Investment

This GRDC investment supports PhD candidate Shanice Van Haeften who is completing her PhD at the University of Queensland in mungbean supported by a GRDC Research Scholarship (GRS). Shanice aims to improve the understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of mungbean canopy development, pod development and senescence using unmanned aerial vehicle phenotyping technology and genomics approaches.

Mungbean is a major rotation pulse crop for tropical and subtropical farming systems in Australia. Current cultivars display indeterminate flowering behaviour and pod maturity, which makes the crop vulnerable to stress and complicates the timing of desiccation prior to harvest. Spraying out mungbean too early or late can lead to reduced yield potential and grain quality; impacting grower profits. These challenges highlight the opportunity to explore canopy traits that may increase yield potential and synchronise pod development. This project aims to improve the understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of mungbean canopy development, pod development and senescence using cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle phenotyping technology and genomics approaches. Project outcomes will guide the development of future mungbean cultivars to support more reliable and profitable production in Australia.

A GRS supports PhD candidates in delivering innovative research that addresses constraints or builds opportunities for Australian grain growers to help improve their farm business sustainability and profitability. The three-year scholarship, worth over $35,000 per year, provides high-achieving students with the financial and industry support to complete their PhD in an area aligned with GRDC's RD&E Plan 2023-28.