Hardwood Plantation P&D Semiochemistry

Insects can cause considerable damage in hardwood plantations and because pesticide use is controversial, future pest management may rely on manipulating insect behaviour. Insects use infochemical cues to identify and locate mates and host plants and this can be used to manipulate their behaviour and reduce pest impacts in plantations. Infochemicals include chemical signals produced by insects, such as pheromones and kairomones, or those produced by host plants as odours or volatiles that are attractive to insects. This research is learning how insects perceive and interact with chemical cues or infochemicals in their environment and how these interactions can be manipulated for monitoring and control. Pest species being investigated include the giant wood moth (Endoxyla cinerea), Culama wood moths, the eucalypt leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), red cedar tip moth (Hypsipyla robusta) and several longicorn wood borers. The project will contribute to new strategies for minimising damage and controlling pest densities in Queensland's hardwood plantations.

Mango Fruit Genomics

Genomics approaches for marker assisted selection of improved mango fruit.

Hardwoods Nutrient/Disease Interactions

Interactions of nutrients and disease expression in hardwood plantations.

Preliminary Vacuum Kiln Trials HWDS

Preliminary trials to test the viability of vacuum drying Australian commercially important hardwood species.

BCC Benefits Composted Organics Farm Systems

BCC Benefits Composted Organics Farm Systems.

Refining Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of eggfruit caterpillar

Investigations into pheromone monitoring and efficacy of insecticides to improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of eggfruit caterpillar.

Trialing new cut flower varieties

Field trial of new cut flower, floriculture, foliage varieties.

Breeding Low Chill high quality stonefruit

Breeding Low Chill high quality stonefruit.

ACIAR 9995 Improving the value chain for plantation-grown sawn wood

To improve the yield of marketable high value sawn and/or veneer timber from young plantation grown eucalypts: through the greater understanding and management of growth stresses; grain angle; juvenile wood; and other important wood properties.

Preliminary Vacuum Kiln Trials SWDS

Preliminary trials to test the viability of vacuum drying Australian commercially important softwood species.

Extension of Chemical Phytotoxicity Testing Facility for Warm-Season Turfgrasses

The turf industry needs to access a range of more selective, effective and environmentally acceptable pesticides, which will help to address environmental concerns while maintaining the industry's internationally competitive status. This includes both new pesticides being developed globally for turf use and older generic chemicals previously registered for other agricultural purposes and now requiring extension of that registration for use in turf.

Macadamia Modelling Scoping Study

Investigate the feasibility and utility of a macadamia physiological model.

Better Macadamia crop forecasting

Better Macadamia crop forecasting.

Control of Burrowing Nematodes

Control of Burrowing Nematodes.

Late Autumn Winter Spring strawberries for profit and consumer appeal

Improved cultivar.