Senior Lecturer in Horticultural Science
Graduate Research Coordinator, School of Agricultural Science
Regional Deputy Director, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research
Career Summary
I received my PhD in horticultural science from the University of Tasmania in 1992 and worked for 2 years as a postdoctoral fellow at Central Queensland University researching production and quality issues in papaya, pineapple and tea tree crops. I joined the teaching staff at the University of Tasmania in 1994 and lead the vegetable crop agronomy and physiology research in the School of Agricultural Science in addition to coordinating the undergraduate horticultural science teaching program and the Graduate Research program.
Research Interests
My research interests are in applied aspects of plant physiology and crop agronomy in the temperate vegetable and seed production sectors of horticulture.
My research objective is to deliver practical outcomes for industry based on an understanding of the physiological and anatomical basis of crop development.
Specific areas of research are as follows:
• Potato tuber initiation, physiological aging, dormancy and sprouting
• Growth and development of onion bulbs, particularly skin formation, dormancy and sprouting processes
• Carrot root growth and tissue properties influencing propensity to split before and during harvest
• Broccoli inflorescence development, particularly events controlling head architecture, head size and hollow stem incidence
• Factors controlling yield and quality in hybrid vegetable seed crops
• Development of the lactiferous system in oilseed poppies
• Environmental and agronomic factors affecting yield in pyrethrum
Research Areas:Teaching
My major area of teaching is in horticultural science (units KLA242/342/442 and KLA365/465). I am also responsible for teaching an introductory first year unit (KLA115) and project based third year units (KLA378, KLA379), and contribute to two other units (KLA100 Introduction to Agriculture and Horticulture, KLA215 Field Agriculture).
UnitsSelected Publications:- Brown, PH, 2006, '‘University - industry links - the 'front line'’. ', Doctrates Downunder - Keys to Successful Doctoral Study in Australia and New Zealand (Ed. Carey Denholm and Terry Evans)., ACER Press, Camberwell, Victoria, pgs. 68-75
- Morris, SE, Davies, NW, Brown, PH, Groom, T, 2006, 'Effect of drying conditions on pyrethrins content', Industrial Crops and Products, 23, pgs. 9-14
- Rawnsley, RP, Lane, PA, Brown, PH, Groom, T, 2006, 'Occurrence and severity of the weeds Anthriscus caucalis and Torilis nodosa in pyrethrum', Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 46, pgs. 711-716
- Close, DC, Beadle, CL, Brown, PH, 2005, 'The physiological basis of containerised tree seedling 'transplant shock': a review', Australian Forestry, 68(2), pgs. 112-120
- Miller, JAC*, Henning, L*, Heazlewood, VL, Larkin, PJ*, Chitty, C*, Allen, R*, Brown, PH, Gerlach, D*, Fist, AJ, 2005, 'Pollination biology of oilseed poppy, Papaver somniferum L', Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56, pgs. 483-490
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