RESEARCH & EVENTS
Search on for PhD candidate
WORK is underway to recruit a PhD candidate to investigate the water and nutrient requirements of almond trees in the Murray-Darling Basin to optimise plant functioning and subsequently mitigate stress responses such as leafing failure. Over three years, the project aims to determine the physiological response of almond varieties to orchard management practices, and consider if varietal specific management can reduce the risk of the expression of leafing failure. The project will be based at the One Basin CRC’ s Griffith hub with Charles Sturt University plant science lecturer Dr Joanne Ashnest the primary university supervisor. She’ ll be supported by co-supervisors Dr Bruno Holzapfel from NSW DPI and Dr Cassandra Collins from The University of Adelaide.“ This has been a very collaborative project from the start involving the One Basin CRC, Hort Innovation, the Almond Board of Australia and universities,” Dr Ashnest said. The role was advertised globally via the International Society for Horticultural Science and in Australia through various channels including Seek. Six candidates were shortlisted for the role and an appointment will be announced soon, with the role officially getting underway in February.“ Our ideal candidate will have academic and field experience but also background knowledge on the issue,” Dr Ashnest said.“ There’ s lots of different hypotheses about what the problem is, with some people saying its water related, while others have identified carbohydrates and pathogens.“ The first task for the PhD candidate will be to review the existing research that has been done on this topic.” Dr Ashnest said growers, especially those based in the Riverina will also be able to have input.“ The candidate will need to visit orchards, to make observations and collect samples,” she said. The project will also work with growers to establish best management practices for individual almond varieties, which in turn will encourage sustainable farming systems and contribute to a healthy, resilient and sustainable river system and communities.
Charles Sturt University plant science lecturer Dr Joanne Ashnest will be the new PhD candidate ' s primary university supervisor.
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Monterey is unlikely to be an easy fix, but with the right approach a management solution to help alleviate the problem will be found in the short term and there could be a solution in the longer term.
- Dr Joanne Ashnest, Charles Sturt University
While growers are eager for a solution to be found, Dr Ashnest urged the industry to be patient.“ One person will be focussed on this issue for the next three years and they will discover something,” she said.“ Monterey is unlikely to be an easy fix, but with the right approach a management solution to help alleviate the problem will be found in the short term and there could be a solution in the longer term.” Dr Ashnest said while Monterey was the main variety of concern, the work is likely to be of benefit for other almond varieties too. She encouraged the almond industry to look to the future and ensure another generation of researchers were developed to continue very important work.“ At the end of the PhD, the graduate will be highly skilled and capable of working in the almond industry beyond this three-year period,” she said.
One Basin CRC’ s Griffith Regional Hub Manager Bernadette Torresan said she is thrilled to be welcoming a new PhD student to the Riverina.“ With three PhD students and two Postdoctoral researchers already working on critical projects spanning water, agriculture, social, and economic themes, this addition strengthens our commitment to addressing the real-world challenges faced by our farmers and industry,” she said. The One Basin CRC brings academics into regional communities so they can experience firsthand the needs and impacts of their research.“ This not only enriches their work but also fosters meaningful collaboration with local partners and farmers, helping them build strong networks in their chosen fields,” Ms Torresan said.“ Ultimately, these partnerships create social value for students, universities, communities, and the agricultural sector alike.”
industry. australianalmonds. com. au
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