![Kate Delaporte](/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/public/profile-images/1730.jpeg?itok=XwCjhySt)
Dr Kate Delaporte
Senior Lecturer
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Kate is the Curator of the Waite Arboretum and Waite Conservation Reserve, a position that enables her to implement her knowledge of trees and Australian native plants, her skills in working with volunteers and community groups, and grow her various research interests. Kate’s main interest is improving Australian native plants for horticulture by research into propagation, cultivation, and breeding and selecting new varieties and species. She also has interests in supporting indigenous knowledge of food/medicines from plants; renewing the Urban Forest, sustainable agriculture and the environment; amenity horticulture (nursery, cut flower, garden design), and general horticulture (in particular small fruits and new crops such as essential oils, herbs, spices and Asian vegetables).
Kate has added interests in promoting and enhancing opportunities for women in the workplace, particularly in Science (Agriculture and Horticulture), and promoting STEM at all school levels.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Kate grew up on a mixed farming rural property in the South East of South Australia. After finishing High School, she completed studies in Horticulture at TAFE and worked for various floricultural and horticultural enterprises before enrolling at the University of Adelaide in 1992 to study Agricultural Science. Her Honours project investigated postharvest vase life and genetic relationships between different Banksia species. In 1996, she was awarded a PhD scholarship to investigate Ornamental Eucalypts, sponsored by the Playford Trust. In 2000, she was awarded her PhD for her thesis entitled “Eucalypts for Ornamental Horticulture – selection, interspecific hybridisation and postharvest testing”. Also in 2000, she travelled to Europe and California on a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the use of Australian Plants in regions with a Mediterranean climate.
Dr Delaporte was employed at the University of Adelaide as a Postdoctoral Research fellow on the Ornamental Eucalypt Development Program, with Professor Margaret Sedgley, from 2000-2007. This research was funded by RIRDC grants with further support from industry collaborators and the Playford Memorial Trust. During this period, Dr Delaporte also lectured in various horticultural and plant breeding subjects: Production Horticulture, Horticultural Science, Postharvest Horticulture and Marketing, and Principles of Plant Breeding.
In 2007 she took up a teaching position in Japan for six months, where she taught about Australian horticulture at the Hyogo Prefecture Awaji Landscape Planning and Horticulture Academy (ALPHA). On her return, she took up employment at Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services, Parkside, as a Technical consultant, working on a range of projects and with numerous clients. Whilst there she undertook training in Eco-mapping with Eco-conseil and became an accredited practitioner. During this time, further RIRDC funding from 2008-2011 allowed for work to continue into selection and development of new varieties on a limited basis.
In July 2010, she returned to the University of Adelaide with Drs Cassandra Collins and Michelle Wirthensohn, on a Horticulture Australia Funded project “Gaining a better understanding of Ornamental Eucalypts”.
From 2013, Kate’s research with ornamental eucalypts progressed to the commercialisation phase, and she has received over $1M in funding to progress selected lines through to a commercial outcome. Funding has been awarded funding from the Australian Federal Government's AusIndustry Entrepreneur programs: Commercial Accelerator and Accelerating Commercialisation, in partnership with Adelaide Research and Innovation, as well as the University's Commercial Accelerator Scheme and BioInnovation SA. Her research into propagation of ornamental eucalypt varieties for commercialisation continues.
Kate’s experience with development of new and novel Australian plants for horticulture has attracted interest from other new plant industries, and in 2015 she engaged in a research project on the potential development of a Manuka Honey in South Australia, supported by PIRSA. This grew into a collaborative project as part of the CRC for Honey Bee Products. She has co-supervised a PhD Candidate in the area of benchmarking Kunzea pomifera, a promising native berry, and supervised a PhD candidate in development of Leptospermum for bioactive honey. A growing interest in First Nation food plants saw her establish a new "First Foods Garden" and a new "Graminetum" at the Waite with support from the Yitpi Foundation and University of Adelaide, the Friends of the Waite Arboretum, the Friends of Urrbrae House and Friends of the Waite Conservation Reserve. These sites provide a fabulous opportunity for resarch and education about the uses of Australian plants in the agricultural space.
The Waite Arboretum beckoned, and in 2017, Kate became the Curator and and academic with the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. Alongside her continued passion for developing Australian native plants for food and pleasure, her research has evolved to encompass the urban forest and protecting urban trees, and understanding the impacts of climate adjustments on tree species. She teaches about plant breeding, horticulture and experimental design to undergraduate students, alongside mentoring and student support.
In 2011, Kate was nominated to the Board of the Playford Memorial Trust, where she participates in the Scholarships Committee and the selection of the Playford Trust scholarship recipients.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2017 - ongoing Curator, Waite Arboretum, Faulty of Sciences University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2017 - 2017 Curator (Acting) University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2023 Teaching Award 2022 Head of School Excellence in Teaching, First Five Years, School of Agriculture, Food & WIne University of Adelaide Australia - 2000 Fellowship Churchill Fellowship University of Adelaide Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2011 - 2015 University of Adelaide Australia Grad Dip Ed 1996 - 2000 University of Adelaide Australia PhD 1992 - 1995 University of Adelaide Australia B Ag Sc (Hons) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2016 Do, C., Panakera-Thorpe, L., Delaporte, K., & Schultz, C. (2016). Kunzea pomifera (muntries): Selection validation and evaluation of important horticultural traits. In C. Finn, & B. Mezzetti (Eds.), Acta Horticulturae Vol. 1117 (pp. 31-37). online: ISHS.
Scopus1 WoS12016 Delaporte, K., Collins, C., Wirthensohn, M., & Rigden, J. (2016). Gaining a better understanding of ornamental eucalypts. In N. Onus, & A. Currie (Eds.), Acta Horticulturae Vol. 1127 (pp. 353-359). Brisbane, AUSTRALIA: ISHS.
Scopus12015 Delaporte, K., & Rigden, J. (2015). Ornamental eucalypts: From an idea to a commercial reality. In B. Gollnow, & R. McConchie (Eds.), Acta Horticulturae Vol. 1097 (pp. 213-220). Perth, AUSTRALIA: ISHS.
2014 Delaporte, K., Wirthensohn, M., & Collins, C. (2014). Ornamental eucalyptus - Something for everyone. In C. W. Heuser (Ed.), Acta Horticulturae Vol. 1055 (pp. 91-94). Bellefonte, PA: INT SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE.
Scopus1 WoS12010 McConchie, R., Delaporte, K., Ekman, J., Gollnow, B., Lidbetter, J., Srhoj, J., . . . Worrall, R. (2010). Standing out from the bunch: An Australian update on improving quality. In A. Gerber, & L. Hoffman (Eds.), Acta Horticulturae Vol. 869 (pp. 191-196). Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA: INT SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE.
2006 Delaporte, K., & Sedgley, M. (2006). Selection of novel hybrid eucalypts. In M. Johnston (Ed.), Proceedings of the Seventh Australian Native Flower Conference (pp. 20-23). Queensland: The Centre for Native Floriculture, The University of Qld, Gatton and Flower Association of Qld.. -
Report for External Bodies
Year Citation 2022 Belder, R. L., Delaporte, K. D., & Caddy-Retalic, S. (2022). Urban tree protection in Australia: Review of regulatory matters. -
Plant Breeder's Rights
Year Citation 2012 Publication status: Accepted
PBR name: EpEm1001
Eucalyptus pyriformis x E. macrocarpa
Alternative title: Nullarbor Lime
Authors: Delaporte KL
Author affiliation: (1066207) Delaporte, Kate
Publication date: 24 January 2012
PBR family name: Eucalyptus
Country registered: Australia
PBR app number: 2011/322
Filed date: 22 December 2011
Record created at source: 9 January 20152012 Publication status: Accepted
PBR name: EyEm1001
Eucalyptus youngiana x E. macrocarpa
Alternative title: Nullarbor Rose
Authors: Delaporte KL
Author affiliation: (1066207) Delaporte, Kate
Publication date: 24 January 2012
PBR family name: Eucalyptus
Country registered: Australia
PBR app number: 2011/321
Filed date: 22 December 2011
Record created at source: 9 January 20152011 Publication status: Accepted
PBR name: Pink SugarCandy
Eucalyptus websteriana ssp. norsemanica x E. caesia ssp. caesia
Authors: Delaporte KL
Author affiliation: (1066207) Delaporte, Kate
Publication date: 13 September 2011
PBR family name: Eucalyptus
Country registered: Australia
PBR app number: 2011/108
Filed date: 2 June 2011
Record created at source: 9 January 20152011 Publication status: Accepted
PBR name: Toffee Hearts
Eucalyptus websteriana ssp. norsemanica x E. orbifolia
Authors: Delaporte KL
Author affiliation: (1066207) Delaporte, Kate
Publication date: 13 September 2011
PBR family name: Eucalyptus
Country registered: Australia
PBR app number: 2011/111
Filed date: 2 June 2011
Record created at source: 9 January 20152011 Publication status: Accepted
PBR name: Honey Hearts
Eucalyptus websteriana ssp. norsemanica x E. crucis ssp. crucis
Authors: Delaporte KL
Author affiliation: (1066207) Delaporte, Kate
Publication date: 13 September 2011
PBR family name: Eucalyptus
Country registered: Australia
PBR app number: 2011/107
Filed date: 2 June 2011
Record created at source: 9 January 2015
- 2022 Environment Institute Seed Funding "Future Trees Phase 1" $20,000
- 2017-2022 CRC for Honey Bee Products "Leptospermum selection for South Australian Bioactive Honey Industry" $281,000
- 2018-2020 Yitpi Foundation "Indigenous Plant & Knoweldge Garden" $31,000
- 2015-2017 Accelerating Commercialisation “Ornamental eucalypts – turning an Australian icon into an export opportunity $500,000 matched funding
- 2014-2015 Commercialisation Australia Proof of Concept grant “Ornamental eucalypt varieties” $500,000 matched funding
- 2013-2014 BioSA Project "Ornamental Eucalypt Development Program" $101,000
- 2013-2015 UA ARI CAS "Field trials for proof-of-concept of novel ornamental eucalypt hybrids produced from tissue culture" $75,000 + $25,000
- 2010-2013 HAL Project "Gaining a better understanding of Ornamental Eucalypts"
- 2008-2011 RIRDC Project "Progress towards commercial release of ornamental eucalypt varieties"
- 2004-2007 RIRDC Project "Development of novel eucalypt hybrids" RIRDC Publication No: 08/018
- 1999-2004 RIRDC Project "Breeding of eucalypt bud and flower lines" RIRDC Publication No: 04/163
- 2020 - ongoing Horticultural Production & Quality, Course Coordinator and lecturer, Field Tour Coordinator
- 2022 - ongoing Agricultural Experimental Design & Analysis III, Course Coordinator and lecturer, Practical Coordinator
- 2022 - ongoing Agricultural Production I, lecturer & Riverland Field Tour
- 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017 Horticultural Internships to support Bachelor of Agricultural Science students learning in horticultural techniques
- 2020, 2021 Research Methods in Agriculture III, Course Coordinator
- 2019 Horticultural Production & Quality III, Co-Course Coordinator and lecturer
- Guest lecturing in Plant Production & Global Climate Change III
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Co-Supervisor Enhancing functional biodiversity in apple production systems under netting. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Rebecca Anne Stevens 2024 Principal Supervisor The development of new horticultural crops for South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Claire Lynette Shoubridge -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Leptospermum for Bioactive Honey Production in South Australia: Selection, Genetic Diversity and Propagation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Tate Jason James Hancox 2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Pre-breeding of an Indigenous Crop in Australia, Kunzea pomifera (muntries): Horticultural Production and Genetic Diversity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Chi Mai Do
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Board Memberships
Date Role Board name Institution name Country 2011 - ongoing Member Playford Trust Inc - Australia -
Consulting/Advisories
Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country 2023 - 2023 Green Adelaide Department of Environment & Water Business and professional Australia 2022 - 2022 Attorney Generals Department, Government of South Australia Planning and Land Use Services, Department for Trade and Investment Legislative and political Australia 2021 - 2021 Private Company Bioactive Honey Business and professional Australia 2015 - 2016 PIRSA - Scientific research Australia 2015 - 2015 Private Investment company - - United States
Connect With Me
External Profiles