The California Avocado Commission (CAC) funded a multiyear study lead by Greg W. Douhan, a UC Plant Pathology and Microbiology researcher, to control avocado root rot. Control of this destructive pathogen will ultimately be accomplished with resistant rootstocks.

The research team is focusing on crossing already-resistant rootstocks, and has identified several that have greatly improved yields on land infested with Phytophthora cinnamomi. Six plots are being tended this year including one in Santa Paula. They have plans for additional plots for the study. Work is being done at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine and at University of California, Riverside (UCR).

"Seed screening seeds from our breeding blocks will continue…We have also collected new isolates of P. cinnamomi to determine how diverse the population is so that appropriate isolates can be used in the initial screening process. My graduate student is finishing up this summer and will hopefully have most of our advanced lines characterized genetically. I am also submitting a USDA grant to work on the parentage analysis of our advanced lines as well as continue to work on genetically characterizing avocado rootstocks.”

To read the entire study report, please visit http://www.avocado.org/growers/symposiumcontent.php?research=b3.

Monique Myers, Ventura County UCCE’s Costal Community Development Advisor has some great information to help us conserve water and reduce the flow of pollutants all at the same time!

Myers writes this on our website, “Water is a valuable resource in Southern California.  It is important that we capture rainwater and allow it to soak into the ground where it can water plants and replenish groundwater supplies.  Rain that falls on hard surfaces, such as buildings and asphalt, picks up pollutants as it flows.  This 'stormwater' is then directed to storm drains and ultimately ends up polluting our streams and oceans."

Individuals can help conserve water and prevent polluted stormwater runoff through wise gardening and land-use practices.  Our website provides some useful tips for Southern California residents.

Some of the suggestions are for large projects, and while you might not be in a position to tackle those changes now, the information may be useful to you in the future or may be of benefit for a friend or neighbor. Many of the other ideas, such as composting and natural planting, can be incorporated easily as time and resources allow.

Please follow this link http://www-csgc.ucsd.edu/BOOKSTORE/greensheets.html to see them.

The Ventura County UCCE Master Gardeners is a busy and important volunteer group. Their mission statement is, “Enhance the well being of people, plants, and environment through science based gardening education and community outreach.” They work hard to do just that.

So far this calendar year our Master Gardeners have logged approximately 2,000 community service hours. These hours include assisting on Cooperative Extension research projects, leading tours of school children at the Hansen Ag Center, working at various gardens throughout the county, and staffing the Master Gardener Helpline.

The Master Gardener Helpline is a great resource for home gardeners. Please contact them with garden-related questions. The line is staffed Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1-4. They can be reached by calling 805.645.1455 or by email at mgventura@ucdavis.edu. Additional information and resources can be found here.

California faces many complex challenges in the future. California must address these challenges to ensure a high quality of life, a healthy environment, and economic success for future generations.

The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resource ( UC ANR), a statewide network of UC researchers and educators dedicated to the creation, development, and application of knowledge in agricultural, natural, and human resources, recently released a Strategic Vision recognizing that California’s future depends on

• sustainable, nutritious, and safe food;
• clean, healthy, and sustainable places to live, work, and grow;
• resilient, biologically diverse, and healthy ecosystems;
• clean, secure, and sufficient supplies of water;
• cleaner and more secure energy;
• educated and engaged people; leaders prepared for and capable of making strategic decisions;
• innovative solutions and informed choices;
• economic opportunity and jobs.

The Strategic Vision identifies nine strategic initiatives as a start to address the challenges that face Californians. The following multidisciplinary, integrated initiatives represent the best opportunities for ANR’s considerable infrastructure and talent to seek new resources and new partnerships within and outside UC to find solutions for California.

The conceptual initiatives are:

1. Improve Water Quality, Quantity, and Security. Water is the life blood of California’s economy. As such, water supply and quality for agricultural, urban, and environmental systems is a critical issue facing the state over the next 20 years and beyond.

2. Enhance Competitive, Sustainable Food Systems. California agricultural competitiveness will depend upon adopting new scientific and technological innovations derived from new knowledge in agriculture and nutrition.

3. Increase Science Literacy in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Nutrition. California is undergoing a remarkable social transformation driven by two forces that have shaped the state throughout history: dramatic demographic changes in the number, age, and diversity of the population and the impact of science and technology. Education will be a key contributor to the successful outcome of this transformation, providing the principal means of making informed decisions about complex issues.

4. Sustainable Natural Ecosystems. Population growth, coupled with climate and land use changes, are the most important issues that will affect California’s natural resources.  Future urban and suburban growth is projected to shift more toward rangelands and forests.

5. Enhance the Health of Californians and California’s Agricultural Economy.

Improving the health of Californians, enhancing their quality of life, and reducing health care costs are critical to the future of California.

6. Healthy Families and Communities. The major challenge for our families, schools, and communities is to promote positive development of children, youth, and adults.

7. Ensure Safe and Secure Food Supplies. Food-borne illnesses affect one in four Americans annually, with higher rates in California. Food-borne illnesses place a burden on our health care system and reduce the productivity of our workforce. Food insecurity, which currently affects one in ten California households, places additional burdens on our health care system as poor nutrition is directly related to numerous human diseases and increased health care costs.

8. Manage Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases. Increases in the number and kinds of pests and diseases may negatively impact California agriculture, natural resources productivity, and ecosystem functions, affecting Californians’ quality of life.

9. Improve Energy Security and Green Technologies. California faces diminishing and more costly supplies of energy, which can be addressed in part by California’s vast agricultural and natural resource base.

The Ventura County UCCE office is already working on several of these initiatives that are within our area of expertise. Throughout the state, many other dedicated scientists, researchers, and program representatives are also working hard today for the future.