Louise Ferguson

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville; Horticulture and Plant Physiology, 1984
• M.S., University of Florida, Gainesville; Horticulture and Plant Physiology, 1980
• B.A., Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Anthropology, 1969

Research interests and expertise: 

General production physiology of pistachios, olives, citrus, figs, persimmons, and pomegranates with primary focus on basic and applied research in growth, phenology, and salinity tolerance of pistachios, evaporative mechanical harvesting of young pistachios, mechanical pruning and harvesting of table olives, including abscission agents, and effect of mulching and irrigation practices on citrus mandarin production. 

Current projects: 

Pistachio, Co-PI

• Determination of Long Term Threshold Limit for Using Saline Water on Pistachios: 2017ñ2020: 270,000. CSU-ARI
• Understanding Winter Chill Accumulation and Continuing Development of a Temperature Based Phenology Model for Pistachios. 2017: $98,992. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org
• Pistachio Inflorescence Bud Abscission Dynamics and Mitigation with Seaweed Extracts: 2017-2018: $22,333. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org and Acadian Ltd.
• Automated solid state canopy delivery (SSCD) system to deliver mist-cooling to increase winter chill for dormancy and bud break. 2017: $42,954. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org
• Dust Influences Pollen Density and Pollination Quality in Pistachio. $19,124. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org
• Effect of Hedging and Topping on Pistachio Alternate Bearing. 2017: $8,500.00. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org
• Determination of Long Term Threshold Limit for Using Saline Water on Pistachios: 2017ñ2020: 270,000 CSU-ARI
• Cellular, subcellular and molecular characterization of salinity tolerance in pistachio with novel tools. 2017: 78,866. California Pistachio Research Board: ACPistachios.org

Olive, Co-PI

• Investigating Anti-Oxidant Amendments to Decrease the Leaf Abscission with Ethephon Applications: 2017: 39,996.00. California Olive Committee
• Propagating Dwarfing Olive Rootstocks and Establishing a Long Term Orchard. 2017: 35,442. California Olive Committee.
• Tree hedging and topping to optimize yield and facilitate mechanical harvesting. 2017. 31,024. California Olive Committee and CSU Chico ARI

Citrus, Co-PI

• Enhancing Sustainable Mandarin Production with Organic Matter Amendments and Improved Cultural Practices. 2017 142,559.00. California Department of Food and Agriculture. Co-PI with Cindy Fake, Place County farm advisor
• Updating Information on Citrus Water Use for Resource-Efficient Citrus Irrigation Management in the San Joaquin Valley. 2018 449,473. California Department of Food and Agriculture. Co-PI with Daniele Zaccaria, Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis

Current teaching: 

No formal teaching responsibilities

External activities that contribute to scholarship:

• Consulting Editor, Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science,  HortTechnology, and Journal of American Society of Horticultural Science
• Co-Director, UC Davis Olive Center board

Prizes, Awards, Honors

• American Society of Horticultural Science, Outstanding Extension Specialist, 2017
• American Society of Horticultural Science, Best Extension Publication, 2014
• California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, Class 30, 1999-2001

Google Scholar

ORCID

Keywords:  

• Physiology
• Production
• Pistachio
• Olive
• Citrus
• Fig
• Persimmon
• Alternate bearing
• Mechanical pruning
• Mechanical harvesting
• Abscission chemicals
• Rootstocks
• Salinity tolerance
• Dormancy
• Phenology