Horticultural Science Stellenbosch University

Overview

Key facts

The Horticultural Science programme at the Stellenbosch University consists of a research and a modular component. The research topic can be chosen from the following themes:

• growth and development strategies for deciduous fruit, citrus and fynbos plants that limit production and/or quality such as fruit set, fruit size, colour development, tree architecture and light interception;

• flower initiation, dormancy and stress conditions, for example sun scorch in fruit, postharvest physiology including controlled atmospheric storage requirements for deciduous fruit, citrus and cut flowers; or

• physiological abnormalities such as gel decline in plums, surface scorch marks on apples, blackening of protea foliage.

The modular component of the programme is aimed at the acquisition of generic research competencies to support the research part of the programme. You must also deepen your subject knowledge on general plant physiology through self-study.

Postharvest research focuses on the investigation of fruit and flower handling protocols, cooling and storage conditions for the optimisation of the shelf life and quality, as well as the underlying physiology of cell walls and membranes.

All research conducted by the Department is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the economically important fruit and fynbos industries of South Africa in view of the overseas markets.