread availability of sensors and analysis tools. However, most applications focus on the above-ground parts of crops, ignoring a “hidden half”: the rooting system and its activity. We recently developed a new approach to produce 3D characterizations of crop water use and root activity in large field genotype (G) by environment (E) by management (M) sorghum experimentation, using an electromagnetic induction (EMI) instrument. We have also produced a root activity factor (R) derived as a function of water use, water availability and crop demand, that represents the presence and activity of roots in different soil layers in the soil profile. We would be happy to have students to join the team that is now applying the technology in chickpeas as well.
Expected outcomes: This project will introduce students in the use of proximal soil and root sensing technologies to produce 3D maps of soil characteristics and root activity in grain crops. The work could involve running surveys, collecting plant material, and desktop data analysis.
Suitability: This project is suitable for the students who are interested in using advanced sensing technologies in precision agriculture.
Agronomy interventions for managing fall armyworm damage in sorghum and maize
Primary Supervisor: Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (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.
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 including collaborations with experts at Monash University on untangling the roll of host plant resistance in sorghum response to FAW infestation.
Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background and interest in agronomy, crop modelling and biochemistry.
Data science applications to support on-farm research collaborations
Primary Supervisor: Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (20-36 hours per week); on-site Gatton Campus
Scholars will gain experience in designing web dashboards for presenting on-farm research progress based on proximal environmental sensors to farmers participating in collaborative research, analysis of industry survey data to evaluate the influence of best management practice guides on producer decision making or developing a web tool for data capture in citizen scientist projects. This research will involve client interviews, desktop programming and user guide development.
Expected outcomes: Scholars may gain skills in co-designing data systems tools for displaying information on crop growth and development, digital data collection and environmental conditions. Students will be asked to produce a user manual and oral presentation at the end of their project.
Suitability: This project is open to applications from students with a background and interest in data science, programming or crop modelling.
Developing transient biotechnology tools for in vivo protein-protein interactions
Primary Supervisor: Dr Karen Massel | k.massel@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); on-site wet lab experience
This project involves using agroinfiltration of fluorescent proteins to study protein-protein interactions and transcription factor activation signals of genes known to be involved in drought tolerance in sorghum. This project will involve plasmid design, transient tobacco transformation, confocal microscopy, and transient assays to disseminate molecular networks.
Expected outcomes: This project focuses on creating essential tools that will help us gain a deeper understanding of gene regulatory networks in plant science. We have already produced stable knockouts for various traits in sorghum and barley, but we need to carry out functional characterisation to uncover their roles. To achieve this, the student will develop transient plasmid systems that can shed light on protein-protein interactions and the regulation of gene expression for important genes that are vital for crop improvement. The students will be asked to participate in lab meeting discussions, and present a final seminar of their work.
Suitability: Preference to students with strong molecular or biotechnological background and interest in plant science research.
Germination ecology of QBG & fireweed
Primary Supervisor: Prof Bhagirath Chauhan | b.chauhan@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); Hybrid arrangement (2 days/wk at Gatton and 2 days/wk remotely)
Queensland blue grass and fireweed are problematic weed species in some regions. There is a need to develop integrated management options for their control. However, to develop such options, a good understanding of the biology of these weeds is needed. Trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on seed germination of QBG and fireweed.
Expected outcomes: Scholars will gain experience in data analysis and paper writing. Scholars must provide write-up every week.
Suitability: Suitable for 4th year (agriculture only) or MS students (agronomy/plant protection).
National Pulse Agronomy: Bridging yield gaps in chickpeas
Primary Supervisor:
Prof D Rodriguez | d.rodriguez@uq.edu.au
Peter de Voil (UQ)
Jeremy Whish (CSIRO)
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); Either on-site, remotely or through a hybrid arrangement.
This research will involve the use of the APSIM model at UQ Gatton Campus. The work is associated to a UQ-CSIRO national initiative funded by GRDC. The modelling work will involve using APSIM to simulate field trial data collected during the 2022 season. The student will interact with UQ and CSIRO researchers at Gatton and St Lucia Campuses.
Expected outcomes: The expected outcomes are: (i) for the student to become proficient with the use of the APSIM modelling framework, (ii) to develop a report on the capacity of APSIM to simulate chickpeas data sets, and (iii) to help identify needs for model improvement, particularly in terms of the capacity of APSIM to simulate the phenotypic plasticity of the chickpea crop to estimate yield gaps across eastern Australia.
Suitability: This project is best suited for students that completed courses in agronomy, crop physiology, computer sciences and or data analysis / statistics.
Modelling GxExM interactions in sorghum and chickpeas.
Primary Supervisor:
Prof D Rodriguez | d.rodriguez@uq.edu.au
Peter de Voil (UQ)
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); on site and remotely through a hybrid arrangement
This project will skill up students in the use of the APSIM model to identify optimum combinations of cultivars and agronomic managements that best suit site and expected seasonal conditions. This project will suit students with interest in desktop analysis and computer aided simulation. This is a Gatton Campus DigitalAg Building (8115) based position.
Expected outcomes: Students will gain skills in the use of computer simulation (APSIM model www.apsim.info). This project will focus on the analysis of existing chickpea empirical data and the use of the APSIM model www.apsim.info to simulate trials.
Suitability: This project is best suited for students that completed courses in agronomy, crop physiology, and data analysis / statistics.
Optimising grain legume agronomy
Primary Supervisor:
Prof D Rodriguez | d.rodriguez@uq.edu.au
Dr Fer Dreccer (CSIRO)
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); on site at Gatton Campus DigitalAg Building building #8115 or in St Lucia at QBP Building 80.
This project will introduce students into on research station (Gatton Campus) field experimentation, the use of proximal soil sensing technologies and crop modelling. Students will learn how to design, set up, manage, and collect data from field experiments using highly innovative research techniques. This could require field work outdoors, or and desktop computer modelling activities. This is a collaboration with CSIRO.
Expected outcomes: The program aims will allow the students translate the theory learnt in their courses into practice, by joining a multidisciplinary team of the largest pulse agronomy and crop physiology program in Australia. The students will interact with researchers from different disciplines and be able to make links and connections. Students will be asked to produce a report and an internal oral presentation at the end of their project.
Suitability: This project is best suited for students that completed courses in agronomy, crop physiology, and data analysis / statistics.
Crop physiology of grain sorghum quality
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Joseph Eyre | j.eyre@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (20-36 hours per week); on-site
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.
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.
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.