Dr. Harrison Wright

Current research and/or projects

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.

Research and/or project statements

  • improving cool climate wine grape production
  • understanding the influence of microbiome and plant health
  • quantifying the impact of viruses on productivity

Professional activities / interests

  • wine grape plant physiology
  • clean plant material
  • plant microbiome and health
  • plant tissue culture
  • northern agriculture

Education and awards

Awards

NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, ‘12 – ‘14

NSERC Canadian Graduate Scholarship, Dalhousie University, ‘08 –‘11

President’s Award, Dalhousie University, ‘08 –‘11

Graduate Research Training Initiative, Dalhousie/NSAC, ‘05 –‘07

Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship “Research Competition”

Edgar Delap Bent Memorial Scholarship (best 2nd year physics student), Acadia University, ’01

Sir Frederick W. Borden Scholarship, Mount Allison University

 

Education

Laval University, Quebec City, QC, ’12 –’15, Postdoctoral (Plant Physiology)

Nova Scotia Community College, Kentville, winemaking and plant production short courses

Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, ’08 –’11, PhD in Biology (Plant Physiology)

Dalhousie University/NSAC, Halifax/Truro, NS, ’05 –’07, MSc. (Agriculture/Plant Science)

Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, part time and full time ’03 –’05, core Biology courses

Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, ’01 –’03, BA. (English major)

Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, ’99 –’01, BSc. (Physics major, Mathematics minor)

Scotia Flight Centre, Waterville, NS, ’98 –’99, ground school, student pilot and radio license      

Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick

Key publications

  1. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 10: April 17

    2023 - View publication details

  2. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 9: March 28

    2023 - View publication details

  3. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 8: March 9

    2023 - View publication details

  4. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 7: February 22

    2023 - View publication details

  5. Wright, H., Franklin, J. 2023. February 3 - 4, 2023 Post Freeze Report: Nova Scotia Wine Grape Initial Impact Assessment. Report

    2023 - View publication details

  6. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 6: January 30 - 31

    2023 - View publication details

  7. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 5: January 18 - 19

    2023 - View publication details

  8. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 4: January 3 - 4

    2023 - View publication details

  9. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 3: December 20 - 22

    2022 - View publication details

  10. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 2: December 5 - 6

    2022 - View publication details

  11. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2022/2023 Report no. 1: November 21 - 22

    2022 - View publication details

  12. What is living below the surface of a cool climate vineyard?

    2022 - View publication details

  13. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 12: April 11 - 12

    2022 - View publication details

  14. Wright, A.H. and Franklin, J. (2022) A Nova Scotia Wine Grape Deep Freeze Event: Climate Trends, Considerations and Pruning Report, 3 pages.

    2022 - View publication details

  15. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 11: March 28 - 30

    2022 - View publication details

  16. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 10: March 14 - 15

    2022 - View publication details

  17. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 9: February 28 - March 1

    2022 - View publication details

  18. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 7: February 1 - 2.

    2022 - View publication details

  19. Franklin, J., Wright, H. Kentville Research & Development Centre (KRDC) – Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness 2021/2022 Report no. 6: January 10 - 20.

    2022 - View publication details

  20. Wright, A.H. and Franklin, J. (2022) Nova Scotia Wine Grapes: Will a Changing Climate Mean a Change in Spring Frost Risk? Report, 3 pages.

    2022 - View publication details

Research facility

32 Main Street
Kentville, NS B4N 1J5
Canada

Affiliations

Adjunct status at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Adjunct status at Dalhousie Univeristy, Halifax, Nova Scotia

American Society of Enology and Viticulture

Language

English