Mary Lu Arpaia 
Botany and Plant Sciences 
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My responsibilities in my position as Extension Subtropical Horticulturist requires that I interface the preharvest and postharvest environment.  In this capacity I have conducted and collaborated in research on irrigation, plant nutrition with the aim to understand how the preharvest environment influences postharvest fruit quality.  Since 1997 I have headed the avocado scion breeding program for the University of California.  I have brought to this program the experience that I have garnered on avocado fruit quality and have introduced into the breeding program a previously lacking postharvest component.  I am currently collaborating with the UC citrus genetics improvement program (Riverside and Davis) to bring the applied aspect of Postharvest fruit quality to these efforts.  I also actively collaborate with USDA-ARS and have an on-going citrus research project with Dr. David Obenland on navel orange maturity.  I also have an active applied research program on avocados and in this aspect collaborate with UC, Davis faculty J. Thompson and D. Slaughter on new approaches for packaging to minimize handling problems with ripe avocados.

Curriculum Vitae

Research Slides