Research — Dr. James Flore, Professor

Research Impact: Research has centered around whole plant productivity and response to the environment, using photosynthesis and carbon partitioning as the basic processes governing growth. Recent impacts are:

• Development of a technique based on automated salt spray during a rain event to stop cherries from cracking.

• Established foliage damage threshold levels for mites on sour cherry and apple, based on productivity and whole tree photosynthesis.

• Orchard design based on light interception and canopy shape. Generating fundamental knowledge:

The main areas of our research are:

• Carbon assimilation by fruit crops

• Carbon partitioning in fruit crops, c)the effect of biotic and abiotic stress on assimilation and carbon partitioning

• Understanding the response of trees to biotic stress

• Establishing damage thresholds for stone fruit based on a carbon based model

Current Research in biotic stress: We have completed work on the effect of simulated leaf damage for strawberry, apple, and have initiated experiments with cherry.

 

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