Ensuring safe, high quality subtropical avocado fruit for healthy people

Supervisors: Dr Carol Wagstaff (University of Reading), Dr Lynn Dicks (University of East Anglia), Jonathan Berry (Greencell)

Project Overview:
This project will enable a postgraduate student to study the epidemiology of fungal pathogens and their impact on seasonal variation in avocado quality throughout the supply chain. Postgraduate students fascinated by how fruit is produced, exported and quality ensured will be challenged by the unique microbial dynamics of the subtropical fruit avocado from the point of production throughout the supply chain up to the point of retail and sales. Research will take place in both the UK (jointly between the Universities of Reading and East Anglia) and South Africa alongside collaborating researchers at the University of Pretoria and with our commercial partner Greencell, so the successful candidate should be prepared to travel and spend time in South Africa. The project provides training in pollination ecology and the study of fungal spore transmission by pollination vectors, molecular microbiology, metabolite analysis and fruit physiology. Safe quality fruit provides a fascinating field of study for any prospective scientists going beyond the lab benches and farm into the world of marketing, trade and retail.

This project is part of a BBSRC-funded Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) between the Waitrose Partnership, their international food production and supply companies, Lancaster University, the University of Reading, University of Warwick and Rothamsted Research. Between 2017 and 2023, the CTP will deliver 20 four-year studentships on the themes of sustainable crop production, sustainable soil and water and biodiversity and ecosystem services in agriculture.

This project is part of a BBSRC-funded Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) between the Waitrose Partnership, their international food production and supply companies, Lancaster University, the University of Reading, University of Warwick and Rothamsted Research. Between 2017 and 2023, the CTP will deliver 20 four-year studentships on the themes of sustainable crop production, sustainable soil and water and biodiversity and ecosystem services in agriculture.

To apply please see the following link: http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/how-to-apply/gs-how-to-apply-pgr.aspx and please add the Project ID to your application.