Securing the future of the New Zealand horticultural industry through germplasm conservation and enhancement

Dr. Pathirana will describe programs at PFR, with emphasis on applications of tissue culture and cryogenic technologies for preservation, protection and improvement of New Zealand’s most valuable horticultural crops. Examples from various crops such as kiwifruit, apple, potato and grapevine will be described.

Time & Location: August 30, 2018 from 3-4 pm at the Kentville Research and Development Centre. Kentville, NS.

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Plant germplasm conservation through cryopreservation: challenges and opportunities

Dr. Pathirana will explore the science of cryopreservation, and some of the potential applications for ensuring food security and plant biodiversity.

Time & Location: September 5, 2018 from 3-4 pm, Reception to follow, at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre Auditorium. Wolfville, NS.

Dr. Ranjith Pathirana ( M.Sc. Hons., Ph.D. Genetics and Plant Breeding)

Dr. Pathirana has pioneered horticultural crop cryopreservation in New Zealand, with successful development and implementation of procedures for several species and cultivars. In addition to conservation of germplasm for clonal crops, he has demonstrated cryotherapy applications for the eradication of pathogenic viruses and bacteria, thus extending the application of cryogenics to high health genebanking. Currently he is the principle investigator of the NZ Government funded project “ Nationally Significant Collections of Arable, Vegetable and Horticultural Crop Germplasm” and the Royal Society NZ Catalyst project “ Cryopreservation of Horticultural Crop Germplasm for Future Proofing to the Industry”.