Fields of Research

Horticultural crop growth and development
Oenology and viticulture
Terrestrial ecology
Horticultural production
Conservation and biodiversity
Post harvest horticultural technologies (incl. transportation and storage)
Mycology
Fisheries management
Plant physiology
Nutrition and dietetics
Food packaging, preservation and processing
Crop and pasture nutrition
Beverage chemistry and beverage sensory science
Curriculum and pedagogy
Plant developmental and reproductive biology
Genetics
Soil physics
Nutritional science
Agriculture, land and farm management
Population ecology
Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)
Land capability and soil productivity
Sustainable agricultural development
Fisheries sciences
Entrepreneurship
Medical biochemistry and metabolomics
Environmental management
Plant biology
Field organic and low chemical input horticulture
Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
Electronics, sensors and digital hardware
Microbial ecology

Research Objectives

Pome fruit, pip fruit
Wine grapes
Stone fruit (excl. avocado)
Terrestrial biodiversity
Marine biodiversity
Ornamentals, natives, flowers and nursery plants
Atmospheric composition (incl. greenhouse gas inventory)
Horticultural crops
Climate change mitigation strategies
Berry fruit (excl. kiwifruit)
Soils
Alcoholic beverages
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in marine environments
Environmentally sustainable plant production
Other environmental management
Other health
Rural and remote area health
Climate change adaptation measures (excl. ecosystem)
Grains and seeds
Organic fertilisers
Avocado
Nutrition
Fresh, ground and surface water biodiversity
Terrestrial systems and management
Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences
Assessment, development and evaluation of curriculum
Field grown vegetable crops
Fisheries - wild caught
Rehabilitation or conservation of terrestrial environments
Natural hazards
Macadamias
Nutraceuticals and functional foods
Non-dairy milk
Industrial crops

Career Best Publications

Research Publications

Ceratobasidium orchid mycorrhizal fungi reveal intraspecific variation and interaction with different nutrient media in symbiotic germination of Prasophyllum (Orchidaceae); Symbiosis
A comparison of laboratory analysis methods for total phenolic content of cider; Beverages
A preliminary study of yeast strain influence on chemical and sensory characteristics of apple cider; Fermentation
An orchid conservation partnership for southeastern Australia; 6th International Orchid Conservation Congress (IOCC6)
Apple orchard fertigation trial: second season results
Apple tree and fruit nutrition for improved productivity; Apple Pear Australia LTD, Productivity, Irrigation, Pests, Soils (PIPS) Program V2
Apple tree and fruit nutrition for improved productivity; Plenary presentation for the Apple Pear Australia LTD, Productivity, Irrigation, Pests, Soils (PIPS) Program V2
Apple tree and fruit nutrition for improved productivity; Plenary presentation for the Apple Pear Australia LTD, Productivity, Irrigation, Pests, Soils (PIPS) Program V2
Apple tree nutrition for improved productivity; Hort Connections 2019
Apple tree nutrition for improved productivity - SINATA; Future Orchards National Tour
Apple variety and maturity profiling of base ciders using UV spectroscopy; Food Chemistry
Application of near infra-red spectroscopy as an instantaneous and simultaneous prediction tool for anthocyanins and sugar in whole fresh raspberry; Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Are desserts seconds ripe for cider?; 2016 National Horticulture Convention
Assessing canopy nitrogen levels with handheld remote sensors
Assessing processing waste from the sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) fishery as an organic fertilizer; Agronomy
Australian Cider Research and Development Program; Cider Australia AusCider Conference
Australian cider: learning from the past, moving into the future through industry-embedded research; Technical Overview on Cider Production: XXVIIes Entretiens Scientifiques Lallemand
Benchmarking nitrous oxide emissions in deciduous tree cropping systems; Soil Research
Building the technological toolkit for orchid conservation; 6th International Orchid Conservation Congress (IOCC6)
Can vine canopy nitrogen status be assessed non-destructively?; 17th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference
Can vine canopy nitrogen status be assessed non-destructively?; Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference
Characterization of microsatellite loci in the endangered grand spider orchid Caladenia huegelii (Orchidaceae); Molecular Ecology Notes
Cherries ripe for research
Cherry nutrition - the balancing act of feeding fruit for high-quality cherries; Acta Horticulturae
Conservation Methods for Terrestrial Orchids; J. Ross Publishing
Continental-scale distribution and diversity of Ceratobasidium orchid mycorrhizal fungi in Australia ; Annals of Botany
Defining conservation units in a complex of morphologically similar, sexually deceptive, highly endangered orchids; Biological Conservation
Developing a rapid assessment technique to determine grapevine canopy nitrogen status; nternational Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards
Developing a rapid assessment technique to determine grapevine canopy nitrogen status; Crush Symposium
Developing a rapid assessment technique to determine grapevine canopy nitrogen status; Crush Symposium
Developing a rapid assessment technique to determine grapevine canopy nitrogen status; International Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards
Diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in native and managed landscape in Tasmania, Australia; 9th International Conference on Mycorrhiza
Diversity and distribution of mycorrhizal fungi associating with Caladenia in the biodiversity hotspot South-west Australia; 5th International Orchid Conservation Congress 2013
Do your farm management practises influence green house gas emissions?
Does integrated conservation of terrestrial orchids work?; 3rd International Orchid Conservation Congress
Does integrated conservation of terrestrial orchids work? ; 3rd International Orchid Conservation Congress 2007
Does your farm management practises influence green house gas emissions?
Drip irrigation wetting patterns and nitrate distribution: comparison between electrical resistivity (ERI), dye tracer, and 2D soil-water; Irrigation Science
Early-season nitrogen use to manipulate yield and wine phenolics; 16th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference
Ecological specialization in mycorrhizal symbiosis leads to rarity in an endangered orchid; Molecular Ecology
Effect of fertiliser type and mycorrhizal inoculation on growth and development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.); Rhizosphere
Effect of humic based soil conditioner, effective microbes and fertiliser on growth and flowering of sunflower; 29th International Horticultural Congress
Effect of humic based soil conditioner, effective microbes and fertiliser on growth and flowering of sunflower (Helianthus annus L. ‘Dwarf Sunsation’); XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes: International Symposia on Water, Eco-Efficiency and Transformation of Organic Waste in Horticultural Production
Evaluation of electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) for in situ mapping of drip irrigation and fertigation wetting patterns; Soil Science Australia National Soil Science Conference 2014
Ex situ conservation and cryopreservation of orchid germplasm; International Journal of Plant Sciences
Exploring functional applications of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sweet cherry and links to fruit quality; 9th International Conference on Mycorrhiza
Fruit nutrition science for a consumer driven future; Hort Connections 2019
Furthering our understanding of managing nitrogen use and irrigation in the vineyard; 12th Wine Tasmania Field Day
Genetic diversity in fragmented populations of the critically endangered spider orchid Caladenia huegelii: implications for conservation; Conservation Genetics
Geographical range and host breadth of Sebacina orchid mycorrhizal fungi associating with Caladenia in south-western Australia; Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
How covered cropping impacts fruit quality in sweet cherries; Fruit Growers Tasmania Winter Conference
Improved tree and fruit nutrition for the Australian apple industry; Apple Pear Australia LTD Speed Updating Plenary session 2018
Improved tree and fruit nutrition for the Australian apple industry; Apple Pear Australia LTD, Productivity, Irrigation, Pests, Soils (PIPS) Program V2 Partner forum
Improving the productivity of Tasmanian vineyards; 12th Wine Tasmania Field Day
Improving the productivity of Tasmanian vineyards
Improving the understanding of the seasonal movement of nitrogen in grapevines
Influence of orchard conditions on fruit quality of ‘Envy’ apple; Fruit Growers Tasmania, Apple Industry Workshop
Informed pruning decisions; Under Vine Cover Crop & Mechanical Pruning Workshop for Wine Tasmania
Integrated conservation of the rare terrestrial orchid Caladenia huegelii; 2nd International Orchid Conservation Congress 2004
Integrated conservation of the rare terrestrial orchid Caladenia huegelii; National Caladenia Workshop 2007
Is too much nitrogen a cause of poor fruit quality?
Leaf manganese concentrations as a tool to assess belowground plant functioning in phosphorus-impoverished environments; Plant and Soil
Less is More: The Influence of Nitrogen Fertiliser Application on Anthocyanins in Sweet Cherries; 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting
Linking soil with irrigation; Wine Tasmania Workshop
Manipulating nitrogen and water resources for improved cool climate vine to wine quality; American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
Mapping Australian cider uniqueness for the production of high quality and consistent craft cider; Cider Industry Conference
Measurement of sap flow in young apple trees using the average gradient heat-pulse method; X International Workshop on Sap Flow
Measuring and mapping quality in Australian cider; Cider Australia AusCider Conference
More profit from nitrogen in cherries and mangoes
More profit from nitrogen in cherries and mangoes; Australian Tree Crop
More profit from nitrogen: nitrogen use in commercial cherry orchards; Fruit Growers Tasmania Cherry Workshop
More profit from nitrogen: nitrogen use in commercial cherry orchards; More Profit from Nitrogen Partner Forum
More profit from nitrogen: nitrogen use in commercial cherry orchards; Australian Fertiliser Industry Conference
Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media; Annals of Botany
Nitrogen Natters
Nitrogen use efficiency in apple orchards; Fruit Growers Tasmania, Apple Industry Workshop
Nitrogen use efficiency, allocation, and remobilization in apple trees: uptake Is optimized with pre-harvest N supply; Frontiers in Plant Science
Nitrogen use efficiency, partitioning, and storage in cool climate potted Pinot Noir vines; Scientia Horticulturae
Nitrogen use in commercial cherry orchards; National Soils Conference 2018
Nitrogen use in commercial cherry orchards; Soil Science Australia, National Soils Conference
Nitrous oxide emissions - something to smile about; Australian Tree Crop
Nitrous oxide emissions from applied nitrate fertiliser in commercial cherry orchards; Soil Research
Optimising fruit quality and nutritive properties of sweet cherries
Optimising nutrient management for improved productivity and fruit quality in cherries
Optimising nutrient management in cherries; Rural Research and Development for Profit, More Profit from Nitrogen Partner Forum
Optimising nutrient management in cherries; Invited plenary presentation for the Rural Research and Development for Profit, More Profit from Nitrogen Partner Forum
Orchid conservation team field trip
Orchid re-introductions: an evaluation of success and ecological considerations using key comparative studies from Australia; Plant Ecology
Orchids; Jewel in the Crown of a Global Biodiversity Hotspot
Perspectives on orchid conservation in botanic gardens; Trends in Plant Science
Phenolic content of apple juice for cider making as influenced by common pre-fermentation processes using two analytical methods; Beverages
Plant litter, foliar nutrients and a whole lot of diggin’!
Plant Mineral Nutrition; Plant Life on the Sandplains in Southwest Australia: A Global Biodiversity Hotspot
Pollinator rarity as a threat to a plant with a specialized pollination system; Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
Polyphenolic Compounds in Sweet Cherries: A focus on Anthocyanins; Polyphenols: Mechanisms of Action in Human Health and Disease
Pre-translocation assessment of biology and ecology; Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia
Precision fertigation for improved apple orchard productivity; Regional Stone and Pomefruit R&D Forum 2014
Precision fertigation for improved apple orchard productivity; Fruit Growers Tasmania Annual May Conference 2014
Precision fertigation for improved apple orchard productivity; National Horticulture Convention 2015
Precision fertigation for improved apple orchard productivity; Apple & Pear Australia Limited Research Review - Speed Updating 2013
Precision fertigation for improved apple orchard productivity; 2016 Future Orchards National Tour
Precision fertigation for improved orchard productivity
Precision fertigation to improve apple orchard productivity
Precision nitrogen fertigation and irrigation management for improved apple quality; XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: International Symposia on the Physiology of Perennial Fruit Crops and Production Systems and Mechanisation, Precision Horticulture and Robotics
Precision nitrogen fertigation for improved apple quality and reduced leaching; 29th International Horticultural Congress 2014
Predicting grapevine canopy nitrogen status using proximal sensors and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy; Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
Propagation and reintroduction of Caladenia; Australian Journal of Botany
Reducing N₂O emissions in key perennial tree crop industries; National Agricultural Nitrous Oxide Research Program (NANORP) Meeting
Reducing N₂O emissions in key perennial tree crop industries; National Agricultural Nitrous Oxide Research Program (NANORP) Meeting
Remote sensing of N deficiencies in apple and pear orchards; XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: International Symposia on the Physiology of Perennial Fruit Crops and Production Systems and Mechanisation, Precision Horticulture and Robotics
Research Project Updates: Summer days give way to laboratory daze
Role of nitrogen fertigation in cherry fruit quality and consumer perception; 7th International Cherry Symposium
Role of nitrogen fertigation in cherry fruit quality and consumer perception; 2013 Fruit Growers of Tasmania May Conference
Role of nitrogen fertigation in sweet cherry fruit quality and consumer perception of quality: At- and postharvest; VII International Cherry Symposium
Sacrificing cherry trees for greater good
Sap flow in apple trees using the heat-pulse method; 10th International Workshop on Sap Flow
Securing Tasmania's rarest orchids from extinction; The Running Postman
Seeding cider research in the Apple Isle; Batlow Cider Conference
Selecting source and recipient sites; Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia
She'll be apples with right timing
Soil characterisation and water use in Australian apple orchards
Specific mycorrhizal associations involving the same fungal taxa in common and threatened Caladenia (Orchidaceae): implications for conservation; Annals of botany
Strategic Irrigation and Nitrogen Assessment Tool for Apples (SINATA); Apple and pear Speed Updating 2017
Sweet results of research
Terrestrial Orchid conservation - Science into Action: Perspectives from Australia ; 5th International Symposium on Diversity and Conservation of Asian Orchids
Terrestrial orchid conservation and research - a Tasmanian perspective; 10th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference 2014
Terrestrial orchid conservation in the age of extinction; Annals of Botany
Terrestrial orchid conservation: from understanding the biology to implementing recovery actions; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Saving our species program
The curious case of the Windswept Helmet-orchid; Australian Plants
The power of 'N'
The scientific principles underpinning inconsistencies in cider quality
The secret life of orchids; UTAS Research Week 2013
Threatened Tasmanian Orchids Flora Recovery Plan
TIA Research 2019; Fruit Growers Tasmania Winter Conference
Tree water use and irrigation management for salinity and drought; 9th International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
Understanding carbohydrate and nutrient storage and remobilisation in fruitlet abscission for sweet cherry; Horticulture for the Future Conference
Understanding soils for improved water and nutrient use efficiency; APAL Industry Update
Understanding the role of nitrogen management in apple orcharding to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions; 29th International Horticultural Congress 2014
Understanding the role of nitrogen management in apple orcharding to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions; National Agricultural Nitrous Oxide Research Program (NANORP) Meeting
Uptake and internal allocation of nitrogen in apple trees; VIII ISHS Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Crops
Uptake efficiency and internal allocation of nitrogen in apple trees; VIII International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Crops
Using mycorrhizal fungi in orchid conservation; Fungi Conservation and Management Symposium 2012
Variation in nutrient-acquisition patterns by mycorrhizal fungi of rare and common orchids explains diversification in a global biodiversity hotspot; Annals of Botany
Waste to profit in urchin fisheries: developing business opportunities to ensure fishery sustainability and safeguard reef dependent fisheries from destructive urchin grazing
What becomes of nitrogen in your orchard?
What's new at TIA?; FruitGrowers Tasmania Conference
What’s new at TIA?; Fruit Growers Tasmania Annual May Conference
Where did fertilizer nitrogen go in your apple orchard?; Fruit Growers Tasmania Winter Conference
Would you like your cherries peeled?
Yield project: Spur vs Cane pruning; Wine Tasmania

Research Projects

Beating smoke taint with sparkling wine : Climate Change Adaptation for the Tasmanian wine industry; Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas)
Building Quality in Tasmania's Cider Industry; Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI)
Commercial upscaling of urchin fertiliser; Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas)
Determining dose response variations in human absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins from Tasmanian sweet cherries: a pilot cross-over study; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in native and managed landscapes in Tasmania; Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment (HWRE)
FRDC Sea Urchin Fertiliser Project; Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC)
Global master class in horticulture; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Harriet Walker Wine Australia Travel Bursary Application; Wine Australia (WineAust)
Improved Australian apple and pear orchards soil health and plant nutrition; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Improving grapevine quality and yield through improved vine nutrition and pruning; Wine Australia (WineAust)
Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DoIIS)
Optimising Cherry Firmness, Size and Post-Harvest Shelf Life: Fruit Set and Crop Load, Tree and Fruit Nutrition; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Optimising nutrient management for improved productivity and fruit quality in cherries; Department of Agriculture (DoA (Cwth))
Precision Fertigation for Improved Apple Orchard Productivity; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Reducing nitrous oxide emissions in key perennial tree crop industries; Department of Agriculture (DoA (Cwth))
Science to inform decision making between synthetic and alternative nitrogen sources in vineyards: Top-up scholarship and operating; Wine Australia (WineAust)
Smelling soil: eNose development (TIA led); CRC for High Performance Soils Ltd (HPS CRC)
Sustainably growing horticulture value in cool climate Australia; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Waste to profit in urchin fisheries: developing business opportunities to ensure fishery sustainability and safeguard reef dependant fisheries from destructive urchin grazing; Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC)
DNA sequence analysis of mycorrhizal fungi
Improved productivity and profitability for the Australian apple and pear industry
Mapping Australian cider uniqueness for the production of high quality and consistent craft cider
Stabilising and increasing yield and quality in Tasmanian vineyards
Conservation of the Threatened Orchids in Tasmania's Midlands
Continental-Scale Specialisation in Mycorrhiza of Orchids
Enhancing Threatened Orchid Conservation at Rubicon Sanctuary
Extension - Enhancing Threatened Orchid Conservation at Rubicon Sanctuary
Integrated Conservation and Translocation Research Program for Caladenia Huegelii
Orchid Conservation Techniques Manual
Seed Collection and Mycorrhizal Isolation of Targeted Tasmania Orchid Taxa

Research Candidate Supervision

Effects of Anti-transpiration Agent on Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality and Increasing Water use Efficiency on Apple Trees under Deficit Irrigation and High Temperature Conditions
The Effect of Pre-Harves Tree Management on Fruit Quality and Phenolic Chemistry in a Sweet Cherry During Post-Harvest Storage