Possible uses for phenocam in horticultural studies

Dr Grant Thorp, Plant & Food Research Australia, Brisbane

Presentation to ACEAS Phenocam Workshop, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland 11 March 2014

New Zealand-based science company providing research for the fruit, vegetable, cropping and seafood industries.

Crown Research Institute: amalgamation between HortResearch and Crop & Food Research

Over 900 employees: 650 research staff, 15 sites in New Zealand, plus sites in USA and Australia

Plant & Food Research

»  Correct timing of management operations is fundamental to successful fruit production

»  These operations are often timed to meet the period of highest “demand” which are reflected in the growth cycles of trees

»  Understanding the “extent” of each growth cycle, i.e. the size of the demand is also important to understanding the accumulation of reserves in plants and future cropping cycles

Phenology = tree growth cycles

Few challenges with temperate/deciduous trees

»  Working with temperate and/or deciduous trees with a single major growth flush each year is relatively straightforward

»  Key metrics: time of flowering, time of leaf area development (emergence and senescence) and fruit development (skin colour)

Challenge is with evergreen and subtropical trees

»  Evergreen tropical and subtropical trees can produce multiple flushes of vegetative and reproductive growth each year

»  Significant variation between seasons and between trees

Key metrics for avocado:

1.  Timing of vegetative and reproductive growth flushes

2.  Proportion of the tree/orchard involved in each growth flush (ON and OFF cropping trees)

www.plantandfood.com.au

Grant Thorp@plantandfood.com.au

Thank you