Current Students
Allison Stewart
Former Students
Erick Smith
Ph.D. Candidate
Erick's project began in January, 2006 and investigates key horticultural and physiological issues surrounding the mechanical harvest of fresh-market quality sweet cherries. More specifically, Erick is evaluating the effects of rate and timing of Ethephon on pedicel-fruit abscission zone, and fruit quality at, and post storage. His research will also characterize the effects of the mechanical harvest system on fruit quality and storability. Erick's funding is provided by the IMPACT Center.
Brett Adams
M.Sc. Candidate
B.S. Horticulture, Brigham Young University, 2004
Brett joined the program in Fall, 2006. His research program investigated the potential for a novel sweet cherry planting system dubbed 'sleeping eye' (trees that are fall- budded, spring-dug and planted). In addition, Brett's project is evaluating causes of poor grafting success on new clonal rootstocks. Brett's research is funded by WSU and Willow Drive Nursery.
Rolando Martin
M.Sc. Candidate
B.S. Horticulture, Eastern Washington/Washington State University, 2005
Rolando joined the program in January, 2006. His research project is designed to better understand critical temperatures and periods of susceptibility to pistil doubling in sweet cherry. Rolando's research will also document floral organ initiation and differentiation. His program is supported financially by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.
Alejandro Antunez
Ph.D. Candidate
Agr. Eng. 1996 U. de Chile
B.Sc. 1994 U. de Chile
Alejandro's research focused on optimizing sweet cherry orchard water use efficiency and evaluates the potential for, and physiological impact of regulated deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying.
Olivia Lenahan
M.Sc. 2005 Washington State University
M.A. 2000 Syracuse University
B.Sc. 1999 Penn State U.
Olivia's project investigated the efficacy and physiological impact of novel sweet cherry chemical blossom thinners and the use of gibberellic acid as a crop load management tool in high density sweet cherry orchard systems.