People

Professor Terry Rose

Director, Centre for Organics Research

t:+61 2 6620 3457
f:+61 2 6622 2080
e: terry.rose@scu.edu.au 

ORCiD

Education

BSc in Agr ( University of Sydney)
PhD in Plant Nutrition (University of Western Australia)

Research Interests

Prior to undertaking a PhD, I worked as an extension agronomist with NSW Department of Agriculture in Wagga Wagga and then the Hunter Valley, and worked for a private agronomic company in the United Kingdom. From April 2010 until August 2011, I worked in plant biosecurity for Plant Health Australia, a not-for-profit company funded by industry and government based in Canberra.

Current research areas include:

• Agronomy and nutrition of aerobic rice
• Herbicide residues in soils and implications for crop growth
• Phosphorus efficiency of crop plants, focussing on loading of phosphate into grains
• Enhanced efficiency fertilisers in the subtropics
• Cover cropping and intercropping in field crops and horticulture
• Coffee varietal performance in the Australian subtropics and the Pacific
• Organic agricultural systems (see details at Organic Research Centre website)
• Recycled organics: impacts of amendments on soils and crops
• Nitrogen efficiency in subtropical sugarcane systems
• Subtropical grazing systems
• New high value crops for coastal cropping systems in the subtropics

Recent grants, awards and publications

Dr Jay Anderson

Senior Research Fellow

t:+61 2 6620 3443
e: jay.anderson@scu.edu.au  

Location: SCPS T4
Campus: Lismore

ORCiD

Education

BHortSc (The University of Queensland)
PhD (Plant Pathology) (The University of Queensland)

Research Interests

My research interest is integrated disease management of tropical and subtropical horticultural crops using techniques such as plant breeding and plant selection for resistance, optimised plant nutrition, use of defence activators and biological control organisms, and better understanding infection processes of pathogens to better target control and reduce losses due to disease.

Over the last 20 years my research has included; biological control of root knot nematode of sugarcane, breeding passionfruit for disease resistance, integrated management of pineapple diseases, control of avocado fruit and root diseases, and study of the infection process in Fusarium wilt of banana. 

I am based at NSW Department of Primary Industries at Wollongbar and I enjoy working closely with farmers, industry and my colleagues on the development of practical solutions for disease problems.

I have shared my knowledge through soil health masterclasses for sugarcane growers, participation in field days and roadshows for growers, publication of scientific papers and through teaching plant pathology and molecular diagnostics in plant protection at the University of Queensland.

Dr Ruth Huwer

Email: ruth.huwer@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Research interests

Integrated pest management, Chemical ecology, Biological control

Background

Ruth Huwer is a research entomologist at the Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, located on the far north coast of NSW, where she is leading the Entomology team. She joined NSW Agriculture* in 2002 and has undertaken research in pest management in subtropical and tropical horticultural crops, developing more sustainable pest management strategies with the aim of reducing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides.

Her research includes advancing IPM in macadamias. Particular aspects of this research include biological control, pest–host plant interaction (specifically host preferences), semiochemicals and chemical ecology, alternative hosts, trap crops and evaluating new insecticides. Management of fruitspotting bug (Amblypelta spp.) a key pest, is driving the IPM strategy. Ruth has 20 years scientific research experience in Australia, and has published a number of scientific papers, including peer-reviewed publications.

Current projects

Ruth is currently leading the research on the development of an IPM program for the Australian Macadamia Industry. This includes monitoring strategies, cultural control, enhancing biological control and targeted IPM that is compatible with chemical control for pests in macadamias.

Recent research includes multi-disciplinary and multi-industry projects on fruitspotting bug management, including chemical control, trap crops, pheromone traps and biological control.

Ruth and her team have also been involved in investigating management options for a girdling moth in blueberries and for green stink bugs in raspberries, including the use of egg parasitoids.

In a previous study the team investigated the management of scarab beetles in blueberries. This study included pesticide trials and using different cover crops in the inter-rows.

As part of a management strategy of longicorn beetles in lychees, the optimum timing of chemical application and efficacy of different chemicals were evaluated.

Current projects source: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Kirsten Ellis

PhD candidate
k.ellis.28@student.scu.edu.au 

Manisha Thapa

PhD candidate
m.thapa.19@student.scu.edu.au

Research Topic

Effect of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) nutrients on bioactive compounds of rice grain.

Background

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food crop for half of the world’s population contributing to more than 20% of the total daily calorie intake (1). Most of the rice is consumed as a white rice in which, various bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and gamma-oryzanol are removed by polishing. Hence, whole grain rice has more nutritional value and nutraceutical properties in comparison to white rice (2). In recent years, pigmented whole grain rice has received much attention due to its probable health benefits. Therefore, investigating a method to manipulate these bioactive compounds in pigmented rice could be advantageous for the rice industry.

During rice cultivation, the macro-nutrient (N, P and K) fertilizers are usually applied in significant amount to achieve higher grain yield (3). But in this process, any possible effect of these fertilizers on bioactive compounds are not often considered. This PhD project will investigate the effect of these N, P and K nutrients on bioactive compounds of rice with the aim of optimizing both yield and nutrition in rice in relation to differential use of N, P and K fertilizers.

References

• Marco, C., Maria de La Luz, C.-G., & Antonio, S.-C. (2018). Extraction and Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Rice: A Review. Molecules, 23(11), 2890. doi:10.3390/molecules23112890
• Rao, S., Schwarz, L. J., Santhakumar, A. B., Chinkwo, K. A., & Blanchard, C. L. (2018). Cereal phenolic contents as affected by variety and environment. Cereal Chemistry, 95:589-602
• Kyi, M., Aung Zaw, H., Thieu Thi Phong, T., Yoshinori, K., & Takeo, Y. (2019). Effects on NPK Status, Growth, Dry Matter and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa) by Organic Fertilizers Applied in Field Condition. Agriculture (Basel), 9(5), 109. doi:10.3390/agriculture9050109

Adam Willson

MSc Candidate

Email: a.willson.13@student.scu.edu.au

Research Title:

Effect of organic and conventional fertilisation on secondary metabolites of broccoli

Background

Meta analysis studies from Europe indicate organic vegetables contain more beneficial secondary metabolites than conventionally grown vegetable.
Currently there is no Australian research investigating the nutritional differences between organic and conventionally grown vegetables
Project focussed on glucosinolates in broccoli which has proven nutritional and health benefits
Aim is not only to investigate the differences between the fertilisers used but also to identify any other factors that lead to improving broccoli nutrition

Reference

Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses.
Barański et al., 2014. DOI: doi.org/10.1017/S0007114514001366