Science In Our Valley: A Fruitful Plant Science Path

Science In Our Valley is a series of weekly seminars free and open to the public. Each series features the research of local scientists and invited guest speakers. The purpose of the series to encourage the development of an engaged regional scientific community and share the incredible research happening in our own backyard. From Cranberries to Tree Fruits: a fruitful plant science path with Jenny Bolivar-Medina Native from Colombia, my academic formation has been related to the study of plants from physiological and genetic perspectives. I have had the opportunity to live in Puerto Rico and then in Madison, Wisconsin to complete my master and PhD studies, respectively. In cranberry, little was known about the formation and differentiation of reproductive buds, specially from varieties recently released. Thus, my studies not only contributed to basic science, but to highlight how the management of the current crop will affect the following one. Now in my position as tree fruit specialist, I will use my experience in plant sciences in order to make the knowledge and technologies produced at the TFREC, accessible to the apple, pear and cherry producers. I will transfer technologies specially related to rootstocks and environmental stress aspects. During this talk, I will share my path through plant sciences as well as my main goals in my extension program.