Corbans Viticulture committed to Research & Innovation

27 October, 2006

Corbans Viticulture is committed to ongoing research and innovation in the viticulture industry and has worked closely with Lincoln and Auckland University, HortResearch and Landcare over the past six years.

In 2005 the company set up their own Research & Innovation facility with a laboratory, hothouse and field trial facility. This was further strengthened by the appointment of Dr Anna Graham as Research & Development Manager.

Anna Graham was conferred with a Doctorate in mid 2006. Her PhD project included a survey of fungal diseases that affect graft formation and the affect of systemic fungal diseases such as Black goo or Petri disease on vine quality, grading and reject rate in the nursery.

Prior to completing her PhD Anna gained a BSc in biochemistry and a MSc (First Class Honours) in food science. Anna’s MSc project investigated carbohydrates in rootstock cuttings grafting and their effect on graft formation, budburst during hothouse propagation.

The main focus of Anna’s research work in the last two years has been on control of systemic fungal diseases in propagation material, including the development of HWT protocols suitable for use in New Zealand.

She has implemented a number of other projects at Corbans Viticulture and continues to work on projects in conjunction with other scientists at Lincoln and Auckland University’s, and HortResearch and Landcare.

A summary of these ongoing projects is:

• HWT of rootstock and budwood cuttings prior to grafting
• HWT of 1 year old vines to control crown gall, phylloxera, nematodes
• HWT of cuttings before grafting-effectiveness in reducing Petri disease
• Cylindrocarpon trials PhD student at Lincoln University
• Control of Crown gall using HWT, dips and soil amendments
• Risk analysis of systemic fungal diseases Black goo or Petri disease, Botryosphaeria, Phomopsis
• Propagation methods – propagation medium, pre- and post grafting treatment of cuttings
• Diagnosis of fungal diseases with Auckland University
• Carbohydrates and lignin in rootstock cuttings
• Rootstock husbandry –pruning and shoot thinning
• Control and monitoring of grass grub, black beetle and other insects causing root damage to vines.

For further information on the above projects, contact Anna at anna@corbansviticulture.co.nz or 09 416 8635 ext 717.