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Research Statement
The major thrust of my research program is
currently vineyard irrigation management. I
have had irrigation experiments established on wine grapes (trials located in
Napa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Riverside counties), table grapes (trials
located in Fresno and Riverside counties) and raisin grapes (trial located at
the Kearney Agricultural Center). The primary objective of these studies is to determine how
much water vines will use under non-stressed conditions. The date will be used to determine reliable crop coefficients
at the various locations in order to help grape growers schedule irrigations
(both timing and amount). Subsequently,
I determined the effect of both under- and over-irrigation amounts on vine
physiology, growth and fruit yield and quality.
I have developed a model to predict water use of Thompson Seedless
grapevines and compared the model output with actual water use, measured with a
weighing lysimeter. Modeling
efforts for both water use and carbon assimilation are proceeding on other
cultivars. Lastly, I am currently
publishing results from a graduate student who studies water relations of native
North American Vitis species grown under soil water deficits. It is anticipated that results from this study may assist
grape breeders in developing drought tolerant rootstocks.
Publications
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