Jason Sheedy

Dr. Jason Sheedy is a Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland's Centre for Crop Health, specializing in crop nematology. His work focuses on understanding and mitigating plant-parasitic nematode impacts on cereal crops like wheat, barley, and chickpea. He holds a PhD from USQ, with prior qualifications in applied science and philosophy.

Key research areas include identifying genetic resistance to root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.), developing screening methods for crop tolerance, and applying molecular diagnostics to improve crop management. His studies combine field trials, genomics, and remote sensing (e.g., NDVI) to predict yield loss and optimize breeding strategies.

Recent work highlights the potential of Iranian landrace wheats and wild Cicer species for cross-resistance to multiple nematode species. He has also mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance in wheat and chickpea, emphasizing chromosome regions like 3B and Ca7.

His research addresses both fundamental and applied aspects of nematology, including soil health management, crop rotation effects, and disease co-occurrence with pathogens like Fusarium crown rot. Projects often involve interdisciplinary collaborations to bridge genetics, ecology, and agricultural practices.

Advising and grants: While no students are listed, his work is likely funded through agricultural research grants focusing on sustainable crop production. He contributes to the Centre for Crop Health's mission to enhance crop resilience in subtropical and dryland farming systems.