January 21, 2008
Dr
Greg Constable, leader of CSIRO
Plant Industry’s cotton breeding team, has received the
“Outstanding Research in Cotton Physiology Award” presented at
the recent Agronomy and Physiology Conference held in
conjunction with the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in the USA.
Dr Constable is believed to be the first non-US recipient of the
Award which is presented annually to an individual or team that
has significantly improved knowledge of the physiology of cotton
growth and development.
The Award citation noted that Dr Constable had been researching
cotton traits since first moving to Narrabri with the NSW
Department of Agriculture in 1972, when he commenced a Master of
Science in Agriculture examining the growth, development and
yield of cotton as influenced by cultivar and row spacing.
In 1978 he was seconded to Canberra where he completed a PhD at
ANU on carbon fixation and distribution in cotton, which also
examined the role of the leaf in fruit development. He returned
to Narrabri in 1980, continuing research on cotton physiology,
specifically focusing on interactions with water and nutrition.
He moved to CSIRO in 1991, and subsequently became leader of
CSIRO’s cotton research program which has produced significant
increases in the productivity and sustainability of the
Australian cotton industry.
In a research and technology transfer career spanning pioneering
plant physiology initiatives, fundamental and applied crop
agronomy, innovative farming systems and modern plant breeding
including new transgenic traits, Dr Constable has achieved
international recognition.
The citation made special mention of Dr Constable’s capacity to
clearly define needs and perceive new opportunities that may be
addressed by all aspects of cotton research.
Dr Constable’s knowledge of cotton physiology, and his ability
to link physiology with cotton varietal development, has led to
significant breakthroughs in varieties that are: better adapted
to rainfed production systems; have improved tolerance to heat
stress; possess fibre quality attributes that meet future market
requirements.
Many of these varieties have become industry standards under
both irrigated and dryland production systems. The current
research program is strong and diverse and includes breeding
varieties targeting improved water use efficiency.
Commenting on Dr Constable’s award, Cotton Seed Distributors
General Manager, Steve Ainsworth, said he had also played a
leading role in the formation and implementation of the Cotton
Cooperative Research Centre concept for more than a decade,
being the inaugural director of the first CRC in the early
1990s.
He praised his work in developing higher yields and management
packages, and in consistently producing varieties, including
genetically modified varieties with multiple traits, with
improved disease tolerance and pesticide resistance, leading to
reduced insecticide use and greater environmental
sustainability.
Mr Ainsworth also noted that apart from being a first rate
scientist, Greg is also a person who excels in mentoring and
supporting his colleagues from across the industry.
In 2003, Dr Constable was judged “Australia’s smartest
scientist” by The Bulletin magazine. His team was awarded the
CSIRO Chairman’s Medal in 2003 and the Australian Government
Prize for Rural innovation in 2005. In both 1984 and 2006 Dr
Constable was judged to be the Australian Cotton Growers
Research Association Researcher of the Year. |
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