- Author: Elizabeth Fichtner
The 2016 Walnut and Almond Farm Advisor Training Tour recently visited Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC), marking the first visit of the group to this traditionally citrus-based REC. The tour's visit to LREC is partially a reflection of the recent geographic expansion of nut acreage in Tulare County, but also an illustration of the diversity of ongoing research projects housed at the Center. Janine Hasey, UCCE Farm Advisor, Sutter and Yuba Counties, presented the walnut rootstock observation block to the group, elaborating on the role of the LREC block within the broader objectives of a project sponsored by the California Walnut Board and an SCRI (Specialty Crops Research Initiative) grant. The group also visited the recently-upgraded pathology lab facilities, providing an opportunity to showcase infrastructure available to all UC academics and staff.
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
This past week the Citrus Research Board staff were given a tour of the programs and facilities and introduced to the staff at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. The citrus industry, via the CRB, has been very involved in providing funding for facilities (packline, greenhouse, and screenhouse facilities) as well as the majority of the funding for research projects that take place Lindcove REC. It was very helpful to introduce new staff to each other and build relationships between the Citrus Research Board and Lindcove Research and Extension Center.
- Author: Elizabeth Fichtner
Dr. Carol Lovatt, Professor of Plant Physiology, Botany, and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside, worked with Dr. Elizabeth Fichtner, UCCE Tulare County Farm Advisor, to prepare a ‘Manzanillo' olive block at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC) for bloom treatments to be included in a study aimed at mitigation of alternate bearing in olive. The LREC olive block has been used over the past 4 years to characterize the mechanisms contributing to alternate bearing in ‘Manzanillo' olive and investigate the potential use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) for mitigation of alternate bearing. At it's inception, the research project relied on trunk injection of PGRs to investigate the potential for PGR treatments to either enhance summer vegetative growth or enhance floral bud break in spring. PGR treatments resulting in bioactivity in proof-of-concept studies were then applied as foliar sprays during the 2014-2016 seasons to determine their viability in commercial use.
This multi-year study has been funded annually by the California Olive Committee and this year is also being supported by Valent BioSciences.
- Author: Elizabeth Fichtner
Kurt Schmidt, Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC) Superintendent and Elizabeth Fichtner, Farm Advisor, UCCE Tulare County, video-conferenced with the second grade classes of Mrs. Stella Guiry and Mrs. Jennifer Solano at Stewart School in Garden City, New York. The outreach program was organized by Ms. Dawn Ripp, the Stewart School librarian. Using remote conferencing technology, Elizabeth presented a PowerPoint presentation to the students, highlighting the importance of science and technology for agricultural productivity, economic and environmental sustainability, and the maintenance of a healthy and safe food supply. Students then addressed Kurt Schmidt with questions regarding his experiences as a citrus grower, from protecting trees from the cold to production of seedless varieties. The outreach program was timed in conjunction with students planting a school garden and making mini-greenhouses out of recycled materials.
- Author: Therese Kapaun
Dr. Mikeal Roose (UC Riverside, Dept. of Botany and Plant Science) is establishing a new lemon rootstock trial at Lindcove REC. About 200 Limoneira 8A trees on 12 different rootstocks will be planted next week. Dr. Roose will study the performance of these rootstocks and their effects on this very popular lemon variety.
In this photo Therese Kapaun (Staff Research Associate, Lindcove REC) measures the trunk diameters of both the scion and the rootstock prior to planting. She is using digital calipers that connect to a laptop, and the measured values are entered directly into a spreadsheet at the click of a button.