3728 research projects
Research project
Increasing yield and quality in tropical horticulture with better pollination, fruit retention and nutrient distribution
Hort Innovation
This program aims to optimise crop pollination efficiency. Key objectives are to increase yield and quality through better understanding of crop nutrition during crop pollination and through improved understanding of the effects of cross pollination on fruit quality. The project team will develop non-destructive tools (using hyperspectral imaging) to quantify...
23 Jun 2017 - 1 Jul 2023
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Managing flies for crop pollination
Hort Innovation
This investment is investigating the potential of using flies as alternative crop pollinators, including looking at the effectiveness of specific species in pollinating avocado, berry (blueberry, raspberry and strawberry), hybrid carrot seed and brassica seed crops. Potential benefits of flies as alternate pollinators to bees include: - Different fly species...
1 Nov 2018 - 15 Sep 2023
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Development of Non-invasive methods and systems for the Assessment of Hive Health
Hort Innovation
The strength and health of bee colonies used for pollination need to be assured both on delivery to the grower, for their capacity to pollinate crops, and on return to the beekeeper. Current practice includes the inspection of colonies by opening a sample of the hives on delivery and return....
18 Oct 2019 - 15 Jul 2023
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Development of Blue-Banded Bees as Managed Buzz Pollinators
Hort Innovation
Blue-banded bees have shown preliminary promise for use as mass-reared pollinators, particularly as pollinators of tomatoes in Australian greenhouses due to their ability to perform buzz pollination – that is, using vibrations to remove and collect pollen from flowers incidentally fertilising them. This project is developing a range of management...
21 Jun 2021 - 25 Sep 2026
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
eDNA analysis of plant-pollinator relationships to improve Hass avocado production in south-west Western Australia
Hort Innovation
Inadequate pollination has been identified as one of the main contributors impacting fruit production in avocados, an issue experienced in south-west Western Australia where avocados typically produce large numbers of flowers but consistently yield low crops. This project is using a method known as eDNA metabarcoding to determine which insect...
26 Nov 2020 - 30 Nov 2023
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Loss of horticultural pollination services from wild insects following bushfires
Hort Innovation
Extreme weather events, such as bushfires and floods, are important features of the Australian environment and are predicted to increase in frequency with climate change. However, little is known about how this may impact crop pollination. This investment is conducting a case study of the impact of a major bushfire...
16 Jun 2021 - 4 Nov 2023
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Insect survey within Pistachio farms/orchards
Hort Innovation
This project increased knowledge about pest and beneficial species of insects and mites in Australian pistachio orchards. It looked at pests that currently pose a risk to pistachio production, or that have the potential to move into orchards. While the project team found the pest status of surveyed pistachio orchards...
12 Sep 2017 - 13 Jun 2020
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Causes and management of dark staining on pistachio shells
Hort Innovation
This project investigated dark staining of pistachio shells and nuts – an issue that leaves produce unmarketable and that has been tentatively linked to fungal pathogens Fusarium and Alternaria in preliminary studies. The aim was to investigate the causal organism associated with dark staining, evaluate when pistachios are most susceptible...
25 Sep 2017 - 30 Sep 2020
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Extension of the Predicta Pt Potato Diagnostic Service
Hort Innovation
This project expanded the PREDICTA® PT testing system to help minimise the impact of soil and seed borne diseases on commercial Australian potato production. Available through accredited providers in south-eastern Australia since 2013, PREDICTA Pt is a commercial DNA-based testing service that identifies pathogens and helps potato growers manage risks...
8 May 2016 - 23 Oct 2020
New South Wales, Australia
Research project
Investigating soil pH and nutrition as possible factors influencing Pink Rot in potatoes – a pilot study
Hort Innovation
This project is investigating how soil pH and nutrition may play a part in reducing the impact of pink rot disease in potatoes. By furthering the industry’s knowledge on this soilborne disease, the work will provide direction for future research priorities and recommendations on how to best manage pink rot.
30 Jun 2020 - 31 Jul 2022
New South Wales, Australia