Lecturer in Horticulture
Overview
Dr Robyn Cave is a horticulturalist with research experience in plant reproductive biology and the control of plant development and flowering. Robyn completed her undergraduate degree, including Honours, at The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2007. Her Honours thesis identified the environmental signals responsible for triggering flowering in two Australian native herbs for which she was awarded the Bryan Memorial Medal for a superior Honours research project in the field of agriculture. For her outstanding academic results during her program, a prestigious University Medal was awarded. Robyn completed her doctorate in 2011 at UQ, where she developed a model to predict the duration of vegetative and reproductive phases in response to temperature, vernalisation and daylength for Brunonia Australis and Calandrinia sp. This new model included a multifaceted natural vernalisation component that could be used to schedule production of other cold-requiring herbs and to screen natural plant populations vulnerable to global warming. The results of the project were published in National and International plant science Journals. Robyn commenced her current role in December 2014 and is working on a range of projects, including yield potential of grafted vegetables and improving root stock development of pecan.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Applied Science, The University of Queensland
Publications
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Conference Publication: Cold temperature under aerobic conditions increases spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Proud, Christopher, Hammadil, Muneer, Cave, Robyn, Mitchell, Jacquie and Fukai, Shu (2015). Cold temperature under aerobic conditions increases spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In: Tina Botwright Acuña, Matthew Harrison, Carina Moeller and David Parsons, Building Productive, Diverse and Sustainable Landscapes: Proceedings of the 17th Australian Agronomy Conference. Australian Society of Agronomy, Hobart, TAS, Australia, (). 20-24 September 2015.
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Conference Publication: Temperature affects germination of native Australian Gomphrena and Ptilotus species differently
Currey, C. J., Lopez, R. G., Cave, R. L., Harrison, D. K. and Johnston, M. E. (2015). Temperature affects germination of native Australian Gomphrena and Ptilotus species differently. In: R. A. Criley, XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse. International Horticulture Congress, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, (491-496). 17-22 August 2014. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1104.71
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Cave, Robyn L., Hammer, Graeme L., McLean, Greg, Birch, Colin J., Erwin, John E. and Johnston, Margaret E. (2013) Modelling temperature, photoperiod and vernalization responses of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp. (Portulacaceae) to predict flowering time. Annals of Botany, 111 4: 629-639. doi:10.1093/aob/mct028
Grants
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(2015–2020) Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
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(2015–2018) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
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Impact of rabbit density/activity on vegetable production
(2015–2016) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Supervision
-
Determining density thresholds for managing rabbit damage to broccoli and corn
(2019) Master Philosophy
-
Optimisation of novel plant promoting compounds and their delivery methods for the Australian Vegetable Industry
Doctor Philosophy
-
The utilization of Australian native species within land restoration projects
Master Philosophy
Available Projects
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Managing apple production in a changing climate
There are a number of potential projects in the area of apple tree physiology and dormancy that are linked to climate change and/or disease resistant varieties. Many of these projects will require the collection of field data at Applethorpe. However, others are primarily 'desk top' studies.
-
Improving garlic productivity
Understanding seed lot characteristics assists in predicting seed germination responses and subsequent crop productivity. In this projuect, we are investigating 1) the influence of the physiological age of garlic seed on seedling vigour and development, and 2) seed germination in response to vernalisation.
-
Allium production in Queensland
Consumer demand for varieties of Allium is constantly evolving. This project will assess the viabiltiy of growing Alliums from different climatic regions in Queensland.
Publications
Journal Article
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Cave, Robyn L., Hammer, Graeme L., McLean, Greg, Birch, Colin J., Erwin, John E. and Johnston, Margaret E. (2013) Modelling temperature, photoperiod and vernalization responses of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp. (Portulacaceae) to predict flowering time. Annals of Botany, 111 4: 629-639. doi:10.1093/aob/mct028
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Cave, Robyn L., Birch, Colin J., Hammer, Graeme L., Erwin, John E. and Johnston, Margaret E. (2011) Juvenility and flowering of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp (Portulacaceae) in relation to vernalization and daylength. Annals of Botany, 108 1: 215-220. doi:10.1093/aob/mcr116
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Cave, Robyn L., Birch, Colin J., Hammer, Graeme L., Erwin, John E. and Johnston, Margaret E. (2011) Cardinal Temperatures and Thermal Time for Seed Germination of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp (Portulacaceae). HortScience, 46 5: 753-758.
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Cave, RL and Johnston, ME (2010) Vernalization promotes flowering of a heat tolerant Calandrinia while long days replace vernalization for early flowering of Brunonia. Scientia Horticulturae, 123 3: 379-384. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2009.10.004
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Floral ontogeny of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp. (Portulacaceae)
Cave, Robyn L., Birch, Colin J., Hammer, Graeme L., Erwin, John E. and Johnston, Margaret E. (2010) Floral ontogeny of Brunonia australis (Goodeniaceae) and Calandrinia sp. (Portulacaceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 58 1: 61-69. doi:10.1071/BT09211
Conference Publication
-
Cold temperature under aerobic conditions increases spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Proud, Christopher, Hammadil, Muneer, Cave, Robyn, Mitchell, Jacquie and Fukai, Shu (2015). Cold temperature under aerobic conditions increases spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In: Tina Botwright Acuña, Matthew Harrison, Carina Moeller and David Parsons, Building Productive, Diverse and Sustainable Landscapes: Proceedings of the 17th Australian Agronomy Conference. Australian Society of Agronomy, Hobart, TAS, Australia, (). 20-24 September 2015.
-
Temperature affects germination of native Australian Gomphrena and Ptilotus species differently
Currey, C. J., Lopez, R. G., Cave, R. L., Harrison, D. K. and Johnston, M. E. (2015). Temperature affects germination of native Australian Gomphrena and Ptilotus species differently. In: R. A. Criley, XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse. International Horticulture Congress, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, (491-496). 17-22 August 2014. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1104.71
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An experimental approach for developing seed lines of new Australian native flowering pot plants
Cave, R. L., Erwin, J. E., Hammer, G. L., Birch, C. J. and Johnston, M. E. (2012). An experimental approach for developing seed lines of new Australian native flowering pot plants. In: Groening, G, Proceedings of the XXVIII International Horticultural Congress On Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): Proceedings of the International Symposium On Advances in Ornamentals, Landscape and Urban Horticulture. XXVIII International Horticultural Congress (IHC2010), Lisbon, Portugal, (37-43). 22-27 August 2010. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.937.2
Other Outputs
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Robyn Cave (2011). Development and flowering of Brunonia australis and Calandrinia sp.: influence of temperature, daylength and vernalisation PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
-
(2015–2020) Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
-
(2015–2018) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
-
Impact of rabbit density/activity on vegetable production
(2015–2016) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
-
Optimisation of novel plant promoting compounds and their delivery methods for the Australian Vegetable Industry
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
The utilization of Australian native species within land restoration projects
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Postharvest biology underpinning quality in fresh produce supply chains
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
-
In-transit ripening and outturn quality for mango
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
-
Determining density thresholds for managing rabbit damage to broccoli and corn
(2019) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
-
Managing apple production in a changing climate
There are a number of potential projects in the area of apple tree physiology and dormancy that are linked to climate change and/or disease resistant varieties. Many of these projects will require the collection of field data at Applethorpe. However, others are primarily 'desk top' studies.
-
Improving garlic productivity
Understanding seed lot characteristics assists in predicting seed germination responses and subsequent crop productivity. In this projuect, we are investigating 1) the influence of the physiological age of garlic seed on seedling vigour and development, and 2) seed germination in response to vernalisation.
-
Allium production in Queensland
Consumer demand for varieties of Allium is constantly evolving. This project will assess the viabiltiy of growing Alliums from different climatic regions in Queensland.
