Horticultural crops

Currently work in this area is confined to the Paprika project (discussed elsewhere) and to collaboration with the Faculty of Rural Management at Orange in their project investigating the role of hairiness of Tomato leaves and stems in the reduction of severity of certain types of insect damage. Local industry sponsors are interested in seeing an expansion of the Institute’s work with vegetable crops.

Paprika

The University capsicum program was successful in obtaining a Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Grant on the breeding, processing and commercialisation of condiment paprika.

During the 2002/03 season an elaborate cultivar trial was established. The results of this trial gave a clear indication that three or four of our selections should be considered for Plant Breeder's Rights registration and consequently to release for commercial production.

We have found that the US cultivars e.g. Papri Queen, Papri King and Conquistador, combined with Hungarian and some of our selections are providing very good high yielding combinations with good pigment and dry matter content. An aim of the project is to incorporate detachability with often desirable traits.