Assistant Professor, Horticulture Viticulture Extension Specialist*
Research Interests
• Vine Physiology • Impact of vineyard management on berry components • Canopy management, training systems • Vine carbohydrates, nutrition and growth patterns • Integrated management systems
Learn more about the research program of Dr. Skinkis here.
*Commercial viticulture only. Contact your local county Extension agent or Master Gardners for hobby or homeowner information.
• Horticultural Entomology of the Pacific Northwest • Mites and short shoot syndrome • Filbertworm in Hazelnuts • Black Vine Weevil • Integrated pest management and biological control
• Characterization and improvement of industrial yeasts, emphasizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae • Fermentation processes of biofuels, value-added products
James Osborne Assistant Professor, Food Science Technology Extension Enologist
Research Interests
• Wine Microbiology • Malolactic fermentation • Microbial spoilage of wine • Impact of yeast on wine flavors and aromas • Wine yeast-bacteria interactions • Acetaldehyde metabolism by malolactic bacteria and its enological consequences
Michael Qian Associate Professor, Food Science and Technology
Research Interests
Flavor chemistry and technology and wine, dairy and berry fruits
Aroma/flavor compound identification and characterization
grape aroma and aroma precursor development
Deficit irrigation on grape volatile composition and wine aroma
Vine nutrient on grape volatile composition and wine aroma
Wine in bottle aging
Volatile sulfur compounds in wine
Department of Crop & Soil Science
Amy Dreves Research Associate, Crop & Soil Science
Research Interests
• Design, implementation, management of integrated pest management (IPM) programs emphasizing biologically-based control strategies, whole farm production, pest biology and ecology, monitoring, biological and chemical control, systems-thinking, transfer of technology, and measuring impact and identifying limitations of grower adoption of IPM practices.
• Characterize viruses of small fruit crops and develop diagnostic tests for those viruses that still require grafting for detection. • Study the epidemiology of these viruses with the goal of developing control strategies based on cultural practices or the use of chemicals to control vectors if necessary. • Develop resistance to viruses of small fruit crops by making use of genetic engineering.
• Develop integrated pest management systems for small fruit crops, nursery crops, and hops. • Pathogen epidemiology and the microbial ecology of plant surfaces are being investigated to understand how to better implement biological control strategies for control of plant pathogens. • Research focuses on powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) and gray mold fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea).
• Investigating the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in promoting plant growth and nutrient uptake of small fruit crops with an emphasis on grapevines. • Assessing the diversity of AMF that live within the roots of grapevines in order to understand which fungi are important for vine health under specific environmental contraints. • Impact of management practices on roots, AMF, and vine physiology to define BMPs for optimal plant health and fruit quality. • Understanding how specific plant nutrients alter vine growth and fruit quality of Pinor noir to provide growers with better leaf/petiole concentration guidelines for vine nutrition management.
• Develop economic thresholds for plant-parasitic nematodes important to small fruits and understand under which conditions these thresholds apply. • Develop production systems which promote root health and encourage the establishment of plant-parasitic nematode suppressive environments. • Continue to provide information on the efficacy of current plant-parasitic nematode management strategies relevant to industry.
