Centre for Plant & Water Science - Central Queensland University
Centre for Plant & Water Science - Central Queensland University Centre for Plant & Water Science - Central Queensland University
Centre for Plant & Water Science Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health 2008 Annual Research Report
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong><br />
Faculty of <strong>Science</strong>s, Engineering & Health<br />
2008 Annual Research Report
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
SECTION A GOALS, OBJECTIVES, TARGETS AND PROGRESS TOWARDS<br />
ACHIEVEMENT ........................................................................................... 1<br />
SECTION B STAFFING PROFILE ................................................................................... 4<br />
SECTION C PRODUCTIVITY ........................................................................................... 5<br />
C1 Scholarship and Community Service ............................................................... 5<br />
C2 Industry Collaboration .................................................................................... 12<br />
C3 Research Training ........................................................................................... 12<br />
C4 <strong>Centre</strong> Interaction ........................................................................................... 13<br />
SECTION D FINANCIAL SUMMARY ........................................................................... 14<br />
D1 A Summary of Income ................................................................................... 14<br />
D2 A Summary of Expenditure ............................................................................ 18<br />
SECTION E ISSUES AND COMMENTS ........................................................................ 21<br />
SECTION F FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN 2007 - 2011 ......................................... 22<br />
SECTION G PAST STUDENTS AND RESEARCH-ONLY STAFF<br />
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRE FOR PLANT & WATER SCIENCE23<br />
SECTION H REPORTS ..................................................................................................... 27<br />
COMPARISON OF PHYTOCAPPING WITH COMPACTED CLAY CAPPING ... 27<br />
THE MYCOLOGY OF THE ROCKHAMPTON TREATED WATER SUPPLY ..... 28<br />
STUDIES ON WOODLANDS INVADED BY Allocasuarina littoralis .................... 29<br />
COMPOST TEA AS A MICROBIAL ENHANCER IN CROP PRODUCTION ....... 30<br />
CHARACTERISATION AND ASSESSMENT OF DRYNESS (GELLING) DEFECT<br />
OF MANDARIN FRUIT ............................................................................................. 32<br />
AUTOECOLOGICAL ROLE OF STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES IN Stevia rebaudiana . 34<br />
PROVENANCE VARIATIONS IN Calophyllum inophyllum L. WITH SPECIAL<br />
REFERENCE TO SEED OIL AND SEED OIL METHYL ESTER (BIODIESEL) ... 35<br />
BATTER SLOPE STABILISATION UNDER HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES . 37<br />
GREEN WASTE – IS IT A WASTE OR AN UN-TAPPED RESOURCE ............... 38<br />
INCREASING INTEREST IN CARBON TRADING RESEARCH IN<br />
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ..................................................................................... 39<br />
MODELLING THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN PHYTOCAPPING ..................... 41<br />
SCREENING OF TOMATO GERMPLASM FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE ....... 43<br />
STABILISATION OF RAIL FORMATIONS USING NATIVE VEGETATION ..... 45<br />
EXPLORING THE RESPONSE OF SOME VEGETABLE SPECIES TO<br />
OXYGATION .............................................................................................................. 46<br />
OXYGATION OF SUB-SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATED PINEAPPLE, COTTON<br />
AND WHEAT .............................................................................................................. 47<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION OF A LEAF VEGETABLE PAK CHOI (Brassica<br />
rapa L.CHINESIS GROUP) GROWN WITH BOTH CHEMICAL (INORGANIC)<br />
FERTILIZER AND VERMICAST EFFLUENT ......................................................... 49<br />
ICEWARM GLOBAL WATER SYSTEMS II (THE ENGINEERED WATER<br />
CYCLE) .................................................................................................................. 50<br />
NATIVE GROUND COVER SPECIES FOR REVEGETATION UNDER HIGH<br />
VOLTAGE POWERLINES IN QUEENSLAND ........................................................ 51<br />
NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY FOR PREDICTING B74 MANGO<br />
MATURITY AND EATING QUALITY ..................................................................... 53<br />
INTEGRATING VEGETABLE PRODUCTION INTO AGROFORESTRY IN<br />
SOUTHEAST ASIA .................................................................................................... 55<br />
Appendix 1. PHOTOGRAPHS OF CPWS STAFF, STUDENTS & VISITORS ........ 56<br />
Appendix 2. CENTRE FOR PLANT & WATER SCIENCE PUBLICITY ................. 59<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section A GOALS, OBJECTIVES, TARGETS AND<br />
PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong> and its staff had a good year in 2008. Continuing from our 2007 Strategic Plan<br />
goals, we raised our post-graduate student numbers and the range of activities, though on a<br />
declining source of external income. Nether the less a 12.6:1 ratio of external to internal<br />
funds was achieved (Table 8). Internal financial support received from the Office of<br />
Research increased considerably above that of the previous year (at the expense of that<br />
af<strong>for</strong>ded to our host Faculty), although our RIGB income was considerably less. Of the<br />
increase, we apportioned funds <strong>for</strong> needed upgrade of our screen-house facility and vehicles,<br />
and set aside set-up funding <strong>for</strong> the two new Chairs to be hosted within our <strong>Centre</strong>, one in<br />
Bundaberg and one in Emerald. Protracted discussions with CQUni Facilities Management,<br />
Architectural Services and Suppliers have set the scene <strong>for</strong> a 2009 construction of a<br />
replacement <strong>for</strong> Building 205 (which was removed in 2007). This construction is integral to<br />
the development of the CPWS compound, and of our waste water management strategy.<br />
Our publications (10 refereed journal articles, and 26 conference papers) are somewhat<br />
below that projected <strong>for</strong> 2008, but numbers in 2009 will bring us back onto target. We gave<br />
papers in almost all states in Australia (with a show of strength, nine participants, at the<br />
Australia Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Meeting on the Gold Coast), and in Italy, UK, Taiwan,<br />
China and Nepal. Improving on 2007, three students graduated in 2008, but again,<br />
submissions in 2009 and 2010 will bring us back to the numbers anticipated in our Strategic<br />
Plan. Our income ($1.18 m) <strong>for</strong> 2008 was also less than anticipated, but new large projects<br />
in 2009 will offset this decline.<br />
A number of achievements within 2008 are noteworthy. Approval by Food Standards<br />
Australia New Zealand of stevia glycosides as an intense sweetener was gained in October,<br />
following four years of concerted ef<strong>for</strong>t. This has important ramifications <strong>for</strong> the soft drink<br />
and confectionary industries, and <strong>for</strong> public health, and gained much attention nationally and<br />
beyond. Another major area of strength within the CPWS is that of non-invasive commodity<br />
assessment using NIRS. At the Annual 13 th ANISG Conference in Victoria in April this was<br />
recognised by the gaining of the overall award <strong>for</strong> innovation to Associate Professor Kerry<br />
Walsh, to the best poster to Dr Phul Subedi and to the best student paper to Ria Reyes.<br />
Other prizes were won by the Sunrise 1770; voted the Best Sustainable Development in<br />
Australia in 2008 (by the UDIA) and a finalist in the United Nations Association of<br />
Australia Watt Environment Day Awards in 2008, the development capitalises upon a waste<br />
water treatment technology developed by PhD student Ben Kele.<br />
Also noteworthy was the agreement between CQ<strong>University</strong> Australia and <strong>Queensland</strong><br />
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to co-fund a new Chair in Vegetable <strong>Science</strong><br />
to be based at Bundaberg. Signing <strong>for</strong> this took place in Bundaberg in November. This will<br />
provided leadership to vegetable and irrigation research in the Bundaberg area. Already in<br />
irrigation the CPWS has concentrated research ef<strong>for</strong>t on a new technology, termed<br />
‘oxygation’, and this has attained significant funding from Land and <strong>Water</strong> Australia’s<br />
National Programme <strong>for</strong> Sustainable Irrigation (NPSI), and Horticulture Australia (HAL),<br />
and from the Australian Institute of Nuclear <strong>Science</strong> and Technology.<br />
We continue to engage industry, with our stakeholder-relevant research, in particular with<br />
Color Vision System P/L, Integrated Spectronics Pty Ltd, One Harvest, Sanitarium, Boxsell,<br />
Vermicrobe, Netafim, Seair and Midell Development Pty Ltd.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Our staff fluctuated during the year, welcoming Jeffrey Conaghan as the Research<br />
Technician and Dr Brett Roe and Brock McDonald as members of the RIRDC rooftop<br />
project.<br />
We also welcomed Dr Sanjay Singh as an Endeavour Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow from<br />
India, funded by the Australian Government to research drought tolerance in tomato, adding<br />
research strength to a project funded by the German Government indirectly through the<br />
Asian Vegetable Research and Development <strong>Centre</strong> (Taiwan). Delphine Lacombe, an intern<br />
from France also assisted on the same project, and Loic Burtin from the same institute in<br />
France worked on oxygation <strong>for</strong> six months. Varinderjit Khattra of the Indian Institute of<br />
Technology, Kharagpur spent four months working on NIRS. We were also <strong>for</strong>tunate to<br />
have a number (8) of volunteers who spent time learning research techniques and supporting<br />
our staff and students. These included Dr Mar Mar Thi, Elizabeth Atchison, Elena Churilova,<br />
Geeta Gautam Kafle, Caroline Midmore, Lynda Painter, Rita Subedi, Sousan Firoozi and a<br />
number of high school students. Ethan Harbinson, a student placement from Glenmore State<br />
High School, also spent time assisting <strong>Centre</strong> staff. Blandine Geneste, a visiting student<br />
from France, volunteered her time during her stay in Rockhampton.<br />
The core faculty academic staff of Prof Midmore, Prof Walsh and A/Prof Ashwath, as well<br />
as <strong>Centre</strong> Research Officers Dr Surya Bhattarai and Dr Phul Subedi, and administrative<br />
support from Linda Ahern has provided the stability <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Centre</strong>. Ms Ahern took a wellearned<br />
2.5 month long service leave until the end of the year. These staff were supported by<br />
other academics (Harrower, Newby, Reed) and casual administrative staff, the <strong>Centre</strong><br />
running on 2.0 EFT Academics, 2.1 EFT Research Officers, 3.75 EFT technical and 1.35<br />
EFT administrative staff and 16 EFT postgraduate students (14 FT, 4 PT).<br />
Dr Din Zahid returned to Pakistan in February after his one year Pakistan Higher Education<br />
Council Fellowship with the CPWS, and Dr Xinming Chen arrived in August, also <strong>for</strong> a<br />
one-year Fellowship with the CPWS, funded by the China Scholarship Council. This<br />
research provided support to ongoing studies on oxygation.<br />
We were <strong>for</strong>tunate to welcome a number of new post-graduate students throughout the year:<br />
Thakur Bhattarai (community <strong>for</strong>estry), Elena Churilova (hydroponics) and Resham Gautam<br />
(native vegetation). Three students, Rebecca Jolley, Rashmi Jayaram and Kim Bedwell,<br />
withdrew in 2008 due to personal reasons, and a number of students converted to part-time<br />
due to work commitments. Amongst these was Kartik Venkatraman who gained<br />
employment as the coordinator of Technical Services <strong>for</strong> CQ Waste Management with the<br />
Rockhampton Regional Council in 2008 and Lance Pendergast converted to part-time in<br />
2008 to work <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Queensland</strong> Dept of Primary Industries.<br />
We also farewelled Rob Lowry with close to 12 years service as a Research Worker, and<br />
welcomed Graham Fox as the Research Worker (part-time). Both Sunita Lata and Lynda<br />
Painter were engaged as part-time Research Workers on the native vegetation project funded<br />
by Ergon/Powerlink and we also welcomed Amanda Twomey, Research Officer working on<br />
a Bio-diesel project, followed by an RIRDC project on fruit and nut trees. Amanda left at the<br />
end of the year. Andrew Rank and Bhima Bhattarai were welcomed <strong>for</strong> various project<br />
assistance and Neil Percival <strong>for</strong> administrative assistance. We farewelled Brie Crane, Neil<br />
Percival and Vicki Barden from their casual positions. Of faculty staff, we farewelled Dr<br />
Billy Sinclair as our Molecular Biologist, and still await a replacement.<br />
Professor Midmore was successful in gaining support <strong>for</strong> oxygation research, funded by<br />
NPSI and HAL, and continued his research on rooftop food production funded by RIRDC.<br />
He also gained new funding <strong>for</strong> a desk-top study on Australian native fruit and nut tree<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
species, and their potential role in annual cropping systems. Under the auspices of the<br />
Australian Institute <strong>for</strong> Agricultural <strong>Science</strong> and Technology, and with funding from HAL,<br />
he organised a public meeting <strong>for</strong> researchers and others to understand potential to develop<br />
IP, and was on the organising committee <strong>for</strong> an AIAST function. “Challenges and<br />
Opportunities <strong>for</strong> Agriculture in a Changing Carbon Economy” held in Brisbane in<br />
September. He gave invited presentations to the Australian Society of Horticultural <strong>Science</strong>,<br />
to the U3A, to Probus, and served as a resource person <strong>for</strong> a USAID review of the<br />
SANREM CRSP in the Philippines. He also did some project review work <strong>for</strong> the CGIAR<br />
and continued with editorial responsibilities <strong>for</strong> Experimental Agricultural and the Journal<br />
<strong>for</strong> Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> and Biotechnology, and participated on the committee planning the<br />
2014 International Horticultural Congress <strong>for</strong> Brisbane.<br />
SANREM Partners Gerald Shively of Purdue <strong>University</strong>’s agricultural economics<br />
department and David Midmore were interviewed on ABC Radio Australia about the impact<br />
of falling coffee prices on poor farmers across Southeast Asia. The segment aired Oct. 15 on<br />
the network’s current affairs program “Connect Asia”.<br />
The Non-invasive Group 2008 activities focused on the development of applications <strong>for</strong> the<br />
NIR handheld technology (delivered through Integrated Spectronics P/L). Work was<br />
undertaken within the Calypso mango program (with OneHarvest and Ololo Farm<br />
Management P/L, using the NIR technology to assess fruit maturity, and thus the time of<br />
harvest. Activity was based within large (60,000 tree) farms in Darwin, Katherine,<br />
Mataranka, Mareeba and Bundaberg, using the technology to assess spatial variation in fruit<br />
maturity on tree, and within orchard. Extension of results to the wider mango industry also<br />
occurred through presentation at the Australian Mango Industry Association meetings. A<br />
smaller exercise was also undertaken in terms of application to the mandarin industry. This<br />
groundwork laid the foundation <strong>for</strong> a new research direction and grant opportunities in 2009.<br />
The year 2008 strengthened our research focus on biofuels. An RIRDC project and a merit<br />
grant project awarded to A/P Ashwath investigated the potential of native species in<br />
biodiesel production. More than 100 native species were evaluated <strong>for</strong> biodiesel potential<br />
and one species was thoroughly tested <strong>for</strong> fuel quality and efficiency. The attendance at a<br />
second generation workshop by A/P Ashwath, in Canberra, opened up further opportunities<br />
to interact and collaborate with the leading biofuels researchers. The national research<br />
project on phytocapping (A-ACAP), sponsored by an ARC Linkage grant, is progressing<br />
well and is providing the data needed to convince regulatory authorities to accept<br />
phytocapping as a viable capping system <strong>for</strong> landfill remediation. Rotary Australia<br />
sponsored an extended visit to India by A/P Ashwath in which he promoted the use of<br />
Australian native species in waste land reclamation and <strong>for</strong> biofuel feedstock production. He<br />
gave lectures to a wide range of organisations, including Rotary Clubs, Universities, schools<br />
and research institutes and promoted phytocapping amongst a number of research institutes,<br />
city councils and pollution control authorities.<br />
Dr Surya Bhattarai, following his Endeavour Foundation Scholarship to Taiwan in 2007,<br />
gained significant research funding from AVRDC to support molecular and physiological<br />
research on tomato drought tolerance, and from AINSE <strong>for</strong> oxygation, strengthening our<br />
international reputation in the area of horticultural science.<br />
We continue to involve the local community in our research, with visits from local schools<br />
and societies and talks given to a number of schools and associations. One prime example of<br />
community involvement was the official opening of Hole Number 9 at the Rockhampton<br />
Golf Club, made possible by our support of the club in gaining a Commonwealth <strong>Water</strong><br />
Grant.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section B<br />
STAFFING PROFILE<br />
There was approx 1.95 EFT academic staff, 2.65 EFT research officers, 4.6 EFT research workers &<br />
1.6 EFT administrative staff associated with the <strong>Centre</strong>.<br />
Table 1. Staff and Honorary Research Fellows associated with the <strong>Centre</strong><br />
Staff Category EFT Name Area<br />
Academic 0.5 A/Prof Ashwath, Nanjappa* Ecophysiology<br />
0.2 A/Prof Harrower, Keith* Microbiology<br />
0.6 Prof Midmore, David* Crop physiology<br />
0.05 Dr. Newby, Robert* Entomologist<br />
0.05 Prof Reed, Rob 2* Microbiology<br />
0.05 Dr Roe, Brett * Aquaculture, Hydropoinics<br />
0.1 Dr Sinclair, Billy* 1 Molecular biology<br />
0.5 A/Prof Walsh, Kerry*● <strong>Plant</strong> physiology<br />
Research Officers 1.0 Dr Bhattarai, Surya* Oxygation<br />
1 Dr Subedi, Phul* Non-invasive research<br />
0.05 Kele, Ben * Sunrise at 1770<br />
0.05 Dr Twomey, Amanda Biofuels, agro<strong>for</strong>estry<br />
Research Workers 0.7 Conaghan, Jeffrey 2 Technician<br />
0.95 McDonald, Brock Vermiculture, aquaponics<br />
0.3 Lowry, Robert 1 <strong>Plant</strong> growth facilities<br />
0.5 Fox, Graham 2 <strong>Plant</strong> growth facilities<br />
0.05 Bhattarai, Bhima Aerating saline irrigation<br />
0.2 Barden, Vicki 1 Native vegetation on clay soil sites<br />
0.2 Painter, Lynda 2,1 Native vegetation on clay soil sites<br />
0.1 Lata, Sunita Native vegetation on clay soil sites<br />
0.7 Subedi, Roshan Native vegetation on clay soil sites & Solid<br />
waste management<br />
Administration 1.0 Ahern, Linda Administration Officer<br />
Staff 0.1 Bunt, Enid 2 Administrative Assistant<br />
0.2 Crane, Brie 1 Administrative Assistant<br />
0.05 Percival, Neil 1 Administrative Assistant<br />
Honorary Research Dr Sands, Jim + Emerald Agricultural College<br />
Fellows Dr Burrows, William QDPI, Rockhampton - Woodland ecology<br />
Dr Carroll, Chris + QDNRM, Rockhampton – Irrigation<br />
Dr Dixon, Robert<br />
QDPI, Rockhampton<br />
Dr Rad<strong>for</strong>d, Bruce<br />
QDNRM, Biloela – Soil <strong>Science</strong><br />
Rank, Andrew *<br />
Consultant – stevia<br />
Visitors - Scholars 0.2 Dr Din Zahid Pakistan Higher Education Council<br />
0.4 Dr Xinming Chen China Scholarship Council<br />
0.8 Dr Sanjay Singh N.D.<strong>University</strong> of Agriculture &<br />
Technology, India<br />
- Students 0.3 Varinderjit Khattra Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur,<br />
India<br />
0.4 Delphine Lacombe Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de<br />
Rennes, France<br />
0.4 Loic Burtin Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de<br />
Rennes, France<br />
Status (EFT) of academic staff is calculated as a percentage of research-active time.<br />
* Research active: named participant on a research project attracting external research income; named author on a DEST-qualified<br />
research publication; or supervisor to a research higher degree candidate.<br />
+ Members of <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Advisory Committee.<br />
# Includes postgraduate supervision.<br />
● 0.2 of salary drawn from external sources.<br />
1 Left during 2008<br />
2 Started during 2008<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section C<br />
C1<br />
PRODUCTIVITY<br />
Scholarship and Community Service<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong> maintained scholarly output in 2008, with 10 refereed articles published (DEST category<br />
C1) (Table 2, 3).<br />
Table 2. CPWS Publications<br />
Magazine Articles<br />
Bhattarai, S. and Midmore, D. (2008) 'Potential benefits of oxygation-aeration of irrigation water to<br />
the Australian fruit industry', Australian Fruitgrower, vol. 2, no. 1, pp 22-23.<br />
Bhattarai, S., Salvaudon, C. and Midmore, D.J. (2008) 'Oxygation of the rockwool substrate <strong>for</strong><br />
hydroponics', Aquaponics Journal, vol. 2nd Quarter 2008, no. 49, pp 29-33.<br />
Roe, B.R. and Midmore, D.J. (2008) 'Sustainable aquaponics', Practical Hydroponics and<br />
Greenhouses Magazine, no. 103, November- December 2008.<br />
Journal Articles<br />
Bhatia, P. and Ashwath, N. (2008) 'Improving the quality of in vitro cultured shoots of tomato<br />
(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Red Coat)', Biotechnology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp 188-193.<br />
Bhattarai, S., Fox, J. and Gyasi-Agyei, Y. (2008) 'Enhancing buffel grass seed germination by acid<br />
treatment <strong>for</strong> rapid vegetation establishment on railway batters', Journal of Arid Environments, vol.<br />
72, no. 3, pp 255-262<br />
Bhattarai, S.P., Midmore, D.J. and Pendergast, L. (2008) 'Yield, water-use efficiencies and root<br />
distribution of soybean, chickpea and pumpkin under different subsurface drip irrigation depths and<br />
oxygation treatments in vertisols', Irrigation <strong>Science</strong>, vol. 26, no. 5 , pp 439-450.<br />
Makiela, S. and Harrower, K.M. (2008) 'Overview of the current status of buffel grass dieback',<br />
Australasian <strong>Plant</strong> Disease Notes, vol. 3, no. 1, pp 12-16.<br />
McHugh, A.D., Bhattarai, S., Lotz, G. and Midmore, D.J. (2008) 'Effects of subsurface drip<br />
irrigation rates and furrow irrigation <strong>for</strong> cotton grown on a vertisol on off-site movement of<br />
sediments, nutrients and pesticides', Agronomy <strong>for</strong> Sustainable Development, vol. 28, no. 4, pp<br />
507-519.<br />
Sammon, N.B. and Harrower, K.M. (2008) 'Microfungal contamination of municipal water supplies<br />
- a review', <strong>Water</strong>, vol. 35, no. 5, pp 98-102.<br />
Sharma, A., Harrower, K. and Ashwath, N. (2008) 'Enteric bacteria build-up in effluent irrigated<br />
plantations', Microbiology Australia, vol. 30, no. 1, pp 40-41.<br />
Smith, N.J.C., Zahid, D.M., Ashwath, N. and Midmore, D.J. (2008) 'Seed ecology and successional<br />
status of 27 tropical rain<strong>for</strong>est cabinet timber species from <strong>Queensland</strong>', Forest Ecology and<br />
Management, vol. 256, no. 5, pp 1031-1038.<br />
Subedi, P.P. and Walsh, K.B. (2008) 'Non-invasive measurement of fresh fruit firmness', Journal of<br />
Postharvest Biology and Technology, vol. 51, pp 297-304.<br />
Zhu, G.X., Midmore, D.J., Doughton, J.A., Cuppitt, D.A. and Lever, T. (2008) 'Factors contributing<br />
to the benefits of foliar nitrogen application <strong>for</strong> wheat in a sub-tropical winter environment', Journal<br />
of Crop Improvement, vol. 21, no. 41, pp 55-78.<br />
Conference Proceedings (Refereed and non-refereed)<br />
Ashwath, N. and Clark, A. (2008) 'In vitro propagation of selected clones of wasabi (Wasabia<br />
japonica)', Workshop presented at the 2008 National and Trans-Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong><br />
Conference Gold Coast, Australia, 21st - 23rd July, 2008.<br />
Ashwath, N. (2008) 'Selection and establishment of suitable plant species on phytocaps', paper<br />
presented at the 5th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Nanjing, China, 22nd - 25th<br />
October, 2008.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Ashwath, N. (2008) 'The potential of using Chinese brake fern in arsenic contaminated site<br />
remediation: an Australian experience', paper presented at the Soilrem 2008, Nanjing, China,<br />
18th - 21st October, 2008.<br />
Bhattarai, S.P., de la Peña, R.C., Midmore, D.J. and Kadirvel, P. (2008) 'Rapid generation<br />
advancement in tomato', paper presented at the 6th In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding<br />
Symposium (International), Brisbane, Australia, 24th - 28th August, 2008.<br />
Kele, B. (2008) 'A new dawn <strong>for</strong> decentralised sewerage', paper presented at the Onsite and<br />
Decentralised Sewerage and Recycling Conference, Benalla, VIC, 12th - 15th October 2008.<br />
Kele, B., Midmore, D.J., Hood, B. and McKennariey, B. (2008) 'Large on-site wastewater treatment<br />
and reuse systems <strong>for</strong> commercial applications', paper presented at the Onsite and Decentralised<br />
Sewerage and Recycling Conference, Benalla, VIC, 12th - 15th October 2008.<br />
Midmore, D.J. and Roe, B. (2008) 'Integrated aquaculture, hydroponics and vermiculture <strong>for</strong> food<br />
production – rooftops', presented at the 2008 National and Trans-Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong><br />
Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 21st - 23rd July, 2008.<br />
Nott, D., Walsh, K. and Harrower, K. (2008), 'Crowded house- a corymbia/ allocasuarina woodland<br />
association unburnt <strong>for</strong> 18 years in central <strong>Queensland</strong>', paper presented at the 33rd ESA Annual<br />
Conference, Sydney, Australia, 1st - 5th December, 2008.<br />
Qureshi, M.S. (2008) 'Population dynamics of SLW and its relationship with biotic factors in<br />
vegetable cropping systems', paper presented at the 2008 National and Trans-Tasman<br />
Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 21st - 23rd July, 2008.<br />
Palada, M., Bhattarai, S. and Roberts, M. (2008) 'Farmer participatory evaluation of af<strong>for</strong>dable<br />
microirrigation technology <strong>for</strong> vegetable production in Cambodia', paper presented at the<br />
American Society <strong>for</strong> Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference, Orlando, Florida.<br />
Reed, R. and Tandon, P. (2008). 'Testing the waters – evaluation of a novel medium <strong>for</strong> the<br />
detection and enumeration of a Escherichia coli under field conditions in the developing world',<br />
paper presented at the 12th International symposium on Microbial Biology. Cairns. 17th - 22nd<br />
August, 2008. p 172.<br />
Reyes, R., Subedi, P. and Walsh, K.B. (2008) 'Exploring FTNIR and NIR spectroscopy <strong>for</strong> noninvasive<br />
assessment of steviol glycoside levels in stevia leaves.', presented at the 13th Australian<br />
Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Hamilton, Victoria, 9th - 10th April, 2008.<br />
Sammon, N.B. (2008) 'The mycrobiota of a municipal water supply system in tropical Australia',<br />
paper presented at the 12th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology ISME 12, Cairns<br />
Australia, 17th - 22nd August, 2008.<br />
Shrestha, K., Walsh, K.B., Harrower, K.M. and Midmore, D.M. (2008) 'The use and efficacy of<br />
compost tea in organic crop production', paper presented at 2008 National and Trans-Tasman<br />
Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 21st - 23rd July, 2008. p 88.<br />
Shrestha, K. (2008) 'Compost tea and soil sustainability', paper presented at In Regenerative<br />
Agriculture – Healthy Soils Workshop, Calliope, Australia, 3rd - 4th December, 2008.<br />
Shrestha, K., Walsh, K.B., Harrower, K.M. and Midmore, D.J. (2008) 'Potentials of compost tea in<br />
organic crop production', paper presented at The 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress and 2nd<br />
ISOFAR Scientific Conference, Modena, Italy, 16th - 20th June, 2008.<br />
Shrestha, K. (2008) 'The use and efficacy of microbial enhancement in crop production', paper<br />
presented at the On-Farm training – Compost Tea Workshop, Shingle Hut, Moura, Australia,<br />
10th April, 2008.<br />
Subedi, P.P. and Walsh, K.B. (2008) 'Handheld SW-NIR spectrometry and the Australian mango<br />
industry', presented at the 13th Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Hamilton,<br />
Victoria, 9th - 10th April, 2008.<br />
Subedi, P.P. and Walsh, K.B. (2008) 'Handheld SW-NIR spectrometry <strong>for</strong> the measurement of fruit<br />
firmness', presented at the 13th Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Hamilton,<br />
Victoria, 9th - 10th April, 2008.<br />
Subedi, P.P., Walsh, K.B. & Hoffman, P. (2008) 'Prediction of mango eating quality at harvest<br />
using short-wave near infrared spectrometry', presented at the National and Trans-Tasman<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 20th - 23rd July 2008.<br />
Torabi, M., Bhattarai, S., Dhungel, J. and Midmore, D. (2008) 'Improving efficiency of the<br />
introduction and distribution of air in subsurface drip irrigation streams' oral presentation at<br />
2008 National and Trans-Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 21st<br />
- 23rd July, 2008.<br />
Venkatraman, K., Ashwath, N. and Su, N. (2008) 'Environmental per<strong>for</strong>mance of a phytocapped<br />
landfill in a semi arid region', paper presented at the National Landfill Managers and Operators<br />
Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 27th - 29th September, 2008.<br />
Venkatraman, K., Ashwath, N. and Su, N. (2008) 'Per<strong>for</strong>mance of a phytocapped landfill in a semi<br />
arid climate', paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Technologies and Strategic<br />
Management of Sustainable Biosystems, Perth, Australia, 6th - 9th July, 2008.<br />
Venkatraman, K. and Ashwath, N. (2008) 'Phytocapping of landfills an Australian experience',<br />
paper presented at the 5th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Nanjing, China, 22nd -<br />
25th October, 2008.<br />
Walsh, K., Mukarev, M. and Chen, D. (2008) 'Exploring chemometric approaches used with<br />
SWNIR instruments in estimation of fruit quality', presented at the 13th Australian Near Infrared<br />
Spectroscopy Conference, Hamilton, Victoria, 9th - 10th April, 2008.<br />
Walsh, K.B., Subedi, P.P., Hofman, M., Middleton, S., Brown, G. and Purdy, P. (2008) 'Measuring<br />
and predicting quality', presented at the 2008 National and Trans-Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong><br />
Conference, Gold Coast, <strong>Queensland</strong>, Australia, 21st - 23rd July, 2008.<br />
Table 3. Publications<br />
Year Books Book<br />
Chapters<br />
Journal<br />
Articles<br />
Conference<br />
Papers<br />
(TOTAL)<br />
Non-DEST<br />
Reports<br />
1998 2 10 16 8<br />
1999 1 13 18 18<br />
2000 1 11 18 6<br />
2001 1 12 16 4<br />
2002 1 12 11 10<br />
2003 8 13 9<br />
2004 1 5 18 19 10<br />
2005 3 25 12 11<br />
2006 1 20 17 8<br />
2007 14 16 2<br />
2008 10 26 3<br />
The profile of <strong>Centre</strong> activity is also indexed by the extent of activities on campus, in terms of<br />
seminars presented on campus, and by the number of visitors to the <strong>Centre</strong> (Table 4).<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Table 4. Visitors to CPWS<br />
Name From Date Activity<br />
John Hocken Waste 2 Energy 29 January Discuss research<br />
commercialisation<br />
John Ashton Sanitarium 26 March & 8<br />
August<br />
Research on stevia<br />
Peter McLaughlin Green Plate Pty Ltd 22-23 April Research on solar<br />
applications<br />
Russell Kimmins Green Plate Pty Ltd 22-23 April Research on solar<br />
applications<br />
Dr M Palada AVRDC, Taiwan 28-29 April Drought tolerance<br />
Dave Wyatt Earthly Worms 9-7 May &<br />
November<br />
Vermiculture research<br />
Darryl Jones Vermicrobe 6 May Vermiculture research<br />
Dr Robert de la Penã AVRDC, Taiwan 20-24 August Drought tolerance<br />
The monthly CPWS seminar series provides an opportunity <strong>for</strong> all staff and postgraduates to speak<br />
(Table 5), while all visitors are invited to present an ‘ad-hoc’ seminar during their visit.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Table 5. <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Seminar Series 2008<br />
2008 CPWS SEMINAR SCHEDULE<br />
FEBRUARY 12.00pm Monday 18 February 2008<br />
Topic 1: “Research conducted during Fellowship at CPWS”<br />
Presenter: Dr Din Zahid<br />
MARCH 12.00pm Monday 31 March 2008<br />
Topic 1: “Volcanic Rock Filters”<br />
Presenter: Ben Kele<br />
APRIL 12.00pm Monday 28 April 2008<br />
Topic:<br />
“Integrated Crop Management Program at AVRDC - The World<br />
Vegetable Center”<br />
Presenter: Dr Manuel C. Palada<br />
JULY 12.00pm Wednesday 9 July 2008<br />
Topic 1: “Latest advances from Beckman Coulter <strong>for</strong> Particle and Cell Counting<br />
/Sizing and Viability”<br />
Presenter: Beckman Coulter Representative<br />
JULY 12.00pm Monday 28 July 2008<br />
Topic 1: “A brief report on 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress and 2nd<br />
ISOFAR Scientific Conference, Modena, Italy, 16-20 June, 2008”<br />
Presenter: Karuna Shrestha<br />
AUGUST 12.00pm Thursday 11 August 2008<br />
Topic 1: “Autoecological role of steviol glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana”<br />
Presenter: Ria Reyes<br />
AUGUST 1.00pm Thursday 21 August 2008<br />
Topic 1: “Genomics-assisted Utilization of Genes from Wild Germplasm”<br />
Presenter: Dr Robert C. de la Peña<br />
NOVEMBER 12.00pm Monday 24 November 2008<br />
Topic 1: “The use and efficacy of microbial enhancement in crop production.”<br />
Presenter: Karuna Shrestha<br />
Topic 2: “Crowded house - a Corymbia/Allocasuarina woodland association<br />
unburnt <strong>for</strong> 18 years in central <strong>Queensland</strong>.”<br />
Presenter: Dixie Nott<br />
The influence of the <strong>Centre</strong> is also indexed by the extent of involvement by <strong>Centre</strong> personnel in offcampus<br />
events (Table 6).<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Table 6. Presentations at Meetings, Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and Other Events<br />
Conferences at which presentations given<br />
Kartik Venkatraman travelled to Perth from 5 to 10 July to attend a conference on Technologies &<br />
Strategic Management of Sustainable Bio-systems.<br />
Kerry Walsh, Phul Subedi & Ria Reyes attended the 13th ANISG Conference & Short Course held<br />
in Hamilton, Victoria from 8 to 11 April.<br />
David Midmore travelled to the Philippines to participate in the USAID SANREM project review<br />
from 20 to 27 May.<br />
Nanjappa Ashwath attended a Bio-fuel Conference & visited RIRDC in Canberra from 10 to 12<br />
June.<br />
Karuna Shrestha gave a poster presentation at the ISFAR and IFOAM Conference in Italy from 16<br />
to 20 June.<br />
David Midmore travelled to the Brisbane to visit UQ & the Gold Coast and attend as an invited<br />
speaker the National and Trans-Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference from 19 to 24 July<br />
2009.<br />
Kerry Walsh was also an invited speaker, and Phul Subedi presented, and Surya Bhattarai, Ria<br />
Reyes, Karuna Shrestha, Manouchehr Torabi & Jay Dhungel attended the National and Trans-<br />
Tasman Horticultural <strong>Science</strong> Conference held at the Gold Coast from 20 to 23 July.<br />
Jay Dhungel travelled to the Gold Coast from 11 to 15 August and attended & presented at the 14th<br />
Australian Cotton Conference.<br />
Noel Sammon and Prof Rob Reed attended the 12th International Symposium on Microbial<br />
Ecology (ISM-12) held in Cairns from 16 to 23 August 2008.<br />
David Midmore attended the AAB Conference “Resource Capture by Crops” at Nottingham<br />
<strong>University</strong>, UK from 10 to 12 September and presented a paper.<br />
Ben Kele was an invited Keynote Speaker at the Onsite and Decentralised Sewage Conference –<br />
Coming Clean: Sustainable Backyards and Beyond, in Benalla, Victoria from 12 to 15 October.<br />
Jay Dhungel travelled to Narrabri to attend the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC Annual<br />
<strong>Science</strong> Forum from 13 to 17 October 2008.<br />
Amanda Twomey attended and presented at the Bioenergy Conference held in Melbourne from 8<br />
to 9 November<br />
Dixie Nott attended and presented at the 33rd ESA Annual conference held in Sydney from 29<br />
November to 6 December.<br />
Meetings, Seminars, Workshops and Other Events Attended<br />
Kerry Walsh travelled to Sydney to attend meetings with Integrated Spectronics & HAL.<br />
N. Ashwath attend A-ACAP project planting at Townsville from 11 to 14 February.<br />
Surya Bhattarai travelled to AVRDC, Taiwan and presented a paper on “Genetics, physiological<br />
and molecular approaches to improve heat and drought tolerance in tomatoes”, from 23 to 29<br />
February.<br />
Keith Harrower & Rebecca Jolley travelled to Launceston, Tasmania from 24 to 27 February 2009<br />
to attend several meeting at various farms and wasabi meetings.<br />
David Midmore, Laurie Tait & Brock McDonald travelled to Brisbane from 24 to 27 February and<br />
visited Riverdell, Vermicrobe & Green Roof Australia <strong>for</strong> hydroponics discussions.<br />
Ben Kele was resource person <strong>for</strong> South Australian Environmental Training Day at Mission Beach,<br />
4 April.<br />
Jay Dhungel, Laurie Tait & Manouchehr Torabi travelled to Brisbane from 13 to 16 April to attend<br />
Instrumentation Training at QUT.<br />
Karuna Shrestha travelled to Moura from 10 to 11 April to attend an on-farm Compost Tea<br />
Workshop at Shingle Hut.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Karuna Shrestha travelled to Brisbane from 14 to 15 April to attend an Endeavour Award Function.<br />
Surya Bhattarai, Jay Dhungel, Manouchehr Torabi & Laurie Tait travelled to QUT, Brisbane from<br />
13 to 16 April 2008 <strong>for</strong> instrumentation training and Surya then travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal<br />
& Hyderabad, India to visit and attend discussions at- the International <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> Integrated<br />
Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal <strong>for</strong> potential collaboration <strong>for</strong> small<br />
scale drip irrigation and oxygation; International Development Enterprises (IDE)-Nepal; the<br />
Nepal Smallholder Irrigation Market Initiatives (SIMI) Kathmandu, Nepal <strong>for</strong> potential<br />
collaboration <strong>for</strong> small scale drip irrigation and oxygation; and the International Crop Research<br />
Institute <strong>for</strong> Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) <strong>for</strong> discussion and developing the methods <strong>for</strong><br />
drought screening.<br />
Kerry Walsh travelled to Melbourne from 21 to 25 April <strong>for</strong> X-ray fruit assessment discussions<br />
with Industry Partners.<br />
Kerry Walsh attended discussion on X-ray fruit assessment held in Sydney from 14 to 16 May.<br />
Brock McDonald visited Vermicrobe International Pty Ltd, Northern NSW and Boxsell, Brisbane<br />
and <strong>for</strong> hydroponics discussion and collection of vermiculture units, from 21 to 27 May and 20<br />
to 23 June.<br />
Keith Harrower & Noel Sammon attended SEM training held in Gladstone on 17 July.<br />
Nanjappa Ashwath travelled to Kaniva, Victoria <strong>for</strong> bio-diesel discussions with Steve Hobbs of BE<br />
Bioenergy from 24 to 29 July.<br />
Kerry Walsh and Phul Subedi travelled to Sydney 20 to 22 August <strong>for</strong> new generation NIR work.<br />
Brett Roe attended & presented at 'Innovation in a Global Market' 2008 Brisbane Skretting<br />
Australasian Aquaculture Conference held in Brisbane from 3 to 7 August.<br />
David Midmore gave a presentation to the U3A on vermiculture and hydroponics on 4 August.<br />
Brett Roe attended a meeting re: aquaponics course development in Brisbane from 27 August to 1<br />
September.<br />
Lance Pendergast attended a Land & <strong>Water</strong> Australia (LWA) meeting held in Canberra from 1 to 4<br />
September.<br />
Surya Bhattarai and Jay Dhungel travelled to Canberra to attend a LWA Meeting and visited the<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Melbourne <strong>for</strong> data collection, from 1 to 7 September.<br />
Thakur Bhattarai attended a symposium and meeting on Challenges and Opportunities to<br />
Agriculture in a Changing Carbon Economy held in Brisbane from 3 to 4 September.<br />
David Midmore attended the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting at Imperial College,<br />
London from 3 to 5 September.<br />
Phul Subedi travelled to Katherine/Darwin to conduct NIR training <strong>for</strong> Calypso Growers from 6 to<br />
22 September.<br />
Kerry Walsh visited various farms re: use of paunch and meetings with stakeholders in the Biloela<br />
area on 12 September.<br />
Surya Bhattarai & Manouchehr Torabi visited ANSTO, Sydney from 15 to 19 September, funded<br />
by AINSE, to collect data on air bubble size distribution.<br />
Nanjappa Ashwath attended a Climate Change Adaptation Workshop held in Sydney & visited<br />
landfill sites at Pomona & Nudgee, near Brisbane from 1 to 4 October.<br />
Kerry Walsh & Brock McDonald attended a Grazing Best Practice Course held in Calliope from 9<br />
to 11 October.<br />
David Midmore gave a presentation to the Rockhampton Probus group on stevia research, on 16<br />
October.<br />
David Midmore & Surya Bhattarai travelled to Bundaberg from 11 to 12 November to meet with<br />
John Hall CropTech, and attended meetings with DPI and a Bundaberg Campus meeting <strong>for</strong><br />
signing of a CQUni/QDPIF agreement.<br />
David Midmore & Surya Bhattarai travelled to Stanthorpe to meet with Fred Boronio <strong>for</strong> NPSI<br />
Project discussions from 18 to 19 November.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
C2<br />
Industry Collaboration<br />
Collaborative links between <strong>Centre</strong> staff and Color Vision Systems P/L & Integrated Spectronics P/L<br />
continued to strengthen as commercialisation of the NIRS technology proceeds. Fruitful interaction<br />
with the supply chain group, One Harvest, through the Calypso mango project, was underpinned by<br />
the deployment of Dr Subedi across most production regions during the mango harvest season. Links<br />
with Boxsell and Vermicrobe resulted in generous donation of equipment to support our on-campus<br />
RIRDC project on rooftop farming. Cooperation with Midell Developments Pty and Powerlink<br />
allowed <strong>for</strong> productive support of PhD programmes, as did the link with Sanitarium, Netafim and<br />
Seair (Canada).<br />
C3<br />
Research Training<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong> continued to foster postgraduate training, with one PhD awarded, and one MSc and two<br />
PhD theses submitted and 19 candidacies current.<br />
Table 7. Degrees Awarded, Theses Submitted & Current Students<br />
Degrees Awarded in 2008<br />
Name Degree Supervisor(s) Thesis Title<br />
Hoffmann, M. MSc Walsh Application of tree and stand allometrics to the<br />
determination of biomass and its flux in some<br />
north-east Australian woodlands : tree and stand<br />
allometrics<br />
Sharma, A PhD Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
Agro<strong>for</strong>esty systems <strong>for</strong> municipal effluent<br />
disposal<br />
Subedi, P. PhD Walsh<br />
Midmore<br />
Using near infrared spectroscopy to assess fruit<br />
eating quality<br />
Thesis Submitted in 2008<br />
Name Degree Supervisor(s) Thesis Title<br />
Makiela, S. PhD Harrower<br />
Midmore<br />
Buffel grass dieback in <strong>Central</strong> <strong>Queensland</strong><br />
Qureshi, S PhD Midmore<br />
Newby<br />
Sequiera<br />
Tait, L. MSc Walsh<br />
Burrows<br />
Pest management in small-scale tropical<br />
vegetable systems with particular reference to<br />
whitefly, Bermesia Fabaci, Biotype B control in<br />
cucurbits<br />
Stand structure and population dynamics of<br />
woodland communities in north-eastern<br />
Australia based on an established network of<br />
permanently position vegetation transects<br />
Current Students<br />
Name Degree Supervisor(s) Thesis Title<br />
Bhattarai, T PhD Midmore<br />
Lockie<br />
Assessment of sustainability of community<br />
<strong>for</strong>estry in Nepal<br />
Churilova, E. MSc Midmore<br />
Roe<br />
Dhungel, J. PhD Midmore<br />
Bhattarai<br />
Walsh<br />
Gautam, R. PhD Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
Hathurusingha, S. PhD Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
Effect of vermicast (vermiculture effluent) on<br />
the yield and uptake of nutrients in<br />
hydroponically grown plants <strong>for</strong> commercially<br />
adopted NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)<br />
systems<br />
Innovative aeration of irrigation water<br />
Native ground cover species <strong>for</strong> revegetation<br />
under high voltage powerlines in <strong>Queensland</strong><br />
Biodiesel potential of Beauty leaf tree<br />
(Calophyllum inophyllum).<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Howkins, T. PhD Midmore<br />
Ng<br />
Phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated site<br />
using arsenic hyperaccumulating plants<br />
Kele, B. PhD Midmore<br />
Miles<br />
Extension of the use of the KEWT system,<br />
including filtration<br />
Nott, D. PhD Walsh Eucalypt woodland stand structure: effect of<br />
management practices<br />
Pendergast, L. PhD Midmore<br />
Walsh<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> salinity tolerance mechanisms and the<br />
effects of sub-surface aeration on growth, water<br />
use efficiencies and salinity tolerance<br />
Reyes, R. PhD Walsh<br />
Midmore<br />
Autoecological role of steviol glycosides in<br />
Stevia rebandiana<br />
Sammon, N PhD Harrower A study of microfungi in Rockhampton<br />
reticulated water<br />
Shrestha, K. PhD Midmore<br />
Walsh<br />
Harrower<br />
Compost teas: their biology and activity<br />
Syeda, S. PhD Midmore<br />
Vicente-Beckett<br />
Torabi, M. PhD Midmore<br />
Walsh<br />
Bhattarai<br />
Venkatraman, K. PhD Ashwath<br />
Su<br />
C4<br />
<strong>Centre</strong> Interaction<br />
A study of the Dee River system, to explore the<br />
utilisation of fish parasites as bio-indicators of<br />
freshwater pollution, and an evaluation of the<br />
abilities of plants in the phytoremediation of<br />
heavy metals<br />
Aspects of oxygation<br />
Phytoremediation of landfill sites<br />
CPWS fosters links with other CQU researchers. In 2008 this involved much ground work, with in<br />
particular the CEM and CRE, <strong>for</strong> the creation of a new CQ<strong>University</strong> Flagship, the Institute <strong>for</strong><br />
Research Industries and Sustainability (IRIS). This Institute acts as the umbrella <strong>for</strong> Research <strong>Centre</strong><br />
activities under the broad remit of its title. Further in<strong>for</strong>mation on IRIS is to be found at:<br />
http://iris.cqu.edu.au. Links including the supervision of a physics PhD student (C. Hayes), an<br />
engineering (CRE) Masters student, and a PhD student (D. Nott) with CEM staff. Indeed CEM &<br />
CPWS continue to function collaboratively across a range of resources (e.g. CEM usage of CPWSsupported<br />
vehicles, technicians, and equipment). Support has also been given to the <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong><br />
Railway Engineering (CRE - Railway Embankment project). CPWS also contributes to the functions<br />
of the ISRD. Beyond CQ<strong>University</strong> CPWS interacts with other Australian universities via the ARC<br />
Phytocap project and the Rail CRC.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section D<br />
D1<br />
A Summary of Income<br />
FINANCIAL SUMMARY<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong> was supported by approx. $1.18 million in total funding during 2008, of which one third<br />
was provided as a CQU Budget allocation to the <strong>Centre</strong> (Table 8). Of this amount, core CQU research<br />
block funding was $93,844. Thus an 12.6:1 funding leverage was achieved on CQU funds.<br />
Table 8. Funding to CPWS in 2008<br />
Course Fees, Consultancy<br />
and Equipment<br />
Hire/Assets<br />
Amount % Research<br />
Misc Consultancies & Fees $15,405 Services, Admin Support, etc<br />
Sales $36 Publications<br />
SUB TOTAL $15,441 1.3%<br />
Project<br />
Leader<br />
<strong>University</strong><br />
Research Budget Allocation $179,535 IGS funding Midmore<br />
Research Budget Allocation $93,844 CQU funding Midmore<br />
RAAS Award – Midmore $57,984 Post-doctoral fellowship - Bhattarai Midmore<br />
RDI Research Grant - $27,313 RDI(M)08-15 Provenance variations in<br />
growth and seed oil content of<br />
Calophyllum Inophyullum (Merit Grant)<br />
Research Support Grant $8,667 Research Support Grant - KB, SH, BK,<br />
RR, MT<br />
RTS Funds $82,376<br />
*$25,000<br />
2008 Student Allocation<br />
2007 Student Allocation received in 2008<br />
SUB TOTAL $449,719 38% (*Not included in 2008 figures)<br />
National Competitive Funding<br />
Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
Midmore<br />
Horticulture Australia Ltd<br />
(HAL)<br />
$123,490 Non-invasive technologies <strong>for</strong> the<br />
assessment of fruit internal quality<br />
RIRDC $135,100 Green roof-tops and self sufficient food<br />
production<br />
RIRDC $5,000 Opportunities <strong>for</strong> high protein fruit<br />
production with low quantities of water<br />
RIRDC $40,000 Evaluation bio-diesel potential of<br />
Australian native plants<br />
Cotton Catchment<br />
Communities (CRC)<br />
Horticulture Australia Ltd<br />
(HAL)<br />
Cotton Catchment<br />
Communities (CRC)<br />
Qld Dept of Premier and<br />
Cabinet<br />
$2,497 S’ship M Torabi: Studies on multigation<br />
under controlled conditions<br />
$7,600 Aeration of irrigation water <strong>for</strong><br />
improvements in pineapple crop health<br />
and yield<br />
$2,412 S’ship J Dhungel: Field aspects of<br />
multigation – fertigation and oxygation<br />
$5,000 Smart State Grant - Evapotranspiration<br />
ET/Phytocap<br />
Powerlink $135,000 Selection of native ground cover species<br />
<strong>for</strong> revegetation under high voltage<br />
power lines (HVPL)<br />
River Basin Management<br />
Society<br />
$6,879 A study of microfungi in Rockhampton<br />
reticulated water<br />
Walsh<br />
Midmore<br />
Midmore<br />
Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
Midmore<br />
Midmore<br />
Ashwath<br />
Ashwath<br />
Harrower<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
DPI/Horticulture Australia<br />
Ltd<br />
$9,000 Management of internal dryness of<br />
imperial mandarin<br />
NSW DPI $3,334 Nutrient management of Asian<br />
vegetables<br />
CRC Rail $1,142 Project #86 native vegetation on clay<br />
soil sites in central <strong>Queensland</strong><br />
Land and <strong>Water</strong> Australia -<br />
NPSI<br />
SUB TOTAL $536,454 45.2%<br />
$60,000 Optimising delivery and benefits of<br />
aerated irrigation water<br />
Walsh<br />
Midmore<br />
Ashwath<br />
Midmore<br />
National Non Competitive Funding<br />
Midell Developments Pty Ltd $17,983 Sunrise at 1770 Kele<br />
Powerlink $3,500 Literature review Ashwath<br />
Rockhampton Regional<br />
Council<br />
$24,225 Greenwaste feasibility study Ashwath<br />
Oram’s Nursery $1,818 Development of tissue culture<br />
technology <strong>for</strong> the micropropagation of<br />
the vulnerable plant species Euodia sp.<br />
Ergon Energy $23,515 Slope stabilisation under high voltage<br />
power lines using native plants<br />
DPI & Fisheries $3,950 Development of best practice pre- and<br />
post-harvest protocols <strong>for</strong> production of<br />
B74 mango<br />
SUB TOTAL $74,991 6.3%<br />
International Non Competitive Funding<br />
Howkins<br />
Ashwath<br />
Walsh<br />
North Carolina A&T<br />
<strong>University</strong>/USAID<br />
$13,088 Agro<strong>for</strong>estry and sustainable vegetable<br />
production in SEA watersheds<br />
Midmore<br />
The World Vegetable <strong>Centre</strong><br />
(AVRDC)<br />
SUB TOTAL $32,109 2.7%<br />
$19,021 Screening of tomato germplasm <strong>for</strong><br />
drought tolerance and high lycopene<br />
content<br />
Bhattarai<br />
Infrastructure<br />
RIBG $76,402 6.5% Infrastructure Midmore<br />
TOTAL INCOME $1,185,116<br />
Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) (and associated <strong>University</strong> contribution) and RIBG are awarded<br />
on a calculation based on activity level (principally NCG income) of the previous two years. RIBG is<br />
awarded solely on NCG grant activity.<br />
Total income was similar to 2007, and down on the previous four years, due largely to decreases in<br />
National Competitive Grants (completion of several large HAL grants and an ACIAR project) (Table<br />
9, Figure 1). Our RIBG allocation as a % of that gained by CQU was down from 78% in 2005, to<br />
55% in 2006 up to 72% in 2007, and then down to 28% in 2008.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Table 9. Income per annum since 1994. Multiplier effect calculated as total income/CQU<br />
research block funds.<br />
Year<br />
Non-<br />
Comp.<br />
%<br />
Nat<br />
Comp<br />
%<br />
CQU<br />
%<br />
Consult<br />
%<br />
Infrast<br />
%<br />
Multiplier<br />
effect<br />
Total<br />
income<br />
$<br />
1994 31 31 38 - 159,600<br />
1995 34 39 27 - 148,600<br />
1996 8 32 58 1 270,000<br />
1997 30 36 29 4 629,500<br />
1998 34 44 17 5 1,003,014<br />
1999 22 42 31 5 913,709<br />
2000 23 28 25 4 20 1,097,931<br />
2001 15 50 29 7 5 1,243,917<br />
2002 4 64 23 2 8 1,574,215<br />
2003 5 60 23 4 8 1,677,526<br />
2004 11 35 31 3 20 12.7 1,278,102<br />
2005 9 54 21 0.4 16 23.8 1,844,533<br />
2006 16 35 36 0.1 13 12.3 1,053,370<br />
2007 22 32 28 0.7 15 15.2 1,110,411<br />
2008 6 45 38 1.3 6 12.6 1,185,116<br />
Figure 1. Income per annum since 1994<br />
Figure 2. Multiplier effect on university contribution since 2004<br />
16
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
<strong>Centre</strong> associated staff/students secured $35,980 from the <strong>University</strong> research related schemes<br />
(ISRD grants, research support associated with UPRA and APRA scholarships), and the RAAS Post-<br />
Doctoral Fellowship <strong>for</strong> Dr Surya Bhattarai was funded through the Office of Research. This was<br />
further supplemented by funds from LWA’s NPSI support, to extend the duration until mid-2011.<br />
Research Training Scheme and overseas postgraduate fee support is allocated to Faculties, with<br />
$82,376 devolved from the Faculty to the <strong>Centre</strong> to support postgraduate activities (with reporting on<br />
expenditure provided to the Faculty).<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
D2<br />
A Summary of Expenditure<br />
IGS & CQU research funding was allocated by the CPWS Planning & Development Committee to<br />
postgraduate linked research projects, consumables and maintenance by research program,<br />
administrative, technical and research salaries and scholarships (Table 10).<br />
Table 10. Disbursement of IGS and associated CQU funding (<strong>Centre</strong> allocation)<br />
2008<br />
Revenue<br />
($)<br />
Balance Brought <strong>for</strong>ward in 2008 766<br />
2008 UC Funds 93,844<br />
2008 IGS Funds 179,536<br />
Funding from AH9297 & Misc Fund Codes 86,589<br />
2008<br />
Expenditure<br />
($)<br />
Expenditure<br />
Administration/Technician/Research Worker Support/Fees &<br />
Misc Costs 85,813<br />
Conservation and Rehabilitation Travel Support/Discretionary 5,000<br />
Agronomy and Crop Physiology Travel Support/Discretionary 6,000<br />
Product Quality and <strong>Plant</strong> Physiology Travel<br />
Support/Discretionary 4,000<br />
Postdoctoral Research Officer Support 6,000<br />
Laboratory (Eco Physiology, Molecular, NIR, Tissue Culture)<br />
Supplies and Operations/Growth Cabinet Maintenance/Software 30,000<br />
Student Support - Scholarships 9,420<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> Growth Facilities/Equipment 18,190<br />
Tfr to address deficit – RIGB & RI AH8297 87,960<br />
Office of Research Clawback 100,000<br />
Carry <strong>for</strong>ward balance <strong>for</strong> activities in 2009 8,352<br />
Total 360,735 360,735<br />
Of IGS and associated CQU funds, approximately 24% was spent on salary, and the remainder on<br />
travel, equipment and staff and off-campus activities (Table 10).<br />
18
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong>’s RIBG allocation was used towards the purchase of new equipment and the maintenance<br />
of old, and in support of technical staff who maintain the infrastructure base (Table 11). Of RIBG<br />
funds, 39% was allocated to salary, 16% to equipment and consumables, and 45% <strong>for</strong> 2008/09<br />
Compound upgrade.<br />
Table 11. Distribution of Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) in 2008<br />
2008<br />
Revenue<br />
($)<br />
2008<br />
Expenditure<br />
($)<br />
Balance Brought <strong>for</strong>ward to 2008 -69,854<br />
Research Budget Allocation 2008 76,402<br />
RIBG Funding 69,894<br />
Funds from AH7899 and Misc Fund Codes 73,309<br />
Expenditure<br />
Administrative Support 62,477<br />
Office Equipment – Desktop Computer 1,114<br />
CPWS Compound Upgrade/Architect Fees/Building 205 83,017<br />
GenStat Floating Licence & PC Support/Maintenance 586<br />
Equipment – Mazzei Air Injectors 707<br />
Equipment – Anaerobic Chamber 1,850<br />
Total 149,751 149,751<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Draft budget <strong>for</strong> 2009<br />
For the coming year, the IGS – CQU allocation is $207,000, 75.7% of that in 2008. The draft budget<br />
(Table 12) accommodates this. Funding <strong>for</strong> the staff discretionary scheme is expanded to reflect the<br />
training requirements of the increased number of research staff in the <strong>Centre</strong>. We anticipate a further<br />
reduction in funds <strong>for</strong> 2010, hence we plan a sizeable carry <strong>for</strong>ward amount.<br />
Table 12. Draft Budget <strong>for</strong> 2009 IGS – <strong>University</strong> contribution<br />
ITEM<br />
AMOUNT<br />
($)<br />
Administrative Assistance 88,000<br />
Administrative Supplies 6,000<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> Growth Facility 10,000<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> Production laboratory<br />
- ecophysiology 5,000<br />
- molecular 4,000<br />
- postharvest 4,000<br />
- tissue culture 4,000<br />
Agronomy and Crop Physiology Travel Support/Discretionary 6,000<br />
Product Quality and <strong>Plant</strong> Physiology Travel Support/Discretionary 4,000<br />
Conservation and Rehabilitation Travel Support/Discretionary 5,000<br />
Discretionary - Post-docs (x 2) 6,000<br />
Project specific support<br />
Student Support/Scholarships 25,000<br />
Software renewal (e.g. Matlab, SPSS, GenStat) 5,000<br />
Growth chamber service 5,000<br />
Equipment servicing 5,000<br />
Glasshouse/Compound/Building upgrades 15,000<br />
Vehicle 10,000<br />
TOTAL 207,000<br />
For the coming 2009 year, the RIBG allocation to the <strong>Centre</strong> is $28,407. This is a 37% decrease of<br />
the RIBG of 2008, due to our poorer per<strong>for</strong>mance in gaining competitive funding compared to the<br />
rest of the university research centres. The draft budget is presented below (Table 13).<br />
Table 13. Draft Budget <strong>for</strong> 2009 RIBG<br />
ITEM<br />
AMOUNT<br />
($)<br />
Administrative Assistance 5,000<br />
CPWS Research Worker 23,407<br />
TOTAL 28,407<br />
20
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section E<br />
ISSUES AND COMMENTS<br />
Reported income and outputs (graduations, publications) have levelled off somewhat in 2008<br />
although staffing levels remained essentially the same as in 2007. The <strong>Centre</strong> was active in preparing<br />
proposals but fewer were funded (more are expected <strong>for</strong> 2009); hence revenue will continue to<br />
decline, although other academic outputs remain high. Continued focus of CQU staff and resources<br />
into the emerging new flagships and to change within the university further diluted the<br />
competitiveness of the CPWS. Funding support <strong>for</strong> productive and non-project-constrained postdocs<br />
allows <strong>for</strong> development and expansion of new activities, catalysing further research income and<br />
outputs. This has resulted in increases in both internal and external funding <strong>for</strong> 2009.<br />
We believe that 2007 and 2008 have been years of great flux within the Faculty (and <strong>University</strong>),<br />
and together with the Flagship process these have significantly added to staff workloads, to the<br />
detriment of intellectual input into research. Appointment of Prof Walsh as Associate Dean <strong>for</strong> the<br />
College of <strong>Science</strong>s reduced his time available <strong>for</strong> <strong>Centre</strong> activities.<br />
The slow processing of upgrades in infrastructure (e.g. the replacement of Building 205 that includes<br />
realignment of sewage, power and communications, a concrete base and erection of a replacement<br />
building, and erection of an expanded screenhouse facility) and the handing back of funding to the<br />
Office of Research, has reduced the efficiency and scope of research, with the 2009 outlook also<br />
rather bleak. We believe though we will do better in 2009!<br />
21
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section F FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN 2007 - 2011<br />
The Strategic Plan was prepared by Professor David Midmore in consultation with <strong>Centre</strong> Members<br />
in March 2007.<br />
The <strong>Centre</strong>’s strategic plans <strong>for</strong> (2002-2007) and (2007-2011) may be found at:<br />
http://cpws.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.dopage=526.<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section G PAST STUDENTS AND RESEARCH-ONLY<br />
STAFF CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRE FOR PLANT &<br />
WATER SCIENCE<br />
(Employment on completion listed in brackets)<br />
PhD<br />
Subedi, P. (2003-2007). Using near infrared spectroscopy to assess fruit eating quality. (Post Doc<br />
CQU)<br />
Bhatia, P. (2002-2006). Regeneration, micropropagation and somatic embryogenesis in tomato.<br />
(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) (Japan <strong>Science</strong> Fellowship; Commonwealth Government,<br />
Canberra)<br />
Bhattarai, S. (2002-2006). The physiology of water use efficiency of crops subjected to subsurface<br />
drip irrigation, oxygation and salinity in a heavy clay soil. (Post Doc CQU)<br />
Long, R. (2000-2006). Improving fruit soluble solids content in melon (Cucumis melo L.)<br />
(reticulatus group) in the Australian production system. (CSIRO Researcher)<br />
Yates, E. (2000-2006). Revegetation of disturbed mangrove habitats in <strong>Central</strong> <strong>Queensland</strong>.<br />
(DOTARS Fellowship)<br />
Kuskopf, B. (1998-2006). Nitrogen fixation under conditions of water stress by ley legumes.<br />
(BFMEU Environmental Advisor, Ballarat)<br />
Guthrie, J. p/t (1997-2006). Robustness of NIR calibrations <strong>for</strong> assessing fruit quality. (DPIF Senior<br />
Experimentalist)<br />
Sangha, K. (2000-2005). Ecological services of trees in grazing systems. (Post Doc, JCU)<br />
Roe, B. (2000-2005). Ecologically engineered primary production in central <strong>Queensland</strong>, Australia –<br />
integrated fish and crayfish culture, constructed wetlands, flora hydroponics, and industrial<br />
wastewater. (Project Officer, Gos<strong>for</strong>d City Council)<br />
Bhatia, N. (2001-2005). Ecophysiology of nickel hyperaccumulation in Stackhousia tryonii.<br />
(Australian Cyclotron Fellow, based at ANSTO, Sydney; then Office of Gene Technology<br />
Regulator, Canberra)<br />
Yang, XJ. (2000-2003). Manipulating and modelling source-sink relationships of crop plants. <strong>Central</strong><br />
<strong>Queensland</strong> <strong>University</strong>. (Post Doc, CQU; then Post Doc UQ)<br />
Ockerby, S. (1998-2002). Leaves shed light on flowering (vegetative growth and control of floral<br />
induction in Sorghum bicolor). (Post Doc, CQU; then private research business)<br />
Zhu, G. (1998-2002). Optimising wheat production through management in the semi-arid tropics of<br />
central <strong>Queensland</strong>. (Post Doc, CQU; Post Doc, <strong>University</strong> of Melbourne)<br />
Lynch, T. (1997-2002). Intelligent support systems in agriculture: a study of their adoption and use.<br />
(CQU Lecturer)<br />
Cunningham, D. (1997-2000). Autecology of Cassia brewsterii. (Bureau of Rural <strong>Science</strong>, Canberra<br />
and UNEP, Washington)<br />
Greensill, C. (1997-2000) Non-invasive assessment of fruit quality by NIRS <strong>for</strong> fruit grading in an<br />
in-line setting. (CQU Lecturer, Rockhampton)<br />
Nissen, T.M. (1994-1998). Intercropping trees and vegetables - impact on soil quality and income.<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Georgia. (Post Doc <strong>University</strong> of Illinois; State Dept, US Govt.)<br />
Poudel, D.D. (1994-1998). Soil development and productivity, and erosion management of steepland<br />
volcanic-ash derived soils <strong>for</strong> sustainable vegetable production in Mindanao, the Philippines.<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Georgia. (Post Doc UC Davis, Cali<strong>for</strong>nia; Professor, <strong>University</strong> of Louisiana)<br />
Kleinhenz, V. (1994-1997). Technologies <strong>for</strong> sustaining vegetable production in the tropical<br />
lowlands. Technical <strong>University</strong> of Munich. (Research Officer, <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>Science</strong>s Group; World<br />
Vegetable <strong>Centre</strong>; Kasetsart <strong>University</strong> (Thailand), Jenaan Investment Co, Egypt)<br />
Michel, V. (1993-1997). The effect of cultural control methods on tomato bacterial wilt caused by<br />
Psendomonas solanacearum (E.F.Smith) in Southeast Asia. Swiss Federal Institute of<br />
Technology. (Swiss Agricultural Service)<br />
Thoennissen, C. (1993-1996). Nitrogen fertilizer substitution <strong>for</strong> tomato by legume green manures in<br />
tropical vegetable production systems. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. (SDC Project<br />
Officer)<br />
Brown, S. (1992-1996). Pathways of solute and gas movement within legume nodules. (Post Doc,<br />
UQ).<br />
23
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Masters<br />
Fesuk, Mr Samuel (2003-2007). Germination and storage of selected Australian tropical native<br />
grasses in relation to their ecology and use in land rehabilitation. (High School teacher,<br />
Rockhampton)<br />
Hoffmann, Ms Madonna (2003-2007). Application of tree and stand allometrics to the determination<br />
of biomass and its flux in some north-east Australian woodlands. (Experimental Officer, Primary<br />
Industries & Fisheries<br />
Kele, B. (2000-2006). On-site waste-water treatment and reuse using recirculatory<br />
evapotranspiration channels in regional <strong>Queensland</strong>. (PhD programme, CQU)<br />
Pichot, A. (2005). Poly-culture of Lates calcarifer and Cheras quadricarinatus with constructed wetlands.<br />
l’I.S.A.R.A-LYON (Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture de Rhône-Alpes)<br />
Duff, A. (1999-2005). Growth and development of onion in a subtropical environment. (DPIF Senior<br />
Experimental Officer)<br />
Sparkes, E. (1998-2003). Development of herbicide control options <strong>for</strong> Prosopis velutina as part of<br />
an integrated control strategy. (DNRM Senior Experimentalist)<br />
Radloff, B. (1994-2003). Rehabilitation of a coal tailings dam at BHP Saraji mine. (Hunter Valley<br />
coal mine Environmental Officer)<br />
Weeden, B. (1998-2002). The commercial potential of sugar beet production (Beta vulgaris) <strong>for</strong><br />
sugar production in the Mareeba-Dimbulah irrigation area of north <strong>Queensland</strong>. (DPIF Senior<br />
Expermentalist, Mareeba, Qld, Tender Manager, <strong>University</strong> of Wollongong)<br />
Smith, N. (1997-2002). Aspects off seed germination and early growth in rain<strong>for</strong>est cabinet timber<br />
species. (Environmental Consultant; DPI Project Officer)<br />
Huber, S. (2000). New uses <strong>for</strong> drip irrigation. Technical <strong>University</strong> of Munich. (PhD programme)<br />
Li, M. (1997-1998). Genetic diversity, physiology and production of Chinese water chestnut<br />
(Eleocharis dulcis [Burm.f.] Trin. ex Henschel). (Laboratory technician, Canada)<br />
Johnson, S. (1994-1997). Nitrogen fixation by ley legume pastures in CQ. (PhD UNE, NSW DPI)<br />
Guthrie, J. (1993-1996). Development of a noninvasive, objective test to measure the eating quality<br />
of mango and pineapple fruits. (PhD CQU, DPI Rockhampton)<br />
Scott, C. (1988-1996). On the use of paclobutrazol and cultar to control growth and flowering of<br />
pineapple. (Agronomist, Golden Circle Cannery)<br />
King, B. (1993-1995). Molecular techniques <strong>for</strong> the characterisation of citrus ploidy level.<br />
(supervisory assistance to primary supervisor, S. Lee, DPI, Bundaberg). (PhD, USA)<br />
List, S. (1992-1995). Oil production from the tea-tree, Melaleuca alternifolia: functional anatomy of<br />
the oil gland and development of a micro-propagation system. (Qld Museum, Brisbane)<br />
Chan, E. (1992-1994). Breeding <strong>for</strong> increased dinitrogen fixation in pea and soybean. (Project<br />
Advisor, AusAid Farming System Project, W. Samoa)<br />
Grey, J. (p/t 1992-1994). Tree clearing practices in <strong>Central</strong> <strong>Queensland</strong>. (Completed under Prof. G.<br />
Lawrence, HSS)<br />
Hoy, N.T. (1989-1992). Revegetation of a severely salt affected site at Barmoya, CQ.<br />
(Environmental Officer, Dept. of Minerals and Energy, Rockhampton)<br />
Mills, C. (1988-1990). A role <strong>for</strong> oxalates in Pisonia grandis, a tree of coral cays. (co-supervision<br />
with Dr. G. Pegg) Second MAppSc to graduate from CQU. (PhD, Research Officer, Griffith U)<br />
Thwaites, D. (1989). Tissue culture of Melaleuca alternifolia. Masters qual. (Forensics, Federal<br />
Police). (the first cohort of ‘postgraduate’ students at CQU – be<strong>for</strong>e establishment of the PhD<br />
program)<br />
24
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
UNDERGRADUATE HONOURS<br />
(employment on completion listed in brackets)<br />
Hanggi, S. (2005). Physiological responses of Chinese Brake Fern, Pteris vittata L. grown in<br />
agronomic treatments at an arsenic contaminated site. Honours (DNR&W Project Officer;<br />
Capricornia Conservation Commission)<br />
Pendergast, L. (2003). Effects of enhanced root zone aeration on growth, yield and water use of<br />
tomato and vegetable soybean subjected to soil salinity. 2B Honours (PhD CQU; DPI Emerald)<br />
Holland, J. (2002). Nutrient budget on an agriculture-hydroponic system. 1st Honours (International<br />
fishery company, NZ)<br />
Nelson, M. (2001). Studies on the genetic variation of taro (Colocasia esculentum var. antiquorum).<br />
2A Honours (PhD UQ)<br />
Thomas, P. (1998). Assessment of floristic change using a stable isotope methodology. 2A Honours<br />
(PhD CQU)<br />
Harrison, D. (1996). N2 fixation in sugar cane 1st Honours. (PhD UQ; Lecturer, UQ Brisbane)<br />
MacDonald, M. (1996). Agronomy of Vetiveria zizanioides 2A Honours (PhD UWA)<br />
Catesby, A. (1994). Papaya dieback : an insect transmitted disorder 2A Honours (PhD UQ; DPI,<br />
Qld)<br />
Sky, R. (1994). Sucrose unloading in the sugar cane stalk. (First 1st Honours awarded in Biology <strong>for</strong><br />
a project based on CQU campus, c.f. CSIRO) (PhD UQ)<br />
Brown, S. (1991). Functional vascular anatomy of legume nodules. 2A Honours (PhD CQU; UQ,<br />
Brisbane)<br />
POSTDOCTORAL STAFF/RESEARCH OFFICERS<br />
Dr Mihail Mukarev (2007). (<strong>University</strong> of Plovdiv, Bulgaria)<br />
Mr Andrew Rank (2001-200_). Stevia (ongoing)<br />
Dr Grant Zhu (2006-2008). Bamboo agronomy and stevia (CQU); Phytoremedation (<strong>University</strong> of<br />
Melbourne)<br />
Mr. Yuyue Yang (2006). Modeller-Hydrology, China<br />
Dr Ninghu Su (2005- 2006). Hydrology (Lecturer, JCU, Ground water hydrology)<br />
Dr Zongjian Yang (2005-2006). <strong>Plant</strong> development (UQ Post doc)<br />
Mr Christo Leibenberg (2003-2006). Physicist (Research Director, Silex Pty Ltd)<br />
Mr Dan White (2000-2006). Asian Vegetables and Bamboo agronomy (Main Roads Cadetship)<br />
Dr. Mirta Golic (1999-2006). Spectroscopist (Peanut Company of Australia)<br />
Dr Jill Windle (2005). Choice modeling (Senior Research Officer, CQU)<br />
Dr Steve Ockerby (2002-2003). Bamboo agronomy (Private industry research officer)<br />
Dr Colin Greensil (1998-2002). Electronics-physicist (Lecturer, School Physical Systems, CQU)<br />
Dr Jodie Guthrie (1997-2002). Molecular biologist (casual lecturer, CQU)<br />
Dr Volker Kleinhenz (1997-2001). Bamboo agronomy (AIT Bangkok)<br />
Dr David Gallacher (1998-2000). Asian vegetables (American <strong>University</strong> Dubai)<br />
Dr Corey Hogarth (1998-1999). Navy bean agronomy (SPS Seed Company)<br />
Ms Joanna Wann (1997). Revegetation of Nickel tailings<br />
Dr A.B.M Siddique (1996). Electron microscopist (Post Doc fellow in Japan, UWA)<br />
Dr Sharon Brown (1996). <strong>Plant</strong> physiology (Senior Research Officer, Dept. of Agriculture, UQ)<br />
Dr Patrick Whitty (1996). Molecular biology (Postdoctoral fellow, Dundee <strong>University</strong>, Scotland)<br />
Dr John Milne (1995-1996). Entomology (Associate Professor, Mahidol <strong>University</strong>, Thailand)<br />
Dr Philip Brown (1995-96) <strong>Plant</strong> physiology (lecturer <strong>University</strong> of Tasmania – now Professor)<br />
Dr Helen Wallace (1995). Entomology (Lecturer, Sunshine Coast <strong>University</strong> – now Assoc Professor)<br />
Dr Virginia Shepherd (1994-1995). <strong>Plant</strong> physiology (Postdoctoral fellow, <strong>University</strong> of Adelaide)<br />
25
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS/STUDENTS (> 2 months duration)<br />
Dr Xinming Chen, 2008/9, China<br />
Dr Sanjay Singh, 2008, India<br />
Dr Din Zahid, 2007/8, Pakistan<br />
Ms Delphine Lacombe, 2008, France<br />
Mr Loic Burtin, 2008, France<br />
Ms Blandine Geneste, 2008, France<br />
Mr Varinderjit Khattral, 2008, India<br />
Mr Tek Gotame, 2007, Nepal<br />
Ms Bianca Pischke, 2006, Germany<br />
Ms Clémence Salvaudon, 2006, France<br />
Mr Thomas Aubron, 2006, France<br />
Dr Mihail Mukarev, 2005, Bulgaria<br />
Prof Doug Rutledge, 2005, France<br />
Mr Manouchehr Torabi, 2005, Iran<br />
Ms Marthe Vivante, 2005, France<br />
Mr Yuyue Yang, 2005, China<br />
Mr Li Runshen, 2004, China<br />
Ms Aurelie Pichot, 2003, France<br />
26
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Section H<br />
REPORTS<br />
COMPARISON OF PHYTOCAPPING WITH COMPACTED CLAY<br />
CAPPING<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Field trials were established at Townsville (Fig 1), Lismore, Melbourne, Adelaide and<br />
Perth, with the view to testing the effectiveness of phytocapping technique to minimise<br />
percolation of water into buried waste in various agroclimatic regions of Australia. All<br />
trials except the one at Lismore consist of both phytocap (soil cover and perennial<br />
vegetation) and clay cap (compacted clay and grasses). The comparative trials have been<br />
established in 10 m x 20 m plots, each with or without lining (HPDE). The trials are being<br />
monitored <strong>for</strong> runoff, drainage, soil moisture content and methane emission.<br />
Although it is too early to conclude, monitoring to date has shed some light on establishment<br />
techniques and monitoring procedures. For example, the experience suggests that the top soil<br />
used in phytocapping must be tested <strong>for</strong> weed seeds to prevent the weeds competing with the<br />
established species. Furthermore, weed control needs careful attention so as to prevent<br />
damage to trees. Many difficulties were encountered in logging the data and transmitting<br />
these to the base station in Melbourne. Various means of overcoming technical difficulties<br />
have been identified and the types of instruments that produce consistent results in the field<br />
(e.g. soil moisture sensors, tipping buckets, etc.) have been noted. The trials will be<br />
monitored <strong>for</strong> a further 24 months to delineate the effectiveness of phytocapping in<br />
minimising percolation of water into buried waste.<br />
Fig 1. <strong>Plant</strong> growth in the phytocapped trial at Townsville (upper) early establishment in 2008;<br />
and (lower) well established in 2009<br />
PROJECT STAFF Dr Sam Yuen (UMelb) A/P Nanjappa Ashwath (CQU)<br />
A/P Hossein Ghadiri (GUni) A/P Margaret Greenway (GUni)<br />
A/P Mark Jaksa (UAdel) Prof Peter Newman (Curtin U)<br />
Dr Gareth Swarbrick (UNSW) Dr Andy Fourie (UWA)<br />
Co-investigators: Dr Grant Zhu (UMelb), Ms Melissa Salt (UAdel), Mr Hooman Maneshi (GUni),<br />
Mr Jianlei Sun (UMelb) plus industry partners & consultants<br />
FUNDING ARC Linkage, WMAA ($3.1 m)<br />
INCOME $0<br />
27
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
THE MYCOLOGY OF THE ROCKHAMPTON TREATED WATER<br />
SUPPLY<br />
SUMMARY<br />
A qualitative and quantitative study of the mycobiological population of all parts of the<br />
water supply system was conducted over 18 months and has now been completed. This study<br />
involved the collection and analysis of water samples monthly from nine mains stand pipes,<br />
six storage reservoirs, and four sites within the Glenmore Treatment <strong>Plant</strong>.<br />
Eleven physico/chemical parameters were also collected each month using a YSI multiparameter<br />
water meter. Samples were processed by membrane filtration followed by plating<br />
of the filter membranes on culture medium and subsequent enumeration and identification of<br />
resulting microfungal colonies. Sixty three genera were identified. Treated water on exit<br />
from the treatment plant was effectively devoid of microfungal contaminants but microfungi<br />
were isolated from all other parts of the system. Those reservoirs which are secondarily<br />
chlorinated on a regular and automatic basis yielded the lowest microfungal counts.<br />
Multivariate statistical analysis will now be carried out to determine any relationships<br />
between the microfungal population and the physico/chemical data collected.<br />
The sources of microfungal contamination are currently being investigated. Possible sources<br />
of microfungal propagules include airborne ingress to the pulse-filled reservoirs, and<br />
sporulating fungal biofilm growing on the internal walls of reservoirs and pipes and in the<br />
sediments accumulated in reservoirs and pipe dead ends. Coupons of glass, PVC and<br />
concrete have been immersed in two reservoirs to study the <strong>for</strong>mation of fungal biofilm.<br />
Examination of surface deposits by micro-filtration and culture, fluorescent staining, and<br />
microscopic examination using light, scanning electron, and fluorescent microscopy<br />
techniques are being used. Preliminary results indicate that there is no sporulating<br />
microfungal biofilm within the system or on the coupons. This work is continuing.<br />
The possibility that microfungal spores survive the treatment plant processes, but in a<br />
damaged state, and are subsequently capable of resuscitation is being investigated by<br />
subjecting chlorinated fungal cultures to antioxidants known to protect spores of some<br />
species. Preliminary results indicate that resuscitation does not occur.<br />
Future work will include an examination of the role of coagulation/flocculation and sand<br />
filtration at the treatment plant. Preliminary tests have shown that polyaluminium hydroxide<br />
flocs are very efficient at entrapping microorganisms.<br />
Fig. 1. Mains sampling standpipe Fig. 2. Fluorescent micrograph of floc Fig. 3. Coupons ready <strong>for</strong> immersion<br />
showing entrapped microrganisms<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator: Noel Sammon<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: A/Prof. K. Harrower<br />
Others:<br />
A/Prof. L. Fabbro & Prof. R. Reed<br />
FUNDING Fitzroy River <strong>Water</strong> & CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $8,879<br />
28
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
STUDIES ON WOODLANDS INVADED BY Allocasuarina littoralis<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Woodland thickening is a worldwide phenomenon which is caused in part by changed land<br />
management regimes. To assess the effectiveness of fire and chemicals as agents capable of<br />
restoring woodland structure, field experiments were designed aimed at thinning a dense<br />
midstory of Allocasuarina littoralis in a long unburnt woodland site.<br />
Experimental design and initial observations<br />
Un-invaded woodlands were characterised by a tree basal area of around 15 to 17 m 2 /ha. The<br />
Allocasuarina invaded sites possessed around 3000 stems of Allocasuarina per hectare,<br />
contributing an additional 10 m 2 /ha. However, the ground layers of these sites were<br />
composed of a similar species richness of native grasses and legumes as un-invaded<br />
woodland nearby, but with a much reduced biomass. It was there<strong>for</strong>e hypothesised that the<br />
ecosystem would have a seed bank of remnant species that would support restoration if the<br />
Allocasuarina could be successfully removed from the system.<br />
Four replicates of three treatments (fire, chemical and fire + chemical) and controls were<br />
placed in a random block design on the experimental site which has a total area of 8.6<br />
hectares. Fire experiments are notoriously difficult to conduct successfully and safely in the<br />
field and this experiment proved to be no different.<br />
Fig 1. The block on the left had a deep litter layer but low grass height and biomass resulting<br />
in no foliage scorch, compared to the block on the right with scorch heights to 6 meters. The<br />
latter block is adjacent to an open area which facilitated the growth of a large body of<br />
unpalatable native grass to 1 meter.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigators:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $0<br />
Dixie Nott, Prof Kerry Walsh<br />
Dr Alistair Melzer (CEM)<br />
Dr Bill Burrows<br />
29
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
COMPOST TEA AS A MICROBIAL ENHANCER IN CROP<br />
PRODUCTION<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Compost tea is a microbially enhanced extract after incubating compost in water with microbial<br />
food sources (Ingham, 2005) <strong>for</strong> which many claims have been made. This research sets and tests<br />
hypotheses in the context of these claims. The following hypotheses have been established as to the<br />
efficacy of compost tea in terms of: (a) ability to directly improve plant nutrition via the nutrient<br />
content of the compost tea; (b) ability to improve plant nutrition through an indirect action, via<br />
microbial action in mineralising or solubilising of organic and inorganic components of the soil; (c)<br />
ability to offer bio-protection against a fungal pathogen (e.g. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici);<br />
(d) ability to accelerate litter decomposition; and (e) ability to provide protection to root growth<br />
against high levels of aluminium (Al) ions, via chelation of Al ions by humic acids or uptake by<br />
microbes.<br />
Using the experimental pots containing a previously grown tomato root systems in two soil types, the<br />
effect of addition of non-sterilised and sterilised aerated compost tea (ACT) on growth of a sorghum<br />
crop was assessed (addressing hypotheses ‘a’ and ‘b’). There was no significant difference either<br />
between the two treatments or amongst the prior fertiliser treatments in the average weight of<br />
aboveground sorghum biomass, harvested 50 days after sowing (DAS) although a significant<br />
difference was observed between the two soil types. Statistical analysis also revealed an interaction<br />
between four prior (tomato crop) treatments (control, ACT, non-aerated compost tea or NCT and<br />
chemical) and soil types (P
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
count method, Biolog TM , FF microplate) and molecular (such as DNA extraction, DGGE, i.e.,<br />
denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) techniques have been established to describe microbial<br />
density and diversity in differently treated compost teas or compost tea treated soil samples (from<br />
Baralaba, courtesy of Scott Stevens, DNRM).<br />
Figure1. DNR trial at Baralaba growing wheat crop<br />
with different treatments including compost teas<br />
Figure 2. Compost tea applied field at Clermont<br />
growing chickpea<br />
Figure 3. Paunch composting site showing different<br />
aged-compost piles<br />
Figure 4. Characterising compost teas<br />
(rumen compost tea, vermiliquor, vermiliquor tea<br />
and vermicasting tea) while brewing <strong>for</strong> 48 hours<br />
PROJECT STAFF<br />
FUNDING<br />
INCOME $6,611<br />
Principal Investigator: Karuna Shrestha<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Prof. David J. Midmore<br />
Others: Prof. Kerry B. Walsh<br />
Assoc. Prof. Keith M. Harrower<br />
Assoc. Prof. Nanjappa Ashwath<br />
CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
31
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
CHARACTERISATION AND ASSESSMENT OF DRYNESS (GELLING)<br />
DEFECT OF MANDARIN FRUIT<br />
SUMMARY<br />
This represents the third year of a three-year funded activity within a larger DPI led, HAL<br />
funded project “Management of Internal Dryness of Imperial Mandarin”. In previous work<br />
we have obtained inconsistent results using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique to<br />
detect the gelling disorder in Imperial mandarin. In the year 2007/ 08, we aimed to extend<br />
NIRS work <strong>for</strong> further confirmation of the inconclusive results obtained in the previous<br />
years. In this current year other non-invasive techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance,<br />
computed tomography – X ray; on-line transmission X ray, firmness measurements by<br />
accelerometer, acoustic frequency and acoustic velocity) were also explored. Some more<br />
work was also extended <strong>for</strong> the characterisation of the gelling disorder and a confirmative<br />
trial “effect of long term storage on gelling defect” was undertaken.<br />
In previous years we had indicated that an optical method could be used to used to<br />
differentiate mandarin fruit with a dryness (‘gelling’) defect if the fruit were in ‘breaking<br />
green stage’ (with defect fruit being less mature than normal fruit). In the current year of<br />
activity, we were unable to validate this result. We had also reported no difference between<br />
interactance and transmittance optical geometries. Given that dryness-defect-affected-tissue<br />
appears white (i.e. is highly light scattering), it is reasonable to postulate that a transmission<br />
geometry should be advantageous. However, this was not demonstrated in a repeat<br />
experiment (interactance vs transmission geometries), nor in a laser scattering trial, with<br />
intact fruit. These results are attributed to the influence of the skin and flavedo.<br />
Other non-invasive techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance, computed tomography – X ray;<br />
on-line transmission X ray, firmness measurements by accelerometer, acoustic frequency<br />
and acoustic velocity) were also used unsuccessfully used to differentiate defect from<br />
normal fruit. These results were attributed to the lack of chemical differences, density<br />
difference and the interference of the skin, respectively.<br />
Given an indication in 06/07 that the severity of the defect increased in fruit in long term<br />
storage, a 14 week storage trial was established in 07/08 to investigate this possibility. The<br />
results did not support the hypothesis that defect severity increased during storage. Except in<br />
severely affected fruit, affected fruit were not different in water content relative to control<br />
fruit. Defect level was very poorly correlated to other measured fruit attributes (juice ºBrix,<br />
peel weight).<br />
In our previous report, we provided preliminary results that in mature affected fruit, juice<br />
sacs were characterised by the presence of numerous small cells, located to the outside of the<br />
juice sac. It was postulated that this defect is established early in fruit growth as juice sac<br />
cell division presumably ends early in fruit development. This observation was confirmed<br />
using resin embedded sections examined using light and transmission electron microscopy,<br />
and cryoplaned frozen specimens, examined using scanning electron microscopy. Further, in<br />
severely affected tissue, cell wall thickness was increased.<br />
A B C<br />
32
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
D E F<br />
Figure 1. Light microscopy of toluidine blue stained sections of resin embedded juice sacs,<br />
<strong>for</strong> (A, B) control fruit; (C, D), fruit with moderately severe symptoms of dryness defect,<br />
and (E, F) severely affected fruit. The number of cell layers in the hypodermal tissue<br />
increased in drynness affected fruit. However, there was no apparent difference in cell wall<br />
thickness.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator: Dr Phul Subedi<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Professor Kerry Walsh<br />
FUNDING HAL Australia<br />
INCOME $123,490<br />
33
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
AUTOECOLOGICAL ROLE OF STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES IN Stevia<br />
rebaudiana<br />
SUMMARY<br />
The physiological role of steviol glycosides (SG) in S. rebaudiana was explored by<br />
monitoring change in SG content in response to environmental conditions. Roles explored<br />
are carbohydrate reserve and osmoregulator. SG leaf content was determined through<br />
HPLC analysis of leaf extracts. Future investigation will test SG as an insect-deterrent<br />
compound. Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy will also be explored <strong>for</strong> non-invasive analysis<br />
of SG in stevia leaves.<br />
SG as an energy reserve<br />
Changes in SG leaf in response to relative to light and CO 2 were monitored to test the<br />
hypothesis that SGs function as an energy store in S. rebaudiana. Thirty plants were evenly<br />
distributed to different photosynthetic conditions (control 14 h light/10 h dark cycle,<br />
constant light, or constant dark). Two sets of five plants were maintained at either 500 or<br />
1400 ppm CO 2 under a 14 h light/10 h dark cycle. <strong>Plant</strong>s in both experiments were initially<br />
acclimatized in a single growth cabinet at 25 o C and 65% relative humidity <strong>for</strong> one week<br />
prior to treatment. Starch leaf content was observed to increase with increasing light<br />
exposure whereas SG leaf content remained constant. The same behaviour was observed in<br />
the CO 2 experiment wherein plants at 1400 ppm CO 2 had an overall (5%) increase in starch<br />
leaf content over 4 days while SG content remained constant. Results from both experiments<br />
indicate that SG is not used as an energy store.<br />
Control<br />
Light<br />
Dark<br />
[Left Figure.] Starch leaf content of control, constant light and constant dark group in the light experiment<br />
[Right Figure.] % leaf DW of stevioside and rebaudioside A of control, constant light and constant dark group in the<br />
light experiment<br />
SG as an osmoregulator<br />
Changes in SG leaf content were monitored under water stress conditions to test the<br />
hypothesis that SGs can function as osmoregulatory compounds. Fifteen plants were evenly<br />
distributed into three groups with the control group receiving 500 mL of water daily, the<br />
mild water stress group receiving 150 mL of water daily and the severe water stress group<br />
remaining unwatered until the end of the treatment period. Leaf osmotic potential was found<br />
to increase with increasing water stress whereas SG leaf content remained constant<br />
indicating that SG is not used as a leaf osmoregulator in S. rebaudiana.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Ria Reyes / Kerry Walsh<br />
David Midmore<br />
FUNDING International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)<br />
INCOME $2,000<br />
34
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
PROVENANCE VARIATIONS IN Calophyllum inophyllum L. WITH<br />
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SEED OIL AND SEED OIL METHYL<br />
ESTER (BIODIESEL)<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Calophyllum inophyllum (commonly known as beauty leaf) is a native tree that occurs along<br />
the coast lines of Northern Australia. It has been identified as a viable feed stock <strong>for</strong><br />
biodiesel due to its favourable characters. It fruits profusely with 4000-10000 fruits per tree<br />
and the kernel contains 60% non-edible oil.<br />
As a continuation of the preliminary studies in 2007, a number of samples were conducted<br />
in 2008 to determine provenance variations in Calophyllum inophyllum. Provenances were<br />
selected based on their geo-climatic differences (in Australia and Sri Lanka). The major<br />
focus of the project was on kernel oil extraction, fatty acid profiling (FAP), fatty acid methyl<br />
ester (FAME; biodiesel) conversion, FAME characterisation and engine per<strong>for</strong>mance of<br />
FAME. A comparative flowering and fruiting phonological study was carried out between<br />
one provenance from the northern hemisphere (Sri Lanka) and one from the southern<br />
hemisphere (Australia). Randomly selected trees from selected provenances were studied <strong>for</strong><br />
growth parameters and corresponding soils were tested <strong>for</strong> chemical composition. Seeds<br />
from different provenances were assessed <strong>for</strong> morphometric traits and <strong>for</strong> kernel oil content.<br />
Glasshouse experiments were carried out to assess early growth variations in Calophyllum<br />
inophyllum.<br />
The cold press extraction method was selected based on its relative advantages. A seed oil<br />
expeller was designed and developed to extract oil (Fig 1.). FAP analysis was carried out<br />
using gas chromatography. By using FAP values, a number of biodiesel slandered values<br />
were interpolated. An automated programmable biodiesel reactor was designed and<br />
developed to convert oil to biodiesel (Fig 2.). Cold pressed oil samples were converted into<br />
FAME by four different transesterification protocols (Fig 3.) which included a new protocol<br />
(Fig 5.), and the resulted FAME was compared <strong>for</strong> their physicochemical properties (ASTM<br />
biodiesel standards). Extensive engine per<strong>for</strong>mance tests were carried out with MAHA LPS<br />
2000 chassis dynamometer (Fig 4., 6.)<br />
Significant provenance variations and hemispherical variations were found in most of the<br />
seed related characters, early growth, FAP and biodiesel values. FAME of all provenances<br />
con<strong>for</strong>med to ASTM standards. A new protocol (Fig 3.) was found to yield ideal quality<br />
FAME. Engine power and fuel consumption was found to be comparable with mineral<br />
diesel.<br />
Fig 1. Modified seed oil expeller Fig 2. Automated biodiesel reactor Fig 3. Transesterification<br />
(stage3 FAME)<br />
35
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Fig 4. Engine power graph Fig 5. FAME (biodiesel) derived Fig 6. Testing <strong>for</strong> fuel<br />
from different protocols consumption<br />
PROJECT STAFF<br />
Principal Investigators:<br />
Co-supervisor:<br />
Subhash Hathurusingha, A/Prof. N. Ashwath<br />
Prof. David Midmore<br />
FUNDING<br />
CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $29,313<br />
36
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
BATTER SLOPE STABILISATION UNDER HIGH VOLTAGE POWER<br />
LINES<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Results show that all three soil cover treatments viz rock mulch, green waste mulch and top<br />
soil were effective in controlling soil erosion from a battered slope. In the initial stages, the<br />
rock and green waste mulches contributed to erosion control, and at later stages, the<br />
established vegetation also contributed to erosion control via canopy rainfall interception<br />
and reduction in the intensity of rainfall. In the top soil treatments, only the emerging exotic<br />
grasses contributed to erosion control.<br />
A disturbed batter slope under high voltage power lines was stabilised at Stanwell Power<br />
Station using three soil treatments, viz rock mulching, green waste mulching and top soil<br />
placement. The rock- and green waste-mulched treatments were planted with 60 native<br />
shrubs and ground cover species. Within each treatment, five strips of plants were<br />
established at different positions of the slope (top, top-centre, middle, mid-centre and<br />
bottom). Survival, plant height and stem girth of established plants are being monitored to<br />
determine the effect of rock- and greenwaste mulches on plant growth.<br />
Comparison of the effects of rock mulch and green-waste mulch indicated that the plant<br />
growth was much superior in green waste-mulched treatment than in rock-mulched<br />
treatment. Green waste will break down with time, so comparative effects on plant growth to<br />
that of rock mulch will be evaluated.<br />
This experimental set up will allow us to identify plant species that per<strong>for</strong>m well in different<br />
soil conditions (e.g. drought), as the conditions of the site will vary from top to the bottom<br />
of the slope, thus inducing inter-species and intra-species variations (variation between<br />
different locations within the batter slope) in growth and survival.<br />
Figure 1. <strong>Plant</strong>s treated with rock mulch (left) and green waste mulch. (right) 7 months after<br />
planting. Note the plants treated with green waste mulch are greener and larger than those<br />
grown with rock mulch.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING Ergon Energy<br />
INCOME $23,515<br />
Associate Professor N. Ashwath<br />
M. Carige, M. Whiting, M. Abel<br />
V. Barden, L. Painter, R. Subedi<br />
37
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
GREEN WASTE – IS IT A WASTE OR AN UN-TAPPED RESOURCE<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Recent trends in waste management emphasise that all wastes should be rigorously assessed<br />
<strong>for</strong> their alternative uses be<strong>for</strong>e being discarded as a ‘waste’. In support of this concept, we<br />
have explored various ways of utilizing shredded green waste that was produced at<br />
Rockhampton city council.<br />
The first trial involved testing the green wastes <strong>for</strong> weed seeds, pathogens, heavy metals and<br />
organic contaminants. Our tests indicated that the greenwaste generated at Rockhampton<br />
contained none of the above components at levels that would prevent them from being used<br />
<strong>for</strong> various purposes. Our field trials to use the green waste as a source of ‘mulch’<br />
demonstrated significant benefits to plant growth. However, this use did not become popular<br />
due to lack of demand and high transportation costs. Mixing of green waste with coal in<br />
power generation at Stanwell Power station proved a feasible option, but dedicated units<br />
were required to continue with this practice. Establishment of a power generating plant that<br />
relied on the wastes (e.g. green waste, biosolids, saw dust, paper, etc.) as the feed stock was<br />
also investigated, but this too required huge investments in infrastructure. The current trials<br />
there<strong>for</strong>e focussed on conversion of green waste into biogas, biochar and landscape mix.<br />
Two major options are being explored to test further use of shredded green waste. The first<br />
trial explored the potential of producing biogas and biochar from the green waste. Samples<br />
of green waste have been sent <strong>for</strong> analysis by BEST Energies. Economic viability of this<br />
option is currently being determined.<br />
The second option consisted of mixing green waste with other wastes such as biosolids,<br />
water treatment sludge (alum), cow paunch and limestone tailings, with the view to<br />
producing a ‘landscape mix’. Preliminary analysis suggested that none of the above<br />
ingredients could be used on their own to synthesize a plant growth media, due to<br />
constraints in pH, salinity or heavy metal compositions. Thus, trials are being carried out to<br />
mix these ingredients at different proportions, and to test their effects on plant growth.<br />
Two landscape mixes were prepared by mixing the above ingredients at different<br />
proportions. The effect of these mixes on plant growth is currently being tested on (a)<br />
vegetable crops, (b) native landscaping plants (see Fig 1) and (c) turf grass.<br />
Fig 1. The effects on plant growth of two landscape mixes prepared from green waste and<br />
other urban wastes generated at Rockhampton Regional Council.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator: Assoc Prof Nanjappa Ashwath<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Andrew Rank, Sunita Lata<br />
Others:<br />
Lindsay Best, Craig Dunglison<br />
FUNDING Rockhampton Regional Council<br />
INCOME $24,225<br />
38
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
INCREASING INTEREST IN CARBON TRADING RESEARCH IN<br />
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES<br />
Summary<br />
Climate change, particularly global warming reputedly due to increasing levels of carbon<br />
dioxide in the atmosphere, constitutes a major threat to human well-being and survival.<br />
Forestry carbon-offsetting projects are now increasingly recognised as a cost-effective and<br />
practical solution to tackle these challenging problems. A study is being conducted in Nepal<br />
to look at the role of community-based <strong>for</strong>est management practice in climate mitigation and<br />
to look at its impacts on the well-being of local communities. The outcomes of the<br />
preliminary field study conducted in November/December 2008 show that community<br />
<strong>for</strong>estry user groups in Nepal are very keen to incorporate carbon projects into the<br />
participatory community <strong>for</strong>estry programme if it can positively impact on the livelihood of<br />
local communities and improve the <strong>for</strong>est condition.<br />
The principal investigator organised a preliminary field visit in Nepal from 28 th October to<br />
8 th December 2008. The objective of the trip was to select appropriate research sites <strong>for</strong> the<br />
study. The trip was also conducted to understand the interests of <strong>for</strong>est-dependent rural<br />
communities and <strong>for</strong>estry stakeholders on participatory <strong>for</strong>est management and payment <strong>for</strong><br />
ecosystem services, particularly carbon trading. During the field visit, the researcher<br />
organised three <strong>for</strong>estry stakeholder workshops at national and regional levels to select<br />
potential community <strong>for</strong>ests and community <strong>for</strong>estry user groups (CFUGs) <strong>for</strong> the study.<br />
The major stakeholders who participated in the programme were: CFUGs, Federation of<br />
Community Forest Users of Nepal, Government of Nepal, particularly the Department of<br />
Forest, and civil society and non-governmental organisations working on community<br />
<strong>for</strong>estry, climate change and people’s livelihood. On the basis of recommendations of the<br />
workshops, nine CFUGs were proposed which represent all three physiographic regions of<br />
Nepal: Terai (flat plain-altitude below 1000 m), Hills (1000 m – 2000 m) and Mountains<br />
(above 2500 m).<br />
A field visit was then organised to each group to discuss community interests, their<br />
perceptions of carbon trading and to observe the <strong>for</strong>ests conditions. The local were briefed<br />
about the aim of the research, expected role of local communities, duration of the study and<br />
finally they were asked whether they were willing to become partners in field research. Most<br />
of the CFUGs were very interested to participate in the carbon management and carbon<br />
trading project through community <strong>for</strong>est management, and they even offered their <strong>for</strong>est <strong>for</strong><br />
the study.<br />
After the field visits in all CFUGs, a one-day stakeholder’s workshop was organised to<br />
select the best CFUGs <strong>for</strong> the research case studies on carbon trading impact. The workshop<br />
finally ranked the selected CFUGs on the basis of accessibility, willingness to participate on<br />
carbon trading, diversity of disadvantaged castes and ethnic groups, CFUG that is receiving<br />
some sort of ecosystem service payment and CFUG having a history of <strong>for</strong>est inventory and<br />
growing stock. The three CFUGs selected first included one from each physiographic zone<br />
within the <strong>Central</strong> Development Region of Nepal - Dudhkoshi CFUG from Chitwan, Mahila<br />
Ghumti from Kulekhani and Jamire Ambutar from Sindhupalchowk.<br />
39
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Researcher speaking about carbon trading in the general assembly of Dudhkoshi CFUG, Chitwan, Nepal<br />
Meeting with <strong>for</strong>estry stakeholders about the study<br />
Meeting with Female CFUG, Kulekhani<br />
The researcher also had the opportunity to participate in the Fifth National Community<br />
Forestry Workshop from 9 th to 11 th November 2008 in Kathmandu, which was organised by<br />
Department of Forests, Government of Nepal. The main focus of the workshop was how to<br />
trans<strong>for</strong>m the <strong>for</strong>estry sector into new directions such as ecosystem service payments,<br />
governance and economic contributions. The workshop was very important to allow the<br />
researcher to meet and share in<strong>for</strong>mation on the study with policymakers, specialists,<br />
government senior personnel and national and international <strong>for</strong>estry scientists. In the second<br />
day of the workshop, the researcher facilitated a session called - Environmental Service,<br />
particularly carbon trading in national and international scenarios.<br />
The researcher attending in the 5 th National Community Forestry Workshop: Trans<strong>for</strong>ming<br />
the <strong>for</strong>estry sector - Setting new directions <strong>for</strong> community <strong>for</strong>estry<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
FUNDING CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $2,000<br />
Thakur Bhattarai<br />
Prof David Midmore<br />
Prof Stewart Lockie<br />
40
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
MODELLING THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN PHYTOCAPPING<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Landfill has been the most popular method of disposing wastes in urban areas. Landfills mostly contain<br />
putrescible wastes which can cause environmental hazards, if they come in contact with water. Thus,<br />
preventing entry of water into buried waste is the most important aspect in landfill remediation. Currently<br />
compacted clay capping is used to prevent percolation of water into waste. However, recent studies have<br />
shown that this practice is often ineffective. An alternative capping system known as ‘Phytocapping’ was,<br />
there<strong>for</strong>e, tested at Rockhampton. Phytocapping is the process of establishing vegetation on a layer of<br />
soil placed over the waste, so that the soil layer stores the water during rainfall events and the plants will<br />
remove the stored water during subsequent periods. Optimisation of these two events can result in<br />
prevention of water entering the waste.<br />
The Rockhampton trial involved the use of two depths of soil (thick 1400 mm and thin 700 mm) and 21<br />
tree species. The trees and the soil were monitored <strong>for</strong> three years. The trial demonstrated that the<br />
phytocapping can effectively limit the entry of water into the landfill, and the presence of vegetation is<br />
critical to achieve a desirable site water balance. The predicted percolation was 133.3 mm yr -1 and 153<br />
mm yr -1 in thick and thin systems respectively, when the vegetation component was removed in the<br />
simulation, as compared to 16.7 mm yr -1 and 23.8 mm yr -1 when the vegetation component was included<br />
in the simulation. Furthermore, the percolation rates in phytocapping systems (with vegetation) were<br />
much less than those expected of a clay capping system. Since the phytocapping systems are effective,<br />
they halve the cost of construction (compared to clay capping) and provide other environmental benefits,<br />
their use is recommended in low (
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Vegetation component removed in the simulation<br />
Vegetation component included in the simulation<br />
Figure 1: Comparison of site water balance in thick and thin capping systems under non-vegetated (top) and<br />
vegetated (bottom) scenarios. Note the differences in Y axis values in vegetated and non-vegetated scenarios.<br />
The simulation was based on 15 years (1992 to 2006) of rainfall data.<br />
Fig 2. Luxurious growth of bamboo on a phytocapped landfill<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigators: Assoc. Prof. Nanjappa Ashwath<br />
Kartik Venkatraman<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Ninghu Su<br />
Others<br />
Craig Dunglison & Richard Yeates<br />
FUNDING<br />
Qld Dept of Premier and Cabinet - Growing the Smart State Grant & CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $7,136<br />
42
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
SCREENING OF TOMATO GERMPLASM FOR DROUGHT<br />
TOLERANCE<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Drought is an important abiotic stresses <strong>for</strong> crop production. With climate change, episodes of<br />
droughts are predicted to be frequent affecting crop yield and quality. Furthermore, pricing <strong>for</strong><br />
water and decreasing allocation entrust pressures on irrigators. With this in mind a project is<br />
underway to screen <strong>for</strong> drought tolerance amongst tomato genotypes.<br />
The extent and duration of both intermittent and terminal drought stress impact on yield and quality<br />
and their effects can be amplified by interactions with high temperature, disease and hostile soil<br />
conditions. Detailed physiological characterisation becomes an important step <strong>for</strong> effective<br />
germplasm screening <strong>for</strong> utilizing such traits in breeding. In this project we aimed to develop<br />
methods <strong>for</strong> tomato drought screening, and link physiological traits with drought tolerance. Eighteen<br />
tomato lines from the world vegetable centre (AVRDC) Taiwan were tested under semi-controlled<br />
environments of the glasshouse or screen house at CPWS CQ<strong>University</strong>, Rockhampton in three trials<br />
(1. Drought pool, 2. Terminal drought, and 3. Deficit irrigation) during the 2007-2008 season.<br />
(a) (b) (c)<br />
Tomato accessions tested in: (a) drought pool experiment, (b) terminal drought, and (c) deficit<br />
irrigation experiments.<br />
Figure 1. Changes in soil water content at different depth in the tomato drought pool and tolerant<br />
accessions were capable of drawing soil water at deeper depths and lower than 15% water content.<br />
Experimental approach 1 – Drought pool<br />
S. pimpinellifollium accessions L3708 and LA1579 showed drought tolerance under declining soil<br />
moisture regimes as measured by number of flower bunch, fruits and biomass yield. These<br />
accessions also consistently showed lower crop water stress index and electrolyte leakage, lower leaf<br />
water potential and greater osmolality, plant height and delayed wilting compared to standard check<br />
Arka Meghali and hybrid check Trifecta.<br />
Experimental approach 2 – Terminal drought<br />
In the terminal drought experiment each accession was planted (15 August 2008) in an individual<br />
cylindrical container (130 L, 60 cm diameter x 85 cm height), in two replications, in a randomised<br />
fashion containing 169 kg of soil at field capacity (Figure 3). Relative ranking of the accessions <strong>for</strong><br />
days to permanent wilting, monitoring of growth, development and physiological response was<br />
43
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
carried out as in the Drought pool experiment. Root length density distribution and root phenotyping<br />
was also conducted <strong>for</strong> each accession.<br />
Tomato accessions tested in terminal drought experiment, and approach <strong>for</strong> root recovering <strong>for</strong><br />
phenotyping and RLD mapping.<br />
The results of the terminal drought experiment suggested that the wild tomato accessions L3708 and<br />
LA1579 (S. pimpinellifollium) and LA1940 (S. pennellii) had highest root length density and greatest<br />
root penetration compared to all other tested accessions (Figure 4). Delayed symptoms of permanent<br />
wilting noted in this experiment as well as in the drought pool experiment may well be associated<br />
with greater root <strong>for</strong>aging <strong>for</strong> soil water in these wild tomato accession under declining soil moisture<br />
regimes.<br />
Experimental approach 3 – Deficit irrigation<br />
In the deficit irrigation experiment each accession was planted (18 July 2008) in individual bucket<br />
containers (20 L, 25 cm diameter x 45 cm height) containing 27 kg of soil maintained at two<br />
different soil moisture levels [(field capacity and deficit irrigation (50% of FC)], replicated twice in a<br />
randomised fashion with daily irrigation supplied to maintain each treatment (Figure 5). Daily<br />
evapotranspiration requirements of each accession, crop water use, water use efficiency, stomatal<br />
frequency, distribution and sizing were studied in this trial, and measurements <strong>for</strong> soil moisture,<br />
physiological, morphological, growth and development traits and yields were assessed at monthly<br />
intervals.<br />
Under deficit irrigation the wild tomato accessions L3708 and LA1579 (S. pimpinellifollium) and<br />
LA1940 (S. pennellii) transpired least amount (20-45% of Arka Meghali) compared to all other<br />
accessions. However, the dry biomass production by these accessions under deficit irrigation was<br />
comparable to those highest transpiring accession such as Arka Meghali.<br />
Drought tolerant wild accessions showed sustained growth, slow development of drought symptoms,<br />
and were capable of producing flowers, fruits and completion of full life cycle under declining soil<br />
moisture conditions similar to terminal drought in field environments. It appears that root traits and<br />
leaf osmotic adjustment play key role on conferring drought tolerance in these accessions. However,<br />
their fruit quality was extremely poor and these plants have viny growth habit with profuse flowering<br />
and fruiting. However, they show promise <strong>for</strong> utilization of their candidate drought tolerant genes <strong>for</strong><br />
crossing with appropriate cultivated tomato. Further research is required <strong>for</strong> detailed phenotying of<br />
drought tolerant traits and confirm these preliminary findings.<br />
Project Staff Dr Surya P Bhattarai Prof David Midmore<br />
Dr Robert de la Pena<br />
Dr Sanjay Singh<br />
Laurie Tait<br />
Delphine Lacombe<br />
Funding<br />
AVRDC, the World Vegetable <strong>Centre</strong>, Taiwan & CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
Income<br />
$29,985.00 AUD and $33,000.00 USD<br />
44
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
STABILISATION OF RAIL FORMATIONS USING NATIVE<br />
VEGETATION<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Presence of woody vegetation in the vicinity of rail tracks is known to improve stability of<br />
rail <strong>for</strong>mation in cracking clayey soils (Potter and Cameron 2005). This concept was tested<br />
at Banana, central <strong>Queensland</strong>, by establishing over 100 native species on either side of the<br />
rail track (Fig 1.). The established trial is being maintained and will be monitored when<br />
funded by the Rail CRC.<br />
During 2008, more than 65% of the established species have survived and produced<br />
appreciable amount of plant canopy (Fig 1.). Although equal number of seedlings was<br />
planted in each plot, some species have produced denser canopies than the others. Some<br />
coastal species that lacked frost tolerance have died and this area has been covered with<br />
local grasses. Some species are per<strong>for</strong>ming very well and have produced seeds. We plan to<br />
study changes in plant diversity, as the new seedlings are recruited from the seeds. We also<br />
plan to compare hydraulic properties of planted (perennial vegetation) and unplanted (annual<br />
vegetation) areas to delineate the effects of perennial vegetation on rail track stability. This<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation will finally help minimise maintenance costs of rail tracks as well as providing<br />
ecological sustainability to rail tracks.<br />
Fig 1. The Experimental site in 2007 (top) and in 2008 (bottom)<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING CRC Rail<br />
INCOME $1,142<br />
Associate Professor N. Ashwath<br />
Dr Don Cameron (UniSA)<br />
Darryl Nissen (QR), Ajay Sharma<br />
45
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
EXPLORING THE RESPONSE OF SOME VEGETABLE SPECIES TO<br />
OXYGATION<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Various trials, with and without plants, evaluated a number of aspects of oxygation. Four<br />
species including pak choy, beetroot, shallot, and dwarf bean were studied in a pot<br />
experiment to examine their response to oxygation. The results showed that except <strong>for</strong><br />
shallot, the other vegetables did not show significant increase in yield or yield components<br />
due to oxygation. The effect of pipe size, water cross sectional area, the geometry of joiners,<br />
and non-ionic surfactant at various concentrations on air flow rate distribution along a<br />
20 m lateral line was also studied to understand uni<strong>for</strong>mity of supply within a field situation.<br />
The response of pak choy, beetroot, shallot, and dwarf bean grown in 26 L pots to oxygation<br />
was studied. For each species, the experiment was laid out as a Completely Randomized<br />
Block Design (CRBD), replicated four times with two treatments, irrigation with aerated<br />
water by means of air injector venturi or control. In addition to the crop yield, soil oxygen<br />
concentration, soil respiration rate, leaf chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetically active<br />
radiation, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rate <strong>for</strong> aerated and<br />
non-aerated treatments were measured during the growing season. Aerated shallots in<br />
contrast to control ones showed significant higher per<strong>for</strong>mance in terms of leaf chlorophyll<br />
concentration, soil respiration rate, leaf length, leaf count and leaf weight per unit area at 5%<br />
level of confidence. The other vegetable species did not show significant response to<br />
oxygation. Production of aerenchyma and/or shallow roots might be responsible <strong>for</strong> lack of<br />
response in the other species.<br />
Three pipe sizes of 13 mm, 19 mm, and 25 mm and two types of pot emitters of 0.52 mm 2<br />
(1.2 L h -1 ) and 1.25 mm 2 (4 L h -1 ) water cross sectional area along with symmetric and<br />
asymmetric joiners spaced at 50 cm intervals on 20 m long recirculating pipes were tested.<br />
Generally, distribution of air flow rates in all trials was non-uni<strong>for</strong>m. The closer the emitter<br />
to the venturi, the higher the air flow rate. The result of paired t-test per<strong>for</strong>med on the air<br />
flow rates <strong>for</strong> a 19 mm pipe with asymmetric joiners indicated that the cross sectional area<br />
of the emitters had no significant effect on the air flow rate distribution at 5% level of<br />
confidence. By means of the same test, it was revealed that asymmetric joiners in contrast to<br />
symmetric ones cause significantly higher air flow rates along the pipe line regardless of the<br />
pipe size. Furthermore, with symmetric joiners, the smaller the pipe size, the higher will be<br />
the average of the air flow rate along the pipe; this trend was reversed if asymmetric joiners<br />
are used in the line. Application of a non-ionic surfactant (BS 1000) at 20, 35, 50, 65, 80,<br />
and 100 ppm concentrations in a non-recirculating partially open-end 20 m pipe of 19 mm<br />
ID with asymmetric joiners and 4 L h -1 pot drippers resulted in enhanced air flow rate<br />
uni<strong>for</strong>mity, where the minimum surfactant concentration <strong>for</strong> yielding the highest air flow<br />
rate uni<strong>for</strong>mity (CUC=80%) was 65 ppm.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator: Manouchehr Torabi<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Prof David Midmore<br />
Others:<br />
Dr Surya Bhattarai & Dr Xinming Chen<br />
FUNDING Cotton CRC, CQ<strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $4,497<br />
46
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
OXYGATION OF SUB-SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATED PINEAPPLE,<br />
COTTON AND WHEAT<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Wheat followed a cotton crop in two soil types in concrete tubs, and itself was followed by a<br />
subsequent cotton crop. The effects of oxygation on the wheat suggest an increase in biomass which<br />
was associated with an increase in the leaf chlorophyll content, more ears per unit area, and<br />
reduced canopy temperature. A large-scale replicated trial on an existing pineapple crop in Yeppoon<br />
compared oxygation with no oxygation, both with subsurface drip irrigation. Total yield, but not<br />
marketable yield, was increased with oxygation, and some fruit quality parameters were also better<br />
with oxygation.<br />
Following on from the 2007/8 cotton crop (see Annual Report 2007) a wheat crop was planted, using<br />
two methods <strong>for</strong> aerating the irrigation water (Mazzei and Seair). The wheat crop was harvested<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e grain maturity to allow <strong>for</strong> planting of the subsequent cotton crop with the GM planting<br />
window. There was a significantly higher leaf chlorophyll concentration <strong>for</strong> Mazzei followed by<br />
Seair and control (Table 1). The number of wheat ears, leaf dry weight and total dry matter were<br />
significantly greater on the vertisol whereas chlorophyll content was greater on the ferrosol.<br />
Table 1. Effect of different oxygation methods and soil types of growth parameters and yield<br />
components of wheat<br />
Treatments<br />
Oxygation<br />
Soil type<br />
Levels<br />
WUEi<br />
Leaf Leaf<br />
Number<br />
(mol<br />
Weight of dry<br />
chlorophyll water<br />
of<br />
CWSI 1 CO<br />
matter (g m -2 )<br />
2<br />
concentration potential<br />
Ears<br />
/ mmol<br />
(SPAD units) (-kPa)<br />
(m 2 )<br />
H 2 O)<br />
Ear Leaf Stem<br />
Control 37.1 1000 0.22 5.96 329.4 260.0 136.1 308.9<br />
Mazzei 41.0 1040 0.18 6.54 357.1 289.2 160.2 313.2<br />
Seair 38.9 1130 0.18 5.96 337.5 271.0 132.1 322.4<br />
LSD (10 df) 2 2.3 197 0.10 0.94 57.5 58.2 38.7 69.0<br />
Vertisol 37.5 1090 0.21 6.36 383.4 328.5 194.3 382.5<br />
Ferrosol 40.9 1040 0.17 5.99 302.2 221.6 93.0 248.6<br />
LSD (10 df) 1.8 158 0.08 0.75 46.2 46.7 31.1 55.4<br />
1 Crop water stress index; 2 LSD (P
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Table 2. Effect of oxygation on yield, various indices of water use efficiency, and soil respiration by<br />
pineapple.<br />
Treatments Estimated<br />
yield (t/ha)<br />
1 Industry<br />
yield (t/ha)<br />
2 IWUE<br />
(kg/m 3 )<br />
3 WUE<br />
(kg/m 3 )<br />
Soil respiration rate<br />
(g CO 2 /m 2 /h)<br />
Oxygation 79.6 53.08 44.56 2.549 2.42<br />
Control 68.2 50.92 43.60 2.448 1.18<br />
P value 0.005 0.295 0.569 0.307 0.001<br />
LSD 6.43 4.59 3.906 0.221 0.409<br />
1 : Industry yield refers to only marketable yield, 2 IWUE: Irrigation water use efficiency, 3 WUE:<br />
Season long water use efficiency includes rainfall + irrigation<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING Cotton CRC<br />
INCOME $2,412<br />
Jay Dhungel<br />
Prof David Midmore<br />
Dr Surya Bhattarai & Dr Xinming Chen<br />
48
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION OF A LEAF VEGETABLE PAK CHOI<br />
(Brassica rapa L.CHINESIS GROUP) GROWN WITH BOTH<br />
CHEMICAL (INORGANIC) FERTILIZER AND VERMICAST<br />
EFFLUENT<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Some effects of vermicompost effluent (vermiliquor), <strong>for</strong>med during the breakdown of<br />
organic wastes by earthworms (vermicomposting), on plant growth and nutrient uptake have<br />
been evaluated in a series of experiments.<br />
The overall purpose of the project is to develop an organic alternative to conventional<br />
inorganic solutions <strong>for</strong> hydroponically-growing plants and to <strong>for</strong>mulate an organic fertilizer<br />
<strong>for</strong> the hydroponic production of Pak Choi.<br />
This project is the first to quantify how vermiliquor influences plant growth. By<br />
manipulating such parameters as pH, pH-buffers, ratio of dilution (electrical conductivity),<br />
aeration, and also differences in the type of composting process and the kind of organic<br />
wastes from which vermiliquor derived, growth of hydroponic vegetables can be modiifed.<br />
Worm and vermiliquor production also depend on season and source of food wastes.<br />
The experiments monitored the contribution of the parameters of nutrient solution like<br />
temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonium, potassium and<br />
external parameters like shading/solar activity and temperature on growth characteristics<br />
(growth period, leaf area, shoot and root weights).<br />
To increase commercial viability of the project the trial experiments were carried out in<br />
commercially adopted nutrient film technique and pot systems under different climatic<br />
conditions on both batched vermiliquor and in vivo vermiliquor from vermitanks directly<br />
linked to the hydroponic system. The latter, thus created a system of a ‘live’ vermiliquor<br />
recirculating between vermipits and hydroponic units.<br />
All physical, chemical and favourable visual differences of Pak Choi, hydroponically-grown<br />
with organic vermiliquor, compared to a conventional inorganic fertilizer Boxsell.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING RIRDC<br />
INCOME $131,100<br />
Elena Churilova<br />
Prof David Midmore<br />
Brock McDonald<br />
49
<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
ICEWARM GLOBAL WATER SYSTEMS II (THE ENGINEERED<br />
WATER CYCLE)<br />
SUMMARY<br />
CQ<strong>University</strong> is in partnership with Deakin <strong>University</strong>, the <strong>University</strong> of South Australia,<br />
Flinders <strong>University</strong>, and the <strong>University</strong> of Adelaide to provide the International <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong><br />
Excellence in <strong>Water</strong> and Resource Management (ICEWARM) with tertiary courses in water<br />
studies. ICEWARM offers postgraduate certificates and Master’s degrees in sustainable<br />
water management. CQ<strong>University</strong> wrote and offers the core course Global <strong>Water</strong> Systems II<br />
the Engineered <strong>Water</strong> Cycle.<br />
In 2006 a team from the CPWS wrote the core course Global <strong>Water</strong> Systems II the<br />
Engineered <strong>Water</strong> Cycle. This course was presented <strong>for</strong> the first time in 2007 via the Access<br />
Grid technology. Access Grid allowed the lecture to be presented to five different<br />
Universities in three states (South Australia, Victoria, and <strong>Queensland</strong>) at the same time, in<br />
real time via a satellite link. Students and lecturers could have instantaneous feedback and<br />
multiple windows could be open on the screen; campus views, powerpoint slides, internet<br />
pages and specific programs. All assessment pieces two assignments, two practical reports,<br />
and an exam) were submitted and marked electronically via the ICEWARM portal. After the<br />
course had been presented it underwent an academic review and was updated in light of the<br />
experiences gained. Research from the CPWS is being used to keep the course current.<br />
CQ<strong>University</strong> ITD department has developed a world-class Access Grid. CQ<strong>University</strong> is<br />
leading the way in this type of delivery mode. Global <strong>Water</strong> Systems II will be offered both<br />
internally and externally from 2009.<br />
Figure 1A. Field Trip to STP<br />
Figure 1B. Drinking recycled water at a<br />
potable water plant<br />
PROJECT STAFF<br />
Principal Investigator: Ben Kele<br />
Co-Principal Investigator: Prof David Midmore and A/P Larelle Fabbro<br />
Others:<br />
Jason Bell, ICEWARM Staff<br />
FUNDING<br />
INCOME $0<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
NATIVE GROUND COVER SPECIES FOR REVEGETATION UNDER<br />
HIGH VOLTAGE POWERLINES IN QUEENSLAND<br />
SUMMARY<br />
The practice of using tubestock in revegetation programs is becoming very popular.<br />
However, records of very low plant survival have been reported in such revegetation<br />
programs. Survival of plants in revegetated sites largely depends on how well the potting<br />
mix allows the water to enter into the root zone during establishment stage. This character<br />
is determined by the physical and chemical properties of potting media used in raising the<br />
seedlings. Forty one commercially available potting media that were sold in the markets<br />
were there<strong>for</strong>e tested along with two soil samples <strong>for</strong> their lack of ability to attract water<br />
from surrounding environment, the hydrophobicity. By using the <strong>Water</strong> Droplet Penetration<br />
Test (WDPT), hydrophobicity of those media was determined and the media categorised into<br />
five classes. Out of 43 media tested 28% of the media were classified as extreme, 35% as<br />
severe, 21% as strong, 11% as slight and 5% as non-hydrophobic.<br />
Construction of powerlines in <strong>Queensland</strong> is increasing at the rate of 3.4% per annum, to<br />
service increasing demand of electricity <strong>for</strong> various developmental activities such as mining,<br />
agriculture, industries, beef production, smelting and tourism. Extending the powerlines<br />
means more tree clearing or disturbance of already existing and adapted vegetation in the<br />
extended areas. The clearance of the existing plant communities greatly accelerates the<br />
process of soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and the rate of spread of invasive weeds. For<br />
revegetation of such degraded landscapes, a few exotic species have been used at high costs.<br />
Due to their invasive nature these species have gradually replaced valuable native<br />
biodiversity. As these powerlines pass through diverse bioregions of <strong>Queensland</strong>, use of<br />
exotic species in revegetation will not be a meaningful solution. There<strong>for</strong>e, the proposed<br />
project will identify native ground cover species <strong>for</strong> successful revegetation of land under<br />
high voltage powerlines. The study will also develop suitable agronomic practices <strong>for</strong><br />
survival and long term sustainability of established species.<br />
The most critical stage in revegetation program is the establishment phase. Use of nursery<br />
raised seedlings has become very popular in revegetation programs. Seedlings are mostly<br />
established in the rainy season with or without irrigation. <strong>Plant</strong> survival rate in such<br />
activities is very low and has negatively affected the revegetation program significantly. In<br />
nurseries, seedlings are raised in different potting media. The nature of potting media used in<br />
the nursery affects the ability of plants to extract available moisture from the surrounding<br />
soil once they are transplanted in the field. To determine the hydrophobic properties of<br />
media, we purchased 41 commercial media from shops in Rockhampton. Two soils (black<br />
and red) were also used as controls. By using the <strong>Water</strong> Droplet Penetration Test (WDPT),<br />
the degree of hydrophobicity of collected media was determined. Three drops of deionised<br />
water were placed on top of potting media at 1 cm apart (Fig 1). The time taken (in seconds)<br />
<strong>for</strong> the water drop to penetrate the media was recorded (Lal and Shukla 2004). Based on this<br />
time, the media were categorised into the following groups.<br />
36000 seconds: extremely hydrophobic<br />
Results (Fig 2) show that all potting media were hydrophobic to some degree, and the only<br />
two media that had no hydrophobicity were the two soils (black and red) that were used as<br />
controls (5% of the tested media). More than 50% of the media tested were severely to<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
extremely hydrophobic indicating that extra care must be taken in choosing potting media<br />
<strong>for</strong> revegetation programs, particularly when the transplanted seedlings are not watered<br />
regularly, or when they rely upon rainfall. This is because moisture content of the potting<br />
media in which the seedlings are raised will decline due to water use by the seedling and<br />
evaporation. This drying of potting media triggers hydrophobicity to such an extent that it<br />
will prevent movement of water from the surrounding soil into the potting media. The<br />
resulting situation ultimately results in either slow growth of the seedling or eventual loss of<br />
the plant. The ability of the plant to send roots into surrounding soil plays a critical role in<br />
their survival. Since native plants are slower at this than crop plants, many native plant<br />
seedlings do not respond as quickly as the media dries out.<br />
In field situations, where revegetation practitioners do not have any control on irrigation or<br />
soil moisture content, choosing a potting medium that is less likely to become hydrophobic<br />
when the soil moisture declines, will enhance the survival rate of transplanted seedlings.<br />
Figure 1. Droplet test used to determine hydrophobicity of potting media<br />
Figure 2: Percentage of tested media showing different degrees of hydrophobicity<br />
*Lal, R and Shukla, M (2004). Principles of soil physics. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York,<br />
2004. Pp 716.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
Others:<br />
FUNDING Powerlink<br />
INCOME $135,000<br />
Resham Gautam<br />
A/Prof. Dr N. Ashwath<br />
Prof. Dr D. Midmore<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY FOR PREDICTING B74<br />
MANGO MATURITY AND EATING QUALITY<br />
SUMMARY<br />
This projects represents the second year of a three year funded activity within a larger DPI<br />
led, HAL-Harvest Company funded project “Development of Best Practice Pre- and Post-<br />
Harvest Protocols <strong>for</strong> Production of B74 Mango, Phase II”. In a previous season, we have<br />
demonstrated that handheld unit can be used to predict DM and internal flesh colour in<br />
intact and just-harvested fruit, ºBrix in ripe fruit, and ºBrix of ripened fruit from spectra<br />
collected at the just-harvested stage. In the current project, we aim to extend this work done<br />
in previous years on Calypso mango, to confirm the robustness of the handheld unit in field<br />
conditions, advancement of handheld technology, and develop agronomic protocols <strong>for</strong><br />
uni<strong>for</strong>m and better mango maturity prediction.<br />
The previous season’s work was done testing both a portable laboratory-based NIRS unit<br />
connected to a laptop computer (the Shoebox system) and a portable handgun. During this<br />
season a portable handgun was utilised throughout the season and in some instances an online<br />
Insight unit was trialed along with the handheld unit. Trials were conducted near<br />
Darwin, Katherine, Mareeba and Bundaberg.<br />
Key findings<br />
Accuracy of the handheld NIR (iQ unit) under field conditions<br />
Based on two seasons results, the unit can be used with fruit over a range of temperature and<br />
ambient light conditions, however the instrument should be kept as cool as possible (e.g.<br />
storage in shade rather than in sun). Use of the instrument on exceptionally hot days (> 40º<br />
C) is not recommended.<br />
Predicting flesh colour and % DM<br />
Results indicate that models could be used across varieties through the growing season and<br />
between growing seasons if the model calibration population adequately represented the<br />
variation present in the new populations.<br />
A quality control procedure is recommended <strong>for</strong> the next few seasons at least. This would<br />
involve confirming the accuracy of the unit’s estimates of % DM and flesh colour by<br />
scanning about 20 fruit then measuring actual flesh colour and % DM <strong>for</strong> each fruit and<br />
averaging the results from the unit estimates and actual measurements. This should be done<br />
several times during the season and <strong>for</strong> each region.<br />
Prediction of flesh colour was not as robust, with large bias values skewing RMSEP (Root<br />
Mean Square Error of Prediction) values. It is recommended that a single model cannot be<br />
used across all growing districts, and that a model updating or bias adjustment procedure is<br />
required. Model per<strong>for</strong>mance should be checked on each farm, as outlined above.<br />
Predicting ripe fruit ºBrix<br />
As expected, the on-line InSight unit per<strong>for</strong>med slightly better than the handheld iQ unit.<br />
However, DM content was well predicted by the iQ unit in fruit at the hard green stage, and<br />
the ripe stage TSS is well correlated to % DM at the hard green stage. There<strong>for</strong>e NIRS<br />
should be able to predict ripe fruit ºBrix by scanning fruit at harvest.<br />
It is recommended that this issue be re-considered using a model developed using a wider<br />
range of DM and thus ripe fruit ºBrix values. Alternatively, as the link between DM and<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
final stage ºBrix is well established, it may be appropriate to simply adopt specifications on<br />
DM.<br />
A<br />
B<br />
Figure 1: A: Mango cultivar Calypso fruit sorted at harvest by SWNIRS PLSR DM model<br />
into three DM grades (left) 16%DM. B: Using the<br />
technology <strong>for</strong> quality control in packing shed.<br />
Application issues<br />
Testing manager and picker estimation of maturity<br />
Our data suggest that select harvesting based on fruit external appearance not be used as a<br />
standard practice. In preference identifying the most mature trees/areas of the farm should be<br />
identified using NIRS, and these trees/areas be strip-picked.<br />
Assessing block or maturity zone fruit maturity<br />
Trees in each maturity zone could be marked by colour-coded paint on the trunk, or similar.<br />
Using maturity zones may enable fewer trees to be sampled to accurately determine maturity<br />
zone because of less fruit maturity variation between trees.<br />
Flesh colour and DM changes during fruit growth<br />
We suggest tagging of about 10 fruit per tree on eight trees per management area and<br />
assessing their quality with the iQ every week from 4-6 weeks be<strong>for</strong>e the expected start of<br />
harvest. Graphing the results will help predict the start of commercial harvest <strong>for</strong> each<br />
maturity zone.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator:<br />
Co-Principal Investigator:<br />
FUNDING HAL Australia<br />
INCOME $123,490<br />
Dr. Phul Subedi<br />
Professor Kerry Walsh<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
INTEGRATING VEGETABLE PRODUCTION INTO AGROFORESTRY<br />
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Acting as a resource person <strong>for</strong> research activities on simple drip irrigation and<br />
agro<strong>for</strong>estry with vegetables in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, the PI attended a<br />
global SANREM review meeting in Los Baños, the Philippines and assisted with editing of<br />
publications<br />
In its penultimate year, the SE Asian Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource<br />
Management Collaborative Support Research Program (SANREM CRSP) hosted the 2008<br />
Global Annual Meeting May 26-29. A gender workshop followed. The theme of the annual<br />
meeting focused on the program’s five Long-term Research Award projects. As defined by<br />
the World Food Program, sustainable agriculture reminds us “to allow <strong>for</strong> future generations,<br />
requires that we preserve our remaining resources, and … heal or rehabilitate resources that<br />
have been treated carelessly in the past. To do these things systematically is to follow a path<br />
of environmentally sustainable development.” The long–term research activities within<br />
SANREM direct their ef<strong>for</strong>ts toward livelihood and food security issues in developing<br />
countries. Of the long term research projects, four are addressing sustainable productions<br />
systems. In the SE Asia project, a vegetable-agro<strong>for</strong>estry approach has underpinned the<br />
search <strong>for</strong> sustainability, with all activities revolving around this theme. In essence,<br />
potentially innovative technology are researched and considered from environmental and<br />
socioeconomic perspectives. Together with marketing, gender, and policy studies and<br />
underpinning institutional innovations, the successful technologies are then scaled up to<br />
other stakeholders. All of the technologies are designed to reduce risks associated with<br />
production systems involving cash crops and staples. These activities were discussed in the<br />
light of food security, climate change, soil and land degradation and remediation, water use<br />
efficiency, and gender equity. The 2009 recipient of the Nobel Prize <strong>for</strong> Economics, Dr<br />
Elinor Ostrom of Indiana <strong>University</strong> was present and entered wholeheartedly into the<br />
discussions.<br />
PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigators: Prof David Midmore<br />
Co-supervisors:<br />
FUNDING SANREM<br />
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State <strong>University</strong><br />
INCOME $0<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Appendix 1. PHOTOGRAPHS OF CPWS STAFF, STUDENTS &<br />
VISITORS<br />
Prof David Midmore<br />
Director<br />
Prof Kerry Walsh<br />
Deputy Director<br />
A/Prof Nanjappa<br />
Ashwath<br />
Assoc Professor<br />
Prof Rob Reed<br />
Professor of<br />
Biomedical <strong>Science</strong>s<br />
Dr Keith Harrower<br />
Assoc. Professor in<br />
Microbiology<br />
Dr Bob Newby<br />
Senior Lecturer<br />
Dr Billy Sinclair<br />
Senior Lecturer<br />
Dr Bret Heath<br />
Lecturer<br />
Dr Surya Bhattarai<br />
Postdoctoral Research<br />
Officer<br />
Dr Phul Subedi<br />
Research Officer<br />
& PhD student<br />
Dr Amanda Twomey<br />
Research Officer<br />
John Guthrie<br />
Research Fellow<br />
Andrew Rank<br />
Research Fellow<br />
Dr Brett Roe<br />
Research Fellow<br />
Dr Xinming Chen<br />
Visiting Scholar<br />
Dr Sanjay Singh<br />
Visiting Scholar<br />
Dr Din Zahad<br />
Visiting Scholar<br />
Jeffrey Conaghan<br />
Technician<br />
Laurie Tait<br />
Technician<br />
& MSc<br />
Brock McDonald<br />
Aquaponics<br />
Technician<br />
Roshan Subedi<br />
Research Worker<br />
Robert Lowry<br />
Research Worker<br />
Graham Fox<br />
Research Worker<br />
Bhima Bhattarai<br />
Research Worker<br />
Linda Ahern<br />
Administration Officer<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Brie Crane<br />
Administrative<br />
Assistant<br />
Neil Percival<br />
Administrative<br />
Assistant<br />
Thakur Bhattarai<br />
PhD<br />
Elena Churliova<br />
MSc<br />
Peter Davies<br />
PhD<br />
Jay Dhungel<br />
PhD<br />
Sam Fesuk<br />
Msc<br />
Geeta Gautam<br />
MSc<br />
Resham Gautam<br />
PhD<br />
Subhash<br />
Hathurusingha<br />
PhD<br />
Tracey Howkins<br />
PhD<br />
Ben Kele<br />
PhD<br />
Sandrine Makiela<br />
PhD<br />
Dixie Nott<br />
PhD<br />
Lance Pendergast<br />
PhD<br />
Sohail Qureshi<br />
PhD<br />
Ria Reyes<br />
PhD<br />
Noel Sammon<br />
PhD<br />
Shona Schroeder<br />
PhD<br />
Karuna Shrestha<br />
PhD<br />
Shamsa Syeda<br />
PhD<br />
Manouchehr Torabi<br />
PhD<br />
Kartik Venkatraman<br />
PhD<br />
Loic Burtin<br />
Occupational Trainee<br />
Delphine Lacombe<br />
Occupational Trainee<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Sonal Sarkar<br />
Occupational Trainee<br />
Blandine Geneste<br />
Volunteer<br />
Dr Pramod Shrestha<br />
Volunteer<br />
Dr Mar Mar Thi<br />
Volunteer<br />
Staff/Students not available <strong>for</strong> photos: Vicki Barden, Enid Bunt, Sunita Lata, Lynda<br />
Painter/ Rebecca Jolley, Kim Bedwell, Rashmi Jayaram<br />
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<strong>Centre</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Science</strong> 2008 Annual Report<br />
Appendix 2. CENTRE FOR PLANT & WATER SCIENCE PUBLICITY<br />
Page 59