3/15/2017 Department of Horticultural Sciences

Faculties My.Sun A-Z Dates Careers Contact Us

WELCOME TO

AFRIKAANS

Search...

Top Searches

Department of Horticultural Sciences

What is Horticultural Science?
Horticulture is the science, technology and business involved in
intensive plant cultivation for human use from a garden to
the activities of a multinational corporation. It is very diverse in
its activities, covering plants for food and non-food crops.
Because of the growing consciousness of the enormous
challenges of feeding the world's expanding population in
future, the concepts "farm to the fork" and "farm for the
future" are extremely important. Both concepts place the
emphasis on the sustainable use of our natural resources to
produce tasty and nourishing products at the lowest possible
cost with the least amount of waste.

The Department of
Horticultural Science
From the inception of the Department of Horticultural Science
in 1918 teaching and research have been mainly focused on
production methods of suitable deciduous fruit cultivars for the
South African fruit industry. From the start interaction with and support for the industry were emphasised, remaining to
this day a cornerstone of the Department's activities, especially because it finds itself in the heart of the RSA's
horticultural industry. The Department is extremely proud of the fact that it was involved in the training of almost all the
horticulturalists whose expertise and knowledge underpin the different aspects of the industry fruit (apples, pears,
stone fruit such as plums and peaches, citrus products, as well as olives, pomegranates, figs, nuts and berries) as well
as cut flowers. Its mission is to develop, test and improve technologies for the enhancement of pre- and postharvest
fruit and cut-flower quality; to introduce and transfer the developed technologies to growers and other horticultural

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments1/horticulture-sciences 1/5
3/15/2017 Department of Horticultural Sciences

companies for commercial implementation; and to supply skilled manpower to the horticultural industry by delivering
graduates from designated groups, as well as five to eight postgraduate students annually.

Programme information
Undergraduate programme

BS c A gric (Pla nt a nd S oil S c ie nc e s )

The four-year program in plant and soil sciences offers training in the production of agricultural and vegetable crops,
fodder crops, aromatic plants, deciduous fruit, citrus, fynbos and vineyards. For each crop, knowledge of the following is
integrated into a meaningful whole: agricultural economics, biochemistry, biometrics, crop production, entomology,
genetics, nematology, plant pathology and soil science.

The program is subdivided into 3 fields of study:

C rop Produc tions : In this field of study, you will receive training in the production and quality management
including field crops, deciduous fruit, citrus, fynbos, vineyard and greenhouse crops.
C rop Prote c tion a nd Bre e ding: This field of study trains you as an expert in crop protection (entomological and
nematological pests, plant diseases and their control) and genetic crop improvement (cultivation and
manipulation).
S oil a nd Wa te r Ma na ge me nt: This field of study equips you with the expertise to understand the nature,
importance and management of soil and water as they relate to crop production.

Opting for study in one of these three fields prepares you for a variety of careers in the agriculture industry or
agriculture-related industries, including careers such as adviser, consultant, entrepreneur, manager, technician and
researcher.

Postgraduate programme
Hons BS c

MS c A gric

MS c

PhD

Research
During the last decade or so research facilities in the laboratories as well as in the field have been vastly improved.
Starting with the development of carbohydrate and plant-growth regulator laboratories, and leading to the acquisition
of modern equipment for post-harvest and eco-physiological research, the Department is now well positioned for
world-class research and training. Today it is firmly positioned to conduct dynamic research in the deciduous fruit and
citrus industries, providing value-adding technology for industry partners aimed at increasing their global
competitiveness and profitability.

The Department conducts dynamic research for the deciduous fruit, citrus, ornamental cut flower and potted plants
industries, providing value-adding technology for industry partners and lending support to new horticultural industries

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments1/horticulture-sciences 2/5
3/15/2017 Department of Horticultural Sciences

focusing on alternative crop production.

The established export-focused soft fruit, citrus and fynbos industries play an important role in the economy of the
Western Cape and of South Africa as a whole. Research is focused on continually improving the enormous potential for
the expansion of these industries and the growth of new alternative industries in the Western Cape, but also elsewhere
in Southern Africa.

Contact Details
D e pa rtme nt of Hortic ultura l S c ie nc e

Faculty of AgriSciences

Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa

Tel +27 21 808 4900 Fax +27 21 808 2121

E-mail: hortsci@sun.ac.za Web: http://academic.sun.ac.za/horticulture/

Staff
Academic Staff

Name Tel. E-mail Specialization

Dr Paul Cronje 021 808 2689 paulcronje@sun.ac.za Citrus Post-harvest

Physiology

Dr Elke Crouch 021 808 4763 elke@sun.ac.za Pme Fruit Post-harvest

Physiology

Dr Malcolm Dodd 021 808 2970 malcolm@fpef.co.za Post-harvest Physiology

Dr Lynn Hoffman 021 808 2383 ewh@sun.ac.za Fynbos and Cut-flower

Production and Post-
harvest Physiology

Dr Marius Huysamer 021 808 2970 huysamer@sun.ac.za Post-harvest Physiology

Prof Gerard Jacobs 021 808 4761 gj@sun.ac.za Fynbos Production and
Post-harvest Physiology

Dr Mariana Jooste 021 808 3550 mjooste@sun.ac.za Stone Fruit Post-harvest

Physiology

Dr Esme Louw 021 808 4760 esmelouw@sun.ac.za Plant Physiology

Dr Elmi Ltze 021 808 3263 elotze@sun.ac.za Pome Fruit Quality

Prof Linus Opara 021 808 4064 opara@sun.ac.za Post-harvest technology

Dr Michael Schmeisser 021 808 2817 schmeisser@sun.ac.za Plant Ecophysiology and

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments1/horticulture-sciences 3/5
3/15/2017 Department of Horticultural Sciences

Stress Physiology

Dr Wiehahn Steyn 021 808 3939 wiehann@fruitgro.co.za Tree Physiology

Prof Karen Theron 021 808 4762 kit@sun.ac.za Tree Physiology,

Chairperson

Technical & Support Staff

Van, voorletters Tel. E-pos

(noemnaam)

Nazneen Ebrahim 021 808 9242 nazneen@sun.ac.za

Tikkie Groenewald 021 808 2688 ghg@sun.ac.za

Gustav Ltze 021 808 4764 gfal@sun.ac.za

Maria Ntunzi 021 808 4765 marian@sun.ac.za

Carin Pienaar 021 808 4900 mcp@sun.ac.za

Sandy Turketti 021 808 4765 san@sun.ac.za

Dr Elizabeth Rohwer 021 808 4901 ear@sun.ac.za

Andre Swartz 021 808 2688 ajs@sun.ac.za

Willem van Kerwel 021 808 4870 wvk@sun.ac.za

TEACHING & LEARNING RESEARCH & INNOVATION SOCIAL IMPACT OPERATIONS & FINANCE LIBRARY
A-Z SPORT NEWS & EVENTS

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments1/horticulture-sciences 4/5
3/15/2017 Department of Horticultural Sciences

About us
Faculties
Students
Alumni
Management
Donors

Careers @ SU
T&C
Maps
Ethics hotline
Contact us

Sign In

All rights reserved 2013

Stellenbosch University
Private Bag X1,
Matieland, 7602,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tel.: +27 21 808 9111

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments1/horticulture-sciences 5/5