GRDC would like to say many thanks and farewell to the South Australian Research and Development Institute’s (SARDI) senior plant pathologists, who have served the grains industry well over the years.

Dr Hugh Wallwork spent the last 38 years trying to find genetic resistance to diseases, but chemical control and other forms of disease management have also been important in his work.

Due to his work with farmers and other researchers, he was named as the recipient of the 2015 GRDC Southern Region Seed of Light award which acknowledges outstanding effort in communicating research outcomes.

In presentation of the Seed of Light award, it was said “Dr Wallwork has played an influential role in the management of disease on cropping properties across Australia through the delivery of high-impact publications and communications, his willingness to share his wealth of knowledge and his contribution to the development of cereal cultivars with genetic resistance.”

“He has also developed many efficient, reliable and highly-regarded disease screening methods for a range of diseases.”

SARDI's Jenny Davidson with Dorin Gupta, University of Melbourne lecturer in crop science, and Griffith University's Rebecca Ford, leader of the national chickpea pathology program, at the 2017 Science Protecting Plant Health conference. Photo: Liz Wells

Dr Jenny Davidson started at the pulse pathology lab at SARDI in 1995 and has led the group since 2000. For the last 25 years, she has been involved in breeding programs to produce more resistant varieties of pulse crops previously lost to Ascochyta blight and botrytis disease.

Dr Tara Garrard and Sara Blake will be taking over the research, diagnostic and extension roles for cereal and pulse pathology at SARDI in their absences. Both Dr Tara and Sara have been at SARDI since 2016 and 2015 respectively and have the expertise to ensure crop protection remains dedicated to helping the industry.

We wish them well in their retirement.