Dr. Harrison Wright

Pazazz apple storage. Investigating the use of 1-MCP timing, delayed cooling, delayed CA and low oxygen on the storage quality of ‘Pazazz’ apples.

Assessment of NS grapevine performance. A multi-faceted project investigating terroir and plant performance, post-freeze damage mitigation, and rootstock effect.

Fungal endophytes II. In this project the potential utility of fungal endophytes drives research that examines their potentially novel chemistry with applied trials using both wine grapes and blueberries.

Grapevine tissue culture and cryotherapy. Both old and emerging threats in the form of viruses in the wine grape industry are increasing the demand for clean plant material. This project examines the utility of tissue culture and the use of cryotherapy as a means to address this demand.

Lace plant anthocyanin profile. This project investigates the unique anthocyanin profile of the lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis), a model organism for programmed cell death (PCD), with possible anticancer properties.

NSFGA CAP apple project. This project is investigating the use of the anti-ethylene products Harvista and ReTain as a means of delaying the harvest of ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Ambrosia’ apples. A storage trial investigates the implications of field applications on storage fruit quality.

Grape Wine Cluster Activity 4 – viruses. The impact of wine grape viruses on fruit quality and vine performance are examined in a cool climate environment with an emphasis on the lesser-studied hybrids. Surveys examining the virus status and the incidence of insect vectors in commercial vineyards are also performed.

Grape Wine Cluster Activity 7 – cold hardiness. This project seeks to better account for cold hardiness levels in grapes by better understanding the factors that influence ‘acute’ and ‘chronic’ winter stress.  

Grape Wine Cluster Activity 15 – nematodes. This project looks at the presence and abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes and aims to elucidate their association with soil health indicators and other stresses and disease complexes.

Berry/vegetable CEA in the North. A new grower unit outfitted with a novel CO2 delivery system is used to assess several crop species in a containerized production system.

Clean technologies for Apple Replant Disease (ARD). Due to their de-registration, most standard soil fumigants are no longer available for ARD. This project explores several clean technology strategies that might be able to take their place.

Inuit-led agriculture in Gjoa Haven. An Inuit-led research initiative in Gjoa Haven (NU) that utilizes an off-grid power / plant pod with a goal of improving food security.