Perennial Horticulture Centre

Projects

Project

Description

Chief Investigator

Funding Body

End Date

Increasing productivity and profitability of Indonesian smallholder plantations  To improve Indonesian hardwood plantation productivity and profitability by targeted species choice and product mix, nutrient management, and root-rot control, with the aim to facilitate greater smallholder participation and profitability. Caroline Mohammed ACIAR 31/3/2015
Pathway risk analysis ACERA is conducting a pathway risk analysis for guava rust. The University of Tasmania is collaborating in the data collection component of the project by using DNA detection tests to determine the presence of rust spores in various pathways.  Morag Glen ACERA  30/6/2012 
New flavour products fom Tasmanian blackcurrant and raspberry fruits Deliver optimised protocols for fruit pre-treatment and spinning cone column extraction for the production of marketable quality, flavour products from blackcurrant and raspberry fruits. The project brings together the processing expertise of Cascade, the engineering technology of Flavourtech, the analytical and horticultural capability of TIAR and marketing experise of consultanhts. Bob Menary HAL 3/8/2012
Australian saffron: Commercialisation of drying technology and aroma analysis Facilitate the implementation of the recommendation from previous RIRDC and PhD projects that aroma formation and pigment retention be optimised in saffron by adopting a novel method of stigma drying requiring precise temperature and humidity control. Aroma profile investigation will also be conducted. Bob Menary  RIRDC  30/6/2012

Study of the chemistry and biology of saffron (crocus sativus)

To design a custom-made device tailored to application of a new method that will allow drying at least 5000 stigmas simultaneously. 

Bob Menary

 1/7/2010

 30/6/2012

Wine quality and fruit characteristics of pinot noir clones

The project will use the Pinot Noir Forum clonal nurseries at Stoney Rise and Pressing Matters in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and Frogmore Creek in 2010 and 2011. In the initial year, all clones will be harvested for a broad screening of basic fruit and wine analysis. Once results are available, the steering committee will set the direction of the project for the following two vintages.

Dugald Close

Tasmanian Pinot Noir Forum

31/03/2012

Soil organic carbon balances in Tasmania

Assist farmers to adapt to climate change and manage emissions

Richard Doyle

 15/6/2009

 30/6/2012

Management of the national apple program, Productivity, Irrigation, Pests and Soils, ‘PIPS’

The PIPS program is a national research program centred on apple and pear orchard productivity. It comprises 3 research projects (Tree Structure, IPM and Soils, Water and Nutrients) and an industry development project (Technical and Industry Communications).  The Program is a collaboration between DPI-Vic, DEEDI (QLD) and Plant and Food Research (NZ).  The program will provide integrated research, development and extension to support increased efficiency within the apple and pear orchard, while providing orchardists with the tools to assist the long term sustainability of their orchards. Objectives:

  1. Effective and efficient management to ensure synergies within a truly integrated national PIPS program
  2. Facilitate strategic level advice on program resource allocation and direction
  3. Leverage of resources to provide additional capacity in targeted research for industry.

Dugald Close

HAL

31/12/2014

PIPS: Technical and Industry Communications

This project will provide a delivery mechanism for the integrated research outcomes delivered from within the R&D component of the PIPS program. Objectives:

  1. To coordinate project and program outputs into a unified industry development program
  2. To communicate program outputs to industry

Dugald Close

HAL

31/12/2014

PIPS: Tree Structure

The project aims to improve orchard productivity and optimise fruit quality by improving tree functional efficiency as part of the ongoing drive in development of high density orchard systems. A secondary objective is to understand whether changes in canopy management can contribute to more efficient water use. The project has a national approach with regional application. New canopy management tools developed from understanding these tree structural-functional responses should guide horticultural thinking towards ideas of ‘eco-efficient precision management of the biology of crop production’.

Dugald Close

HAL

31/12/2014

PIPS: Soils, water and nutrients

The project will: establish soil carbon status in Australian orchards and infer temporal trends; determine the role of soil carbon in water availability and nutrient mineralisation; investigate management techniques to enhance soil health; measure and predict evapotranspiration in netted apple orchards and high-density pear orchards with varying canopies and tree structures; and investigate the effects of water deficits on fruit composition.

Dugald Close

HAL

31/05/2014

PIPS: Integrated pest management

The project includes research on: the use of a parasitoid wasp to assist mating disruption in minimising pesticide use for codling moth control; the use of a predatory syrphid fly for management of woolly apple aphid; amalgamation of DPI and PFR scab modelling and testing of the model; and a desktop study of pest management interactions.

Dugald Close

HAL

31/11/2014

Persistence of Saproxylic biota

Maintaining sufficient suitable habitat at appropriate spatial scales to support dependent biota is the ecological basis of sustainable forest management. Using a landscape genetics approach and saproxylic beetles as a reference study we will provide the knowledge and tools to ensure the persistence of saproxylic biota.

Caroline Mohammed

ARC

31/12/2011

The effects of base wine composition and temperature variation

Examination of the effect of base wine composition on the secondary fermentation characteristics produced in Tasmanian sparkling wines.

Dugald Close

GWRDC

2011

Improving Australian sparkling wines and pinot noir

Research, development and advisory programs to improve Pinot Noir and sparkling wine quality for the very-cool climate Australian wine industry, and vineyard spray efficiency nationwide.

Dugald Close

Dept of Industry Tourism and Resources

2012

Improving marketable yield of premium quality cherries

This project was initiated to mitigate yield loss associated with rain-induced cracking through the development of targeted management techniques. The objectives are to provide both increased understanding of crack specific management techniques, and the seasonal factors under which they will be most effective.

Penny Measham

HAL

2012

Optimising silvicultural management

To produce a simple decision support system to optimise site selection and informs silvicultural management of sawlog and pulpwood, including maximising tree health, for one or two key acacia species in Vietnam.

Caroline Mohammed

ACIAR

30/06/2012