Dr Scott Chapman: improving breeding methods

Dr Scott Chapman is improving crop adaptation via genetics and physiology through the development of improved breeding methods.

• 30 June 2006 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications

Current activities 

Dr Scott Chapman is currently developing and implementing collaborative research projects that will apply computational and quantitative genetic approaches (using tools of simulation modeling, physiology, statistics) to improve the efficiency of plant breeding programs.

These projects focus on wheat, sugarcane and sorghum and are funded by the:

• Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• Generation Challenge Program.

In wheat, Dr Chapman also leads physiology and modeling activities related to drought tolerance in northern Australia.

Background

Dr Chapman has experience in improving breeding methods in a variety of crops, especially to improve agronomic adaptation.

The methods used include:

• the identification and use of adaptive traits
• applications of quantitative genetic theory and multivariate analysis
• the physiology and simulation modeling of crop performance.

  Dr Chapman also leads physiology and modeling activities related to drought tolerance in northern Australia.

He also works with molecular scientists to analyse and interpret experiments in microarray and marker/QTL applications.

Academic qualifications

Dr Chapman was awarded the following degrees:

• Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honours from The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 1985
• Doctor of Philosophy, also from The University of Queensland, 1990.

See a list of scientific papers published by Dr Chapman on the next page.