![[Photo: Dr Nicola Cooley]](cooley.jpg)
Dr Nicola Cooley
Position: |
Research Fellow / Lecturer |
Address: |
LFR, University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus, Dookie-Nalinga Road, , Victoria, 3647 |
Phone: |
+61-3-5833-9283 |
Mobile: |
0437 339 238 |
Fax: |
+61-3-5833-9201 |
Email: |
ncooley@unimelb.edu.au |
Research:
Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) research
Smart Water Systems for horticulture. The research objective is to demonstrate wireless sensing control of various irrigation strategies in both viticulture and horticulture industries. This research was funded through the STI, Victoria Government funding scheme and brings together the skills of control software scientists and engineers, with the agricultural scientists (IDTC).
Designed and implemented two field trail sites (Shiraz at Corop and apples at Dookie) to compare the effect of a number of irrigation strategies (soil, evaporative transpiration (ET) and plant based irrigation) on yield and fruit composition.
Collaborating with the Dr Ian Goodwin et al., Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research Victoria investigating open hydroponics and real time ET irrigation scheduling on peaches.
Areas of Interest:
- Viticulture
- Grape development/maturation, vine carbon/assimilation partitioning, environmental monitoring, wine production and quality assessment.
- Irrigation practices/management.
- Plant/stress physiology
- Gas exchange, water potential, plant growth and development measurements.
- Analytical chemistry
- Identification and quantification of primary and secondary metabolites. HPLC method development. Analysis of UV-absorbing compounds, particularly phenolics, organic acids, carbohydrates and osmoprotectants.
- Metabolomics
- Development of metabolic profiling/characterisation techniques on grape berry employing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
- Molecular biology
- Interested in the effect of stress on gene expression during berry development.
Teaching:
- Agricultural degree, subject coordinator, Plant Communities in Action
- Ph.D. supervisor
- Honours supervisor
- Agricultural degree, third year project supervisor
Recent projects and consultancies:
- Collaboration with Dr Mike Glenn (USDA, West Viginia, USA) during season 2003/2006 investigating water relations on grape vine.
- Collaboration with Dr Mark Thomas (CSIRO Plant Industry) investigating physiology of new vine mutant 2004/2006.
Other professional interests:
- Member of New Zealand Society of Plant Physiology
- Member of Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Inc.
Recent publications:
- Cooley NM, Holmes MG and Attridge TH (2000a) Growth and stomatal responses of temperate meadow species to enhanced levels of UV-A and UV-B+A radiation in the natural environment. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 57 (2-3) 179-185.
- Cooley NM, Truscott HMF, Holmes MG and Attridge TH (2000b) Outdoor ultraviolet polychromatic action spectra for growth responses of Bellis perennis and Cynosurus cristatus. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B-Biology, 59 (1-3), 64-71.
- Cooley NM, Higgins JT, Holmes MG and Attridge TH (2001) Ecotypic differences in responses of Arabidopsis thaliana L. to elevated polychromatic UV-A and UV-B+A radiation in the natural environment: A positive correlation between UV-B+A inhibition and growth rate. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 60 (2-3), 143-15.
- Attridge TH and Cooley NM (2003). Photoreceptors and Associated Signaling IV: UV Receptors. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science, Marcel Dekker, Inc., NY.
- Petrie PR, Cooley NM and Clingeleffer PR. (2004) The effect of post-veraison water deficit on yield components and maturation of irrigated Shiraz (Vitis vinifera L.) in the current and following season Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 10 (3).
- Cooley NM, Walker RR and Clingeleffer PR. (2006) Effects of water stress on grapevine carbohydrate reserves. In: Vine carbohydrate dynamics and source-sink relationships, Ed. R. R. Walker, CSIRO Plant Industry, Merbein, Victoria, Australia.
- Cooley NM, Glenn DM, Walker RR and Clingeleffer PR. (2006/2007) The effects of water deficit and particle film technology on Cabernet Sauvignon grape composition. (Acta Hort submission accepted).
- Pellegrinoa A, Clingeleffera PR, Walker RR, Blackmore DH and Cooley NM (2006/2007) Phenology and berry development of deficit irrigated Cabernet Sauvignon. (Submitted to Acta Hort.).