Associate Professor Paul Holford

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Selected Publications
• Contact Details

Biography

Associate Professor Holford undertakes the plant pathology component of ACIAR and DEST funded projects studying huanglongbing, a bacterial disease of citrus and citrus relatives of which Professor Beattie is the Chief Investigator. A further project is studying the phylogenetics of species Murraya and Merrilia to determine the relationships between the phylogeny of these species and susceptibility to this disease. His work in conjunction with Associate Professor Robert Spooner-Hart examines the biology of Australian native bees and their suitability as crop pollinators. He has research on soil chemistry involving the development of models that describe the relationships between soil properties and the concentration of cadmium in the soil solution. He has a collaboration Professor John Hoffmann, Zoology Department, University of Cape Town and Dr Helmuth Zimmermann of the Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council on the biology of a cochineal insect (Dactylopius tomentosus) used as a biological control agent against an invasive species of cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida) in South Africa. In conjunction with Adjunct Professor Barry McGlasson, he is involved in the development of vanilla as a new crop for Australia and the genetic changes that occur during the development of chilling injury in stone fruit. The former project is in collaboration with Australian Vanilla Plantations and latter with Professors Pietro Tonutti (University of Pisa) and Claudio Bonghi (University of Padova). He is principal supervisor of 3 PhD students; C Mathenge, A Jajo and S Van Dyk. He is affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences.

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Soil Chemistry; Horticultural Crop Growth and Development; Post Harvest Horticultural Technologies; Horticultural Crop Protection; Citrus Fruit; Horticultural Crops; Stone Fruit; Environmentally Sustainable Plant Production

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Grants / Current Projects

How specific is the interaction of halide ions and bioavailable soil cadmium?
Co-Researchers: Dr Paul Milham
Partner/Funding Body: University of Western Sydney Research Partnerships Program and Applied Horticultural Research
Period: 2009-2011

Production of high quality cured vanilla beans
Co-Researchers: Adjunct Professor Barry McGlasson, Associate Professor Robert Spooner-Hart, Dr Mark Williams
Partner/Funding Body: Australian Vanilla Plantation Pty Ltd
Period: 2008-2010

Understanding fruit physiology to minimise low temperature disorders of summerfruit
Co-Researchers: Adjunct Professor Barry McGlasson
Partner/Funding Body: Horticulture Australia Limited
Period: 2008-2010

Use of GC-MS and head space capture for the analysis of citrus volatiles
Co-Researchers: Dr mark Williams, Professor Andrew Beattie
Partner/Funding Body: The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering: Crawford Fund
Period: 2007

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Awards and Recognition

Awarded the Eva Crane Memorial Award by the editorial board of the Journal of Apicultural Research for the paper: ‘X-ray computerised microtomography (MicroCT): a new technique for assessing external and internal morphology of bees’ which was voted as the best, most innovative and scientifically exciting, article published in the journal in 2008. The award consists of a certificate and a voucher for £100, to be spent at the IBRA Bookshop. Benefactor: International Bee Research Association, 2008.

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Selected Publications

Book Chapter

McGlasson WB, Golding JB and Holford P, (2009) Improving the dessert quality of stone fruit, in Postharvest Technologies for Horticultural Crops, Vol 2, (Ed) Benkeblia N, pp 49–92, Research Signpost, Keralla

Journal Articles

Mann J, Markham JL, Peiris P, Nair N, Spooner-Hart RN, Holford P, (2010) ‘Screening and selection of fungi for bioremediation of olive mill wastewater’, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol.26, no.3, pp 567-571. IF 0.945

Zaka SM, Zeng X-N, Holford P, Beattie GAC, (2010) ‘Repellent effect of guava leaf volatiles on settlement of adults of citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, on citrus’, Insect Science, vol.17, no.1, pp 39-45. IF 0.683

Gordon-Thomson C, Kumari A, Tomkins L, Holford P, Djordjevic JT, Wright LC, Sorrell TC, Moore GPM, (2009) ‘Chitotriosidase and gene therapy for fungal infections’, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, vol.66, no.6, pp 1116-1125. IF 5.511

Mathenge CW, Holford P, Hoffmann J, Spooner-Hart R, Beattie GAC, Zimmermann HG, (2009) ‘The Biology of Dactylopius tomentosus (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae)’, Bulletin of Entomological Research, vol.99, no.6, pp 551-559. IF 1.415

Mathenge CW, Holford P, Hoffmann JH, Zimmermann HG, Spooner-Hart R, Beattie GAC, (2009) ‘Distinguishing suitable biotypes of Dactylopius tomentosus (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) for biological control of Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) in South Africa’, Bulletin of Entomological Research, vol.99, no.6, pp 619-627. IF 1.415

Zaka SM, Zeng X-N, Holford P, Beattie GAC, (2009) ‘Repellent effect of guava leaf volatiles on settlement of adults of citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, on citrus’,  Insect Science, vol.17, pp 39-45. IF 0.683

Greco M, Jones A, Spooner-Hart R, Holford P, (2008) ‘X-ray computerised microtomography (MicroCT): A new technique for assessing external and internal morphology of bees’, Journal of Apicultural Research, vol.47, no.4, pp 286-291. IF 0.741

Malcolm P, Holford P, McGlasson B, Barchia I, (2008) ‘Leaf development, net assimilation and leaf nitrogen concentrations of five Prunus rootstocks in response to root temperature’, Scientia Horticulturae, vol.115, pp 285-291. IF 0.694

Pustika AB, Subandiyah S, Holford P, Beattie GAC, Iwanami T, Masaoka Y, (2008) ‘Interactions between plant nutrition and symptom expression in mandarin trees infected with the disease huanglongbing’, Australasian Plant Disease Notes, vol.3, no.1, pp 112-115

Chohan S, Qamar R, Sadiq I, Azam M, Holford P, Beattie A, (2007) 'Molecular evidence for the presence of huanglongbing in Pakistan', Australasian Plant Disease Notes, vol.2, pp 37-38

Malcolm P, Holford P, McGlasson B, Conroy J, Barchia I, (2007) 'Growth and its partitioning in Prunus rootstocks in response to root zone temperature', Scientia Horticulturae, vol.112, no.1, pp 58-65. IF 0.697

Malcolm P, Holford P, McGlasson WB, Barchia I, (2007) ‘Leaf development, net assimilation and leaf nitrogen concentrations of five Prunus rootstocks in response to root temperature', Scientia Horticulturae, vol.115, pp 285-291. IF 0.697

Milham PJ, Payne TE, Lai B, Trautman, RL, Cai Z, Holford P, Haigh AM, Conroy JP, (2007) 'Can synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy be used to map the distribution of cadmium in soil particles?', Australian Journal of Soil Research, vol.45, pp 624-628. IF 1.072

Szczerbanik M, Jobling J, Morris S, Holford P, (2007) 'Essential oil vapours control some common postharvest fungal pathogens', Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, vol.47, no.1, pp 103-109. IF 0.861

Ghajar F, Holford P, Alhussaen K, Cother E, Beattie GAC, (2006) ‘Optimising sporulation and virulence in Drechslera avenacea’, Biocontrol Science and Technology, vol.16, no.5, pp 471–484. IF 0.857

Ghajar F, Holford P, Cother E, Beattie GAC, (2006) 'Effects of ultraviolet radiation, simulated or as natural sunlight on conidium germination and appressorium formation by fungi with potential as mycoherbistats’, Biocontrol Science and Technology, vol.16, no.5, pp 451–469. IF 0.857

Ghajar F, Holford P, Cother E, Beattie GAC, (2006) 'Enhancing survivial and subsequent infectivity of conidia of potential mycoherbistats using UV protectants’, Biocontrol Science and Technology, vol.16, no.8, pp 825–839. IF 0.857

Greco M, Spooner-Hart R, Holford P, (2006) ‘X-ray computerized tomography as a new method for monitoring Amegilla holmesi nest structures, nesting behaviour and adult female activity’, Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, vol.120, pp 71–76. IF 1.248

Malcom P, Holford P, McGlasson B, Conroy J, (2006) ‘Root zone temperature influences growth, partitioning, leaf morphology and physiology of the peach rootstock, Green Leaf Nemaguard’, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, vol.46, pp 689–696. IF 0.676

Nguyen CMT, Dang TTV, Nguyen HX, Nguyen CT, Le TTT, Holford P, (2006) ‘Collar rot of groundnut caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae in North Vietnam’, in International Arachis Newsletter, vol.26, pp 25–27

Greco M, Spooner-Hart R, Holford P, (2005) 'A new technique for monitoring Trigona carbonaria brood status using X-ray computerised tomography.', Journal of Apicultural Research, vol.44, no.3, pp 97-100

Mcinnes A, Holford P, Thies J, (2005) 'Characterisation of colony variants in Australian rhizobial inoculant strains for Medicago species.', The Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, vol.45, pp 151-159

Mcinnes A, Holford P, Thies J, (2005) 'Characterisation of dry and mucoid colonies isolated from Australian rhizobial inoculant strains for Medicago species', Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, vol.45, pp 151-159

Stott K, Desmerger C, Holford P, (2005) 'Relationship between species of Lepista determined by molecular characterisation using CAPS and RAPD', Mycological Research, vol.109, no.2, pp 205-211

Uthairatanakij A, Holford P, Mcglasson B, (2005) 'Changes in total proteins related to chilling injury of nectarine.', European Journal of Horticultural Science, vol.70, pp 271-277

Uthairatanakij A, Holford P, Mcglasson B, Penchaiya P, (2005) 'Changes in ACC and conjugated ACC following CA storage of nectarine', The Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, vol.45, pp 1635-1641

Milham P, Jinadasa N, Hawkins C, Holford P, Conroy J, Collins D, (2004) 'Modelling the effects of soil properties on the concentration of Cd extracted by 10 mM CaCl₂ from soils of the Sydney Basin', Australian Journal of Soil Research, vol.42, pp 799-813

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