Contact Details
| Organization: | Melbourne School of Land and Environment |
| Position: | RESEARCH FELLOW - IRRIGATED HORTICULTURE |
| Email: | |
| Work: | 03 5833 9283 |
| Fax: | 03 5833 9201 |
| Room: | 15 |
| Level: | Ground |
| Building: | Institute Of Land And Food Resources |
| Campus: | Parkville |
Biography
Research:
• Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) research
Smart Water Systems for horticulture. The research objective is to demonstrate wireless sensing control of various irrigation strategies in both viticulture and horticulture industries. This research was funded through the STI, Victoria Government funding scheme and brings together the skills of control software scientists and engineers, with the agricultural scientists (IDTC http://www.civenv.unimelb.edu.au/research/centres/idtc.html).
Designed and implemented two field trail sites (Shiraz at Corop and apples at Dookie) to compare the effect of a number of irrigation strategies (soil, evaporative transpiration (ET) and plant based irrigation) on yield and fruit composition.
Collaborating with the Dr Ian Goodwin et al., Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research Victoria investigating open hydroponics and real time ET irrigation scheduling on peaches.
• Areas of Interest:
Viticulture
Grape development/maturation, vine carbon/assimilation partitioning, environmental monitoring, wine production and quality assessment.
Irrigation practices/management.
Plant/stress physiology
Gas exchange, water potential, plant growth and development measurements.
Analytical chemistry
Identification and quantification of primary and secondary metabolites. HPLC method development. Analysis of UV-absorbing compounds, particularly phenolics, organic acids, carbohydrates and osmoprotectants.
Metabolomics
Development of metabolic profiling/characterisation techniques on grape berry employing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Molecular biology
Interested in the effect of stress on gene expression during berry development.
Teaching:
• Agricultural degree, subject coordinator, Plant Communities in Action
• Ph.D. supervisor
• Honours supervisor
• Agricultural degree, third year project supervisor
• Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) research
Smart Water Systems for horticulture. The research objective is to demonstrate wireless sensing control of various irrigation strategies in both viticulture and horticulture industries. This research was funded through the STI, Victoria Government funding scheme and brings together the skills of control software scientists and engineers, with the agricultural scientists (IDTC http://www.civenv.unimelb.edu.au/research/centres/idtc.html).
Designed and implemented two field trail sites (Shiraz at Corop and apples at Dookie) to compare the effect of a number of irrigation strategies (soil, evaporative transpiration (ET) and plant based irrigation) on yield and fruit composition.
Collaborating with the Dr Ian Goodwin et al., Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research Victoria investigating open hydroponics and real time ET irrigation scheduling on peaches.
• Areas of Interest:
Viticulture
Grape development/maturation, vine carbon/assimilation partitioning, environmental monitoring, wine production and quality assessment.
Irrigation practices/management.
Plant/stress physiology
Gas exchange, water potential, plant growth and development measurements.
Analytical chemistry
Identification and quantification of primary and secondary metabolites. HPLC method development. Analysis of UV-absorbing compounds, particularly phenolics, organic acids, carbohydrates and osmoprotectants.
Metabolomics
Development of metabolic profiling/characterisation techniques on grape berry employing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Molecular biology
Interested in the effect of stress on gene expression during berry development.
Teaching:
• Agricultural degree, subject coordinator, Plant Communities in Action
• Ph.D. supervisor
• Honours supervisor
• Agricultural degree, third year project supervisor
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Key Words | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Viticulture | Environmental physiology | Australia |
| Plant physiology | water stress | Australia |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Responses to supplementary UV radiation of some temperate meadow species | University of East London | 01-Mar-2001 |
Memberships
| Membership Type | Membership Body | Description | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | ASVO | Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology | 01-Feb-2007 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Systems Theory and Control (MATHEMATICS) (230119)
- Plant Physiology (BOTANY) (270402)
- Plant Biochemistry and Physiology (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300201)
- Oenology and Viticulture (HORTICULTURE) (300305)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Field crops not elsewhere classified (FIELD CROPS) (620199)
- Stone fruit (HORTICULTURAL CROPS) (620201)
- Grapes (HORTICULTURAL CROPS) (620204)
- Other (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630299)
- Climate change (CLIMATE AND WEATHER) (770101)
- Land and water management (FARMLAND INCL. ARABLE LAND AND PERMANENT CROP LAND) (770802)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MACROWINE CONFERENCE MONTPELLIER FRANCE JUNE 2008 | Chief Investigator | THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION | Travel and Conference Grants | 19/05/2008 |
| Environment - genotype interactions and the physiological processes determining fruitfulness and yield in grapevines | Principal Supervisor | GRAPE & WINE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2008 |
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.