Graduate student Aileen Salas, in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, will use her $3,000 grant from the Miller Plant Science Award to research ways to boost yield and fight pests in almond orchards.
A new certificate program in plant breeding recognizes the skills and experience gained by graduate students taking advanced courses in this area. The first cohort of students earned their certification this spring, signaling their expertise to potential employers. They discuss their research and plans for the future.
Steve Fennimore has retired as professor of Cooperative Extension, based in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, He looks back at 27 years in weed science and calls for the University of California and the federal government to get serious about investing in research to develop agricultural technology for weed control.
International connections including Dan Kliebenstein's lab at the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences have led to more than a decade of ongoing collaboration. One result: A breakthrough in understanding how orange trees could fend off -- and perhaps even cure -- the insect-borne bacterium that causes citrus greening and threatens to wipe out the industry.
Graduate students Ali Said Yusuf, Will Hazzard and Zhenglin Zhang won $12,500 for their project developing a culturally relevant, high-fiber food as part of the 25th annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition. The competition helps scientists learn how to apply their research to real-world needs.
Scientists Pershang Hosseini and Matt Fatino discuss their research for controlling the parasitic plant Orobanche, commonly called broomrape. Strategies include drawing down the bank of seeds in the soil, adding herbicide to irrigation water and timing transplants going into infested fields.
Kenneth W. Tate, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a UC Cooperative Extension specialist, died unexpectedly on June 5, 2025, at the age 58. He is remembered for his leadership in rangeland science and management and for his mentorship of students and other researchers.
New varieties of wheat, oats, barley and alfalfa are available or are being developed to give growers flexibility for their local growing conditions, weather and markets. Plus, early results from on-going trials in wheat under dry conditions were described during the recent UC Davis Small Grains/Alfalfa Field Day at UC Davis.
Is dust inevitable in southeastern California’s Owens Valley? A new federal report says “no,” supported by work from Valerie Eviner, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. Native plants and better water management offer help, amid warming weather that will make air dustier for valley residents.
Cameron Pittelkow is estimating greenhouse gas emissions from alfalfa fields and suggests ways to reduce those emissions depending on region. Valentina Roel-Rezk is measuring the link between organic amendments and GHG emissions.
