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Workgroup Information

European Pear

Summary The European Pear Workgroup continues to focus more on horticulture, particularly new varieties, rootstocks, and planting systems to accommodate labor efficient orchard operations using orchard platforms and other means. There is also new information being developed on using oil to mitigate the effects of poor chilling and increase fruit size and quality. This occurs coincidently with the loss of the Extension Specialist covering pears and downsizing of applied horticulturists at the campus level. County-based advisors are increasingly working with Pacific Northwest colleagues with similar interests and goals. A productive relationship with the Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center has also been established to study platform machines. Pest management activities continue to focus on alternatives to broad-spectrum pesticides, e.g. organic codling moth (CM) control, development of a new bactericide, i.e., kasugamycin, for fire blight management, secondary pests in mating disruption programs etc. Resistance to streptomycin is widespread and terramycin resistance has been recently described in the state for the first time worldwide. Resistance to scab fungicides is also of major concern to growers.Statewide surveys have been initiated in the last two years. A major accomplishment is the release (in spring 2007) of the new Pear Production and Handling Manual.
 
Workgroup Chair Information
Name Rachel Elkins (Chair)
Phone (707) 263-6838
E-Mail rbelkins@ucanr.edu
Unit: Lake County
Location: UC Cooperative Extension
883 Lakeport Boulevard
Lakeport, 95453
 
Membership List
 
Haug, Megan
 
AES Scientist
Adaskaveg, James Plant Pathology
  Professor and Plant Pathologist (test editing) Mycology, plant pathology, ecology and epidimiology of fungi (test edits)
Brown, Patrick Department of Plant Sciences
  Pomologist-AES, Professor of Plant Nutrition Plant mineral nutrition; root soil interaction; rhizosphere dynamics and genetic aspects of plant nutrition; function of boron in plants; sustainable agriculture
Brummer, Charles
  Director, Plant Breeding Center Plant Breeding, Alfalfa, Tall Fescue, Forages, Wild Rice, Spinach, Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Agriculture
DeJong, Theodore Department of Plant Sciences
  Emeritus Professor   CE Pomologist-AES   Plant Physiologist-AES Environmental physiology; tree crop physiology; carbon partitioning and crop modeling; pomology; physiology and management of fruit tree crops; peach rootstock development and physiology; dried plum breeding
Delwiche, Michael Biological & Agricultural Engineering
  Professor Emeritus Electronic instrumentation and sensor development in biological systems; biosensors; postharvest engineering; digital signal and image processing; computer control; biological control of insect pests.
Duraj, Victor
 
Fathallah, Fadi Biological & Agricultural Engineering
  Professor Occupational biomechanics and ergonomics with special emphasis on agricultural environments
Leslie, Chuck
 
Lindow, Steven Dean's Office CNR
  Professor and Executive Associate Dean, CNR Molecular and ecological studies of plant-associated bacteria
Michailides, Themis Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center
  Plant Pathologist and Lecturer Ecology, epidemiology and control of fungal diseases of fruit and nut crops and vines, postharvest diseases, aflatoxin and mycotoxins of nut crops and figs.
Millar, Jocelyn Entomology (UCR)
  Distinguished Professor, Entomology, Cooperating Faculty, Chemistry Insect behavior; identification, synthesis, and testing of insect kairomones and pheromones; insect acoustic signaling
Mills, Nicholas Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM)
  Professor Entomologist-AES Biological control of insect pests, ecology and insect parasitoids, tree fruit pests
Montanari, Sara
  Pear genetics and breeding
Neale, David Department of Plant Sciences
  Professor
Rizzo, David Plant Pathology - CAES
  Department Chair and Professor Mycology; fungal diseases of woody plants, fungal ecology; forest pathology
Shackel, Kenneth Department of Plant Sciences
  Professor/Pomologist-AES Plant-based irrigation management, particularly in trees and vines. Use of the pressure chamber and stem water potential (SWP) as a measure of plant stress, and the use of stress to optimize productivity and save water.
Slaughter, David Biological & Agricultural Engineering
  Professor Instrumentation and postharvest engineering for biological materials; packaging, handling, storage and transportation of agricultural commodities; nondestructive measurement of quality and composition of biological materials; robotics, control and vision
Sumner, Daniel Agricultural Issues Center
  Frank Buck Jr. Chair Professor Economics of Agricultural Issues
Upadhyahya, Shrini UC Davis Dept. Bio and Ag Engineering
  Professor precision agriculture, machinery design
Volder, Astrid Department of Plant Sciences
  Professor Root biology, tree systems, whole plant physiology, climate change
Vougioukas, Stavros Biological & Agricultural Engineering
  Associate Professor Mechanization, Robotics, Automation
ZWIENIECKI, MACIEJ A
  AGRON AES Plant water relations, perenial plants physiology, dormancy, non-structural carbohydrates
CE Advisor
Caprile - Emeritus, Janet Contra Costa County Cooperative Extension
  Farm Advisor Commercial fruit, nut, vine, vegetable, field, specialty crops
Elkins, Rachel Lake County
  Pomology Farm Advisor in Lake and Mendocino Counties and Master Gardener Advisor in Lake County - Emeritus
Greer, Christopher San Luis Obispo County
  Area Cooperative Extension Advisor - Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management of Agricultural Crops
Ingels, Chuck Capitol Corridor MCP Cooperative Extension
  Farm Advisor Tree crops, grapes, environmental horticulture, and Master Gardeners/urban horticulture. Areas of research and extension focus include IPM, evaluation of sustainable products and practices, water conservation and deficit irrigation, home orchards and vineyards, sustainable landscaping, alternative turfgrass species, and tree training, pruning, and grafting.
Jarvis-Shean, Katherine Capitol Corridor MCP Cooperative Extension
  Orchard Systems Advisor
Roncoroni, John Napa County
  Weed Science Farm Advisor, Emeritus Weed Control and Vegetation Management in Perennial Crops, Covercrops and Aquatic Weed Control
Varela, Lucia Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Statewide Program
  North Coast IPM Advisor - Emeritus Apples, pears, wine grapes, pest management
CE Specialist
Crisosto, Carlos Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center
  CE Postharvest Physiologist Extension and research on postharvest biology and technology of fruits; fruit and nuts quality and deterioration and handling systems
Donis-Gonzalez, Irwin Biological & Agricultural Engineering
  Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension in Postharvest Engineering Postharvest Engineering
Gubler, Walter Plant Pathology - CAES
  Extension Plant Pathologist Trees, vines, small fruits
Hanson, Bradley Department of Plant Sciences
  Cooperative Extension Specialist Chemical and non-chemical weed control in agricultural crops with a focus on herbicide peformance, resistance, crop safety, and environmental fate.
Lampinen, Bruce Department of Plant Sciences
  Integrated Orchard Management, Walnut and Almond Specialist Integrated Orchard Management with an emphasis on walnuts and almonds
Mitcham, Elizabeth Department of Plant Sciences
  Director, Postharvest Center Postharvest physiology and technology of fruit and nut crops; emphasis on maintaining flavor quality after harvest, enhancing consumption of produce, and reducing food loss. Also studying regulation of fruit ripening and mechanisms underlying calcium def
(info only) Suslow, Trevor Department of Plant Sciences
  Extension Research Specialist Preharvest to Postharvest Microbial food safety systems,postharvest transportation, Postharvest pathology
VanSteenwyk, Robert Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM)
  CE Entomologist Deciduous fruits, nuts and vines
Other ANR
Biasi, Bill Department of Plant Sciences
  Staff Research Associate Postharvest Fruits & Nuts
Farrar, James Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Statewide Program
  Director, Statewide IPM Program IPM, integrated pest management, plant pathology, vegetable diseases, fungi
UC Davis, FNRIC
 
(info only) Frost, William Central Sierra Cooperative Extension
  CE Advisor, Emeritus
Martin, Tunyalee Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Statewide Program
  Associate Director for Communications Leads UC IPM communications, manages IPM publication projects, and supervises editorial and technical staff developing and producing IPM outreach materials for Web and print.
Non-UC
Bassil, Nahla
 
Baumgartner, Kendra Plant Pathology - CAES
  USDA-ARS research plant pathologist grapevine diseases
Bell, Richard
  Research Horticulturist Pear breeding and genetics
Beumel, Cliff
  nursery
Browne, Greg Plant Pathology - CAES
  USDA Research Plant Pathologist Soil-borne diseases of fruit and nut trees and other horticultural crops
Callis, John
 
Fleck, Chuck
  R&D and Product Development
Kluepfel, Daniel Plant Pathology - CAES
 
Knight, Alan
  Research Entomologist
Light, Doug
 
McCaa, Pat
 
McClain, Bob
  Research Coordinator, California Pear Advisory Board
(info only) Moore, Denise
 
Moro, Jennifer Fowler Nurseries
  Research and Product Development Director propagation, evaluation, horticulture
Norelli, Jay USDA-ARS-AFRS
  Research Plant Pathologist disease resistance, management
Ohmart, Cliff
 
Postman, Joseph
 
Reed, Barbara Dept. Horticulture
  Researcher plant propagation
Seybold, Steven
 
Wada, Sugae Dept. Horticulture
  Researcher plant propagation
Zanobini, Chris
 
Membership Totals
Number of Members64
ANR Members43
Non-ANR21
Info Only3
Webmaster Email: lforbes@ucanr.edu