Fields of Research

Forest health and pathology
Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)
Tree nutrition and physiology
Forestry sciences
Plant pathology
Tree improvement (incl. selection and breeding)
Plant physiology
Horticultural crop growth and development
Mental health services
Photogrammetry and remote sensing
Crop and pasture protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)
Forestry management and environment
Agricultural land management
Agricultural systems analysis and modelling
Higher education
Horticultural production
Soil biology
Agro-ecosystem function and prediction
Analytical spectrometry
Agroforestry
Sustainable agricultural development
Agricultural spatial analysis and modelling
Mycology
Microbial ecology
Terrestrial ecology
Crop and pasture improvement (incl. selection and breeding)
Human resources management
Organic chemistry
Agriculture, land and farm management
Educational psychology
Post harvest horticultural technologies (incl. transportation and storage)
Horticultural crop improvement (incl. selection and breeding)
Natural resource management
Oenology and viticulture
Plant biology
Crop and pasture biochemistry and physiology
Agronomy
Field organic and low chemical input horticulture
Food nutritional balance
Intellectual property law

Research Objectives

Hardwood plantations
Stone fruit (excl. avocado)
Other plant production and plant primary products
Environmentally sustainable plant production
Field grown vegetable crops
Mental health
Plant extract crops
Native forests
Horticultural crops
Wine grapes
Berry fruit (excl. kiwifruit)
Maize
Other education and training
Grain legumes
Barley
Energy services and utilities
Evaluation, allocation, and impacts of land use
Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments
Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems
Wheat
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Soils
Almonds
Health education and promotion
Pome fruit, pip fruit
Expanding knowledge in education
Essential oil crops
Expanding knowledge in the agricultural, food and veterinary sciences
Schools and learning environments
Integration of farm and forestry
Other environmental management
Pedagogy
Tree nuts (excl. almonds and macadamias)
Terrestrial biodiversity
Native and residual pastures
Other animal production and animal primary products
Harvesting and packaging of plant products
Rice
Sown pastures (excl. lucerne)
Nutrition

Career Best Publications

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness practice on doctoral candidate psychological status; Journal of American College Health
Crown-scale evaluation of spectral indices for defoliated and discoloured eucalypts; International Journal of Remote Sensing
Estimation of chlorophyll content in Eucalyptus globulus foliate with the leaf reflectance model PROSPECT; Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Identification of hydrolysable tannins in the reaction zone of Eucalyptus nitens wood by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry; Phytochemical Analysis
Optimizing spectral indices and chemometric analysis of leaf chemical properties; Remote Sensing of Environment
Psychological health of doctoral candidates, study-related challenges and perceived performance; Higher Education Research and Development
The role of strigolactones and ethylene in disease caused by Pythium irregulare; Molecular Plant Pathology

Research Publications

Acacia mangium heartrot: preliminary studies of a poor defence; International Mycological Congress VII
Eucalyptus obliqua seedling growth in organic vs. mineral soil horizons; Frontiers in Plant Science
Ganoderma and Amauroderma species associated with root-rot disease of Acacia mangium plantation trees in Indonesia and Malaysia; Australasian Plant Pathology
A chemical comparison of two types of antifungal defence: reaction zones and branch protective zones in Eucalyptus globulus; International Mycological Congress VII
A preliminary study of antimicrobial defence in Eucalyptus nitens using NMR microscopy; The Australian and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance,ANZMAG 2000 Conference
A randomized controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness practice on doctoral candidate psychological status; Journal of American College Health
A study of selected factors affecting efficacy of compost tea against several fungal pathogens of potato; Journal of Applied Microbiology
Ability of leaf mesophyll to retain potassium correlates with salinity tolerance in wheat and barley; Physiologia Plantarum
An interdisciplinary approach to the study and management of stem defect in eucalypts; 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology
An understanding of tree defence helps to reduce stem decay in hardwood plantations; Heartrots in hardwood plantations in Indonesia and South Eastern Australia
Antimicrobial Defence in Eucalyptus Nitens; 6th Annual Research & Development Topics 1998
Antimicrobial defence in Eucalyptus nitens stems using NMR microscopy; ANZMAG2000
Antimicrobial defence in the sapwood of Eucalyptus nitens: studies of the reaction zone
Antimicrobial defence in the sapwood of Eucalyptus nitens: studies of the reaction zone
Are we waking up on the wrong side of the (ash) bed? Seedling growth of Eucalyptus obliqua in organic and mineral soils with relevance to native forest management; Ecological Society of Australia - 2011 Annual Confernce
Assessing defoliation and discolouration for Eucalyptus globulus plantations: variance of tree, plot and age-class components in a pilot study at Wattle Range, South Australia
Assessing eucalypt health via physiological indicators with spectral reflectrance; 16th Biennial Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference
Australia's farming future: Tasmania
Brown rot: Monilinia spp. Monilinia fructicola is the common cause of brown rot disease seen in several stone fruit (cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum)
Can Eucalyptus obliqua seedlings grow well in forest soils not subjected to fire?; Joint Soil Science Australia and New Zealand Society of Soil Science Conference
Causal pathogens of fruit rot in sweet cherry and weather-based infection risk; Science Protecting Plant Health
Challenges in doctoral research and psychological distress of candidates
Characterizing biochemistry and structure of eucalypt leaves for detection of stress in eucalypt plantations with remote sensing; 13th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
Characterizing eucalypt leaf phenology and stress with spectral analysis; Innovations in Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry
Churchill Fellowsip Award
Comparison of Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities of Acacia mangium and A. auriculiformis Heartwood Extracts; Journal of Chemical Ecology
Comparison of antifungal nature of Acacia mangium and A. auriculiformis heartwood extracts; Proceedings of the International Congress of Polyphenols
Consequences of resource limitation for recovery from repeated defoliation in Eucalyptus globulus; Tree Physiology
Crown-scale evaluation of spectral indices for defoliated and discoloured eucalypts; International Journal of Remote Sensing
Current and future management strategies of root rot pathogens in tree crops: critical literature review
Daily mindfulness practice increases psychological capital and reduces depression in doctoral students; 39th Annual Conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
Determining Generic Indicators of Stress in Eucalypt Leaves for Application to the Remote Sensing of Canopy Condition and Productivity Modelling
Determining Generic Indicators of Stress in Eucalypt Leaves for Application to the Remote Sensing of Canopy Condition and Productivity Modelling
Diverse microbial communities in non-aerated compost teas suppress bacterial wilt; World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
Diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in native and managed landscape in Tasmania, Australia; 9th International Conference on Mycorrhiza
Doctoral student distress and progress - can mindfulness help?; Teaching Matters 2015: Tasmanian Blends
DPIPWE - Epidemiology and Pathogenicity of Fusarium sp. causing Crown Rot Dieback of Tasmanian Xanthorrhoea spp
Effect of cherry variety and fruit density on fruit rot
Effect of fertiliser type and mycorrhizal inoculation on growth and development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.); Rhizosphere
Effect of polymer film on plant-pathogen interactions: a case study on damping-off caused by pythium irregulare in field peas (Pisum sativum); Science Protecting Plant Health
Effect of pruning Acacia mangium on growth, form and heart rot; Forest Ecology and Management
Effect of season and different fungi on phenolics in response to xylem wounding and inoculation in Eucalyptus nitens; Forest Pathology
Estimating light use efficiency and leaf area index in youg eucalypts with hyperspectral reflectance; Forest Sat 2007 Conference
Estimation of chlorophyll content in Eucalyptus globulus foliate with the leaf reflectance model PROSPECT; Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Evaluation of compost teas from matured agricultural waste, vermicompost and solid municipal waste composts to suppress bacterial wilt of potato; Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium 2014
Exploring functional applications of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sweet cherry and links to fruit quality; 9th International Conference on Mycorrhiza
Feasibility of mechanical pollination in tree fruit and nut crops: a review; Agronomy
Features of antifungal wood defence in Acacia mangium - why is it so susceptible to heartrot?; 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology
FST/00/123 - Heartrots in plantation hardwoods in Indonesia and southeast Australia
Genetic stability of physiological and plant secondary metabolite induced responses to defoliation in a eucalypt; Gordon’s Research Conference on Plant-Herbivore Interactions
Genetic stability of physiological responses to defoliation in a eucalypt and altered chemical defence in regrowth foliage; Tree Physiology
Genome‑wide association mapping for adult resistance to powdery mildew in common wheat; Molecular Biology Reports
Graduates play key role
Growers get more active underground
Growth and photosynthetic responses following defoliation and bud removal in eucalypts; Forest Ecology and Management
Heart rot and root rot in Acacia mangium: identification and assessment; Heart rot and root rot in tropical Acacia plantations
Heartrot and root rot diseases of Acacia mangium plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia; 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology
Host factors related to fruit rot of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) caused by Botrytis cinerea; Australasian Plant Pathology
Identification of hydrolysable tannins in the reaction zone of Eucalyptus nitens wood by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry; Phytochemical Analysis
Identification of polypore fungi causing root rot and heart rot of Acacia mangiuim; 4th Asian Mycology Congress
Impact of defoliation in temperate eucalypt plantations: Physiological perspectives and management implications; Forest Ecology and Management
Improving 8-dialy modis time-series to monitor forest canopy dynamics in pinus radiata plantations; Forest Sat 2007 Conference
Incidence and Spatial Analysis of Root Rot of Acacia Mangium in Indonesia; Journal of Tropical Forest Science
Incidence of Acacia mangium root rot in Indonesia; 4th Asian Mycology Congress
Incidence of heartrot in harvest-age Acacia mangium in Indonesia, using a rapid survey method; Forest Ecology and Management
Incorporating generic skills in to a Graduate Certificate of Research to support research degree candidates -experiences and future directions
Inhibition of heart rot fungi of tropical Acacia spp. by antifungal flavanones; 4th Asian Mycology Congress
Initial defence responses in sapwood of Eucalyptus nitens (Maiden) following wounding and fungal inoculation; Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
Initial stages of antimicrobial defence in Eucalyptus nitens
Interactions of waterlogging and fungal infection in lentil (Lens culinaris) cultivars; Science Protecting Plant Health
Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study and Management of Stem Defect in Eucalypts; New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science
Investigating a genetic basis to physiological responses of Eucalyptus globulus seedlings to defoliation; XVIII International Botanical Congress
Management of fruit rot in sweet cherry - prevention is better than cure
Management of fungal root-rot pathogens in tropical Acacia mangiumplantations; Forest Pathology
Mechanisms of powdery mildew resistance of wheat - a review of molecular breeding; Plant Pathology
Mechanisms of reaction zone defence in Eucalyptus nitens: A non-conformist in our midst?; 12th Biennial Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference
Mental health risks in research training can no longer be ignored
Mindfulness can help PhD students shift from surviving to thriving
Molecular Taxonomy; 4th Asia-Pacific Mycological Congress
Negative Ion Electrospray HPLC-MSⁿ of Hydrolyzable Tannins; 15th International Mass Spectrometry Conference
Negative Ion Electrospray HPLC-MSⁿ of hydrolyzable tannins; 15th International Mass Spectrometry Conference
Optimisation of techniques for quantification of Botrytis cinerea in grape berries and receptacles by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research
Optimizing spectral indices and chemometric analysis of leaf chemical properties; Remote Sensing of Environment
Pathogen incursions - integrating technical expertise in a socio-political context; Plant Disease
Photosynthetic responses of Eucalyptus nitens at initial stages of root-rot infection; Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research
Plot-scale agroforestry modeling explores tree pruning and fertilizer interactions for maize production in a Faidherbia parkland; Forests
Polyphenols in Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis heartwood with reference to heart rot susceptibility; Journal of Wood Science
Poppy crop capsule volume estimation using UAS remote sensing and random forest regression; International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Poppy crop height and capsule volume estimation from a single UAS flight; Remote Sensing
Post-Harvest Chemical Staining in Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.); Holzforschung
Poster Board 33. Assessment of fungicide resistance in Botrytis cinerea from cherry fruit; Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference 2019
Potential of the APSIM model to simulate impacts of shading on maize productivity; Agroforestry Systems
Prediction of poppy thebaine alkaloid concentration using UAS remote sensing; Precision Agriculture
Preliminary estimate of carbon sequestration potential of Faidherbia albida (Delile) A.Chev in an agroforestry parkland in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia; Forest, Trees and Livelihoods
Production of lactic and acetic acids by Bacillus sp. ZM20 and Bacillus cereus following exposure to zinc oxide: A possible mechanism for Zn solubilization; Rhizosphere
Properties of reaction zones associated with decay from pruning wounds in plantation-grown Eucalyptus nitens; Forest Pathology
Pruning-associated stem defects in plantation E. nitens and E. globulus grown for sawlog and veneer in Tasmania; IUFRO Meeting
Pruning-associated stem defects in plantation E. nitens and E. globulus grown for sawlog and veneer in Tasmania; IUFRO Meeting
Pruning-Associated Stem Defects in Plantation E. Nitens and E. Globulus Grown for Sawlog Veneer in Tasmania, Australia; The Future of Eucalypts for Wood Products
Psychological health of doctoral candidates, study-related challenges and perceived performance; Higher Education Research and Development
Quantification of Botrytis cinerea in grape berries with PCR - A research tool; Horticulture for the Future Conference
Quantification of carotenoid pigments in eucalypt leaves with spectral reflectance for forest health and productivity assessment via remote sensing
Quantification of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in eucalyptus foliage with the radiative transfer model PROSPECT 5 is affected by anthocyanin and epicuticular waxes; GSR_2 Geospatial Science Research_2
Research strategies for disease management in eucalypt plantations in Tasmania, Australia; 12th Biennial Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference
Response: a commentary on 'Eucalyptus oblique seedling growth in organic vs. mineral soil horizons'; Frontiers in Plant Science
Screening Tasmannia lanceolata for resistance against Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback; 11th Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium
Screening clones of native pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) for resistance against Phytophthora cinnamomi; Australasian Plant Pathology Society Online Conference 2021
Simplified radiometric calibration for UAS-mounted multispectral sensor; European Journal of Remote Sensing
Solid-wood production from temperate eucalypt plantations: a Tasmanian case study; Southern Forests
Spectral characterization of necrosis from reflectance of Eucalyptus globulus leaves with Mycosphaerella leaf disease or subjected to artificial lesions; International Journal of Remote Sensing
Spectral studies of plantation eucalypts to develop remote sensing tools for forest helath detection, with reference to fungal pathogens; ICPP
Status and future of compost tea in horticulture; 29th International Horticultural Congress 2014
Strategies for disease management in Eucalyptus plantations in Tasmania, Australia; 18th Biennial Conference of the Institute of Foresters of Australia
Strigolactones, a new hormone group with roles in plant-microbe interactions; Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium 2014
Suppression of potato bacterial Wilt with non-aerated compost tea and factors which influence efficacy; Science Protecting Plant Health
The effect of time and site on incidence and spread of pruning-related decay in plantation-grown Eucalyptus nitens; Canadian Journal of Forest Research
The influence of wound location on decay extent in plantation-grown Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens; Forest Ecology and Management
The role of arbuscular mycorrhiza in establishment and water balance of tomato seedlings and sweet cherry cuttings in low phosphorous soil; International Horticultural Congress 2014
The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in establishment and water balance of tomato seedlings and sweet cherry cuttings in low phosphorous soil; 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
The role of strigolactones and ethylene in disease caused by Pythium irregulare; Molecular Plant Pathology
The role of strigolactones in plant disease; 1st International Congress on Strigolactones
The role of strigolactones in plant disease; 1st International Congress on Strigolactones
To Prune or not to Prune?; 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology
To prune or not to prune? Rot is the question; International Congress of Plant Pathology
Towards assessing stress in eucalypt plantations: Use of a single-crown system to test the effect of whole-tree attributes and background surface on spectral reflectance in eucalypts; 13th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
Tree Forensics - the molecular identificaiton of decay fungi; CRC-SPF Annual Meeting
Tree pruning, zone and fertiliser interactions determine maize productivity in the Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev parkland agroforestry system of Ethiopia; Agroforestry Systems
Understanding infection pathways and tree factors for integrated disease management of brown rot and grey mould in sweet cherry; International Horticultural Congress 2014
Understanding infection risk factors for integrated disease management of brown rot and grey mould in sweet cherry; XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: International Symopsia on Innovative Plant Production in Horticulture, Biosecurity, Quarantine Pests, and Market Access
Variation of heartrot, sapwood infection and polyphenol extractives with provenance of Acacia mangium; Forest Pathology
We learn as they grow: Monitoring decay incidence and spread from pruning wounds of Eucalyptus nitens; 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology
Wellbeing in the PhD journey: key challenges and a case study of the impact of mindfulness practice on psychological health journey; Inaugural College of Science and Engineering HDR Conference
What causes and influences cherry rot, and is it always brown rot?
What options do organic growers have during a biosecurity incursion? A case study with blueberry rust; Australasian Plant Pathology Society Online Conference 2021
Why Australia imports so many veggie seeds (and do we really need to treat them with fungicides?)

Research Projects

2012 Churchill Fellowship; The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (CHURCHILL)
Biopesticides in horticulture: efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum to control Botrytis cinerea in horticultural crops; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Determining Generic Indicators of Stress in Eucalypt Leaves for Application to the Remote Sensing of Canopy Condition and Productivity Modelling; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in native and managed landscapes in Tasmania; Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment (HWRE)
Effect of Cherry Variety and Fruit Density on Fruit Rot; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Epidemiology and Pathogenicity of Fusarium sp. causing Crown Rot Dieback of Tasmanian Xanthorrhoea spp.; Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas)
Increasing pulse plant pathology capacity via a project to clarify the interaction of waterlogging and ascochyta in lentils and faba beans; Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC)
New On-farm Strategies for the Prevention and Control of Blueberry rust in Tasmania; Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas)
Novel technologies and practises for the optimisation of pollination within protected cropping environments; Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR)
Optimal management of pre-harvest rot in sweet-cherry; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Quantification of Carotenoid Pigments in Eucalypt Leaves with Spectral Reflectance for Forest Health and Productivity Assessment via Remote Sensing; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Reducing the Impact of Late Season Rainfall; Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA)
Tracking Development of Antimicrobial Defence Processes in Eucalyptus nitens Stems via Non-destructive NMR Imaging; British Council (BC)
Travel Grant to VIIth International Mycological Congress (IMC7)Oslo, Norway; Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA)
Developing tools to screen native pepper for resistance to dieback and tolerance to drought
Eucalypt plantation rhizosphere characterisation
Expanding crop protection options for control of blueberry rust
Foshan University Researcher Training and PhD Scholarship Program
Identification and detection of soft rot decay fungi in eucalypt power poles samples
Identification of soft rot decay fungi in eucalypt power poles samples
Management and diagnosis of grapevine trunk disease in vineyards and nurseries
Resistance of Botrytis cinerea to selected fungicides
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Scholarship Program
Validation of qPCR methodology for quantification of Trichoderma harzianum in soil

Research Candidate Supervision

Aerated and Non-Aerated Compost Tea as an Organic Crop Protectant to Reduce Fungal Plant Pathogens of Food Crops in Eastern Africa, Including Maize, Wheat and Vegetables
Anti-Herbivore Strategies in Eucalyptus Globulus- The Effects of Genetics and Ontogeny on Resistance and Plant Compensation to Browsing
Application of Novel Methods to Investigate Epidemiology and Management of Botrytis Bunch Rot in Wine Grapes
Contribution of Mycorrhiza to Water Uptake in Sweet Cherry
Signs and Symptoms of Root Rot in Eucalyptus pellita Plantations in Indonesia