Optimising fruit production

Science programme: Optimising fruit & crop growth

Our fruit and crop growth research programme capitalises on our extensive experience in crop and environmental physiology, pomology and management technologies of temperate fruit crop production systems.

We have a major focus towards quality enhancement of fresh fruit to support our national fruit exporting industries and the international development of new HortResearch cultivars of kiwifruit, apple pear, stonefruit and berries. With projects both within New Zealand and offshore, our research assists fruit industries to enhance value by producing fruit that meets consumer expectations.

Our research activities include:

Molecular and physiological control of plant development using gene based methods
Environmental regulation of fruit development
Plant processes, dry matter partitioning and growth allocation
Prediction of fruit growth and fruit quality and the seasonal development of fruit quality attributes
Cultural and environmental influences on pre-harvest and post-harvest fruit quality
Fruit texture and flavour and sensory perception of quality
Fruit physiological disorders and relationships with fruit development
Optimising fruit crop production methods
Rootstock development and the physiological basis of rootstock responses
Intensive orchard management systems
Technologies for sustainable production.

Our clients include ZESPRI, ENZA International, Pipfruit New Zealand Inc.,Valent Biosciences.

For a better understanding of our research, we recommend the following documents:

Rusholme RL, Gardiner SE, Bassett HCM, Tustin DS, Ward SM, Didier A 2004. Identifying genetic markers for an apple rootstock dwarfing gene . Acta Horticulturae 663(1): 405-410.

Seleznyova A, Thorp G, White M, Tustin S, Costes E 2004. Structural development of branches of 'Royal Gala' apple grafted on different rootstock/interstock combinations. Acta Horticulturae 636: 173-180.

Snelgar WP, Minchin PEH, Blattmann P 2005a. Altering growth and maturation of Actinidia chinensis 'Hort16A' fruit by heating individual berries. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 80(6): 779-785.

Snelgar WP, Hall AJ, Ferguson AR , Blattmann P 2005b. Temperature influences growth and maturation of fruit on ' Hayward ' kiwifruit vines. Functional Plant Biology 32(7): 631-642.

Clearwater MJ, Seleznyova AN, Thorp TG, Blattmann P, Barnett AM, Lowe RG, Austin PT 2006. Vigor-controlling rootstocks affect early shoot growth and leaf area development of kiwifruit. Tree Physiology 26(3): 505-515.

Greer DH, Wünsche JN, Norling CL, Wiggins HN 2006. Root-zone temperatures affect phenology of bud break, flower cluster development, shoot extension growth and gas exchange of 'Braeburn' (Malus domestica) apple trees . Tree Physiology 26(1): 105-111.

Contact Stuart Tustin