Andrew Fletcher

Andrew Fletcher

Andrew was doing his PhD through the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) under the supervision of Drs Karine Chenu and Jack Christopher.

Andrew’s PhD focuses on characterising traits that contribute to the efficient use of water by wheat plants, and on identifying genetic controls associated to transpiration efficiency. He was using state-of-the-art lysimetry techniques to measure plant transpiration in commercial wheat varieties and a pre-established NAM population. His project was aimed at delivering genetic markers related to transpiration efficiency to assist crop improvement for drought adaptation.

Prior to starting his PhD, Andrew completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with his undergraduate Honours project looking at the historical changes in transpiration efficiency in commercial wheat varieties released between 1973 and 2007. During his PhD, he also continued this work to assess how breeding for yield has indirectly impacted traits such as transpiration efficiency.

Andrew was part of the Centre from 2015 to 2020