Department of Horticulture

Plant Geneticist

As Extension Horticulturist for Hood River County, my main focus is supporting the Hood River area tree fruit industry with relevant educational programs through implementation projects, workshops, field days, informational meetings, and newsletters.

Program Overview

My teaching and research focuses on woody nursery and landscape plants. I teach spring and fall woody plant identification courses, growth and development of horticultural crops, and plant propagation. Research in my lab is closely aligned with the nursery industry...

Fruit, nut, and specialty crop genetics

The ecology of urban and suburban landscapes remains relatively unexplored - although such habitats have great potential to positively contribute to the conservation of pollinators, parasitoids and the ecosystem services that they confer. 

The OSU Horticulture Integrated Cropping Systems Program focuses on providing research based solutions to high value irrigated crops, with an emphasis on optimizing production system outputs while reducing negative environmental impacts.

The OSU Hazelnut Breeding program develops new cultivars for Oregon's hazelnut industry, with an emphasis on resistance to eastern filbert blight (EFB) and suitability for the kernel market.

My research and teaching program investigates how light, nutrients, water, potting media and container-type, affect plant growth, development, and aesthetics.

Viticulture

• Entomology
• IPM
• Biorational pest control agent
• Biological control
• Small fruit and tree nut crops