Zane Moore, who graduated with a Ph.D. from the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, discusses his research on, and passion for, coast redwoods in the documentary film, "Giants Rising." It streams and is broadcast on PBS nationwide starting Nov. 1. (Courtesy Lisa Landers/Tangent Productions)
Most schools in California have lost tree cover, while temperatures are rising -- exposing nearly 6 million students to glaring sun and depriving them of contact with nature. Researchers from the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences ask: How can we use trees to help? This research was funded, in part, by the United States Forest Service.
The prize-winning science of Venkatesan Sundaresan is an example of how federally funded research leads to real-world benefits for ordinary people. His work is featured in the UC Davis "From Labs to Lives" initiative.
Researchers in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences lay the foundation for future breeding of plums and related tree fruits by cataloguing the genes, and their many variations, that control the ripening process.
The SCOPE student-led organic breeding program is aiming for the release of new flower and crop varieties in the next year or two. Farmers interested in collaborating with field trials now are encouraged to contact the program.
Early career scientists are wrapping up a summer of research in the PEAS program -- the Plant, Environmental and Agroecology Sciences Fellowship. Their work links their undergraduate academic studies with real-world problems in service to California farmers.
Ardeshir Damania has won the Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources. A longtime scientist collecting and evaluating wheat genetic resources, he became a research associate in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences -- but not before saving the world's wheat genebank.
Aiming at big problems in ag, scientists in the lab of Eduardo Blumwald, in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, developed wheat that stimulates bacteria in the soil to produce fertilizer. It would save farmers billions of dollars, slash water and air pollution and help people in developing countries.
Donald J. Nevins, known for his work in biochemistry and cell physiology, died in Woodland, Calif., on July 8 at the age of 88. He was a professor emeritus in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and chair of the former Department of Vegetable Crops from 1984-1989. A memorial service is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in Davis.
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.
