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Changing of the guard in field crop diagnosis
Farmers seeking diagnosis of field crop diseases will see a changing of the guard at SARDI’s Plant Research Centre in 2012.
SARDI’s Chris Wilmshurst has retired 42 years after joining the old Department of Agriculture, and later joining SARDI’s Plant Soil Health Unit.
Chris’s original position with the Department of Agriculture was based in Horticulture at Loxton Research Centre, before moving to the Waite in 1975.
Above: For decades a microscope has been a constant for SARDI’s Chris Wilmshurst (front), and Sue Pederick (rear) will continue his work in field crops with Marzena Krysinska-Kaczmarek and Jenny Davidson.
Prior to his retirement on 9 December he was Senior Technical Officer, SARDI Plant and Soil Health, providing technical support for a GRDC project investigating the epidemiology of pulse pathogens, and undertaking seed testing for fungal pathogens.
While responsible for diagnosis of field crop diseases, he also handled seed testing for stem nematode, as well as a number of other seed tests, to provide additional declarations for phytosanitary certificates.
SARDI Senior Plant Pathologist Jenny Davidson said Chris has been the backbone of crop diagnostics at SARDI for many decades.
“His lengthy experience gave him extremely important skills in cereal, pulse and pasture pathology, inspecting plant and seed material,” Ms Davidson said.
“This experience has been invaluable to the cropping industry in South Australia, and often to interstate industries as well, with growers and agronomists seeking answers to cropping problems. In addition the export market has relied on Chris’s skills to ensure grain is free of disease. His interaction with industry has shown a never failing support and understanding of the issues for the industries.”
Field crop pathology and Horticulture Pathology Diagnostics will now receive all diagnostic samples for Sustainable systems through the Diagnostic Logistic Officer, Sue Pederick. This will ensure transition to a successful coordination of commercial diagnostic testing throughout SARDI.
Sue has been with SARDI for 12 years and has a degree with Honours in Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide.
With extensive experience in managing the Diagnostic samples with Horticulture pathology, she is also involved in testing procedures with the Molecular Diagnostics Unit.
Sue is keen to develop her new role with Chris’s experienced team including Ms Marzena Krysinska-Kaczmarek and Ms Jenny Davidson.
All Diagnostic samples should now be forwarded via Sue Pederick Ph. 83039358, sue.pederick@sa.gov.au.
Further information: Sue Pederick 8303 9358 or Terry Price 8303 9433 / 0423 292867
