Achieving Sustainable Cultivation of Apples

Dr Kate Evans is Professor of Horticulture at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center at Washington State University, USA. Dr Kate Evans is Professor of Horticulture at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center at Washington State University, USA. Gerry Neilsen obtained his PhD.in Soils Science at McGill University in Montreal in 1977 and has worked at PARC-Summerland and at the national Soil Research Institutes in Ottawa and Aberdeen Scotland as well as with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture in Guelph Ontario in a research career spanning 37 years. Since his retirement in 2015 he has been an Honorary Research Associate at Summerland. At the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre in Summerland he has investigated soil and nutrient management strategies for intensive horticultural production systems including vegetables, temperate tree fruits and grapes. He has authored or co-authored 160+ scientific manuscripts. Dr. Manoj Karkee is an Associate Professor in the Biological Systems Engineering Department and the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems at Washington State University (WSU). He has published extensively in journals such as Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, and the Transactions of the ASABE and has been an invited speaker at several national and international conferences. Dr. Karkee is currently serving as an associate editor for Transactions of the ASABE, editorial board member for Image Processing in Agriculture, and editorial advisory board member of Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Professor Chris Watkins is Herman H. Cohn Professor of Horticulture and Associate Dean at Cornell University and Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension. An internationally-renowned expert on postharvest physiology, and a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science. He is the current Chair of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Division for Postharvest and Quality Assurance, and a member of the editorial board of the journal Postharvest Biology and Technology.

Part 1 Plant physiology and breeding
1.Ensuring the genetic diversity of apples: Gayle M. Volk, USDA-ARS-CARR National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, USA;
2.The apple genome - harbinger of innovation for sustainable apple production: Amit Dhingra, Washington State University, USA;
3.Advances in understanding apple tree growth: rootstocks and planting systems: Dugald C. Close and Sally A. Bound, University of Tasmania, Australia;
4.Advances in understanding apple tree growth: the manipulation of tree growth and development: Dugald C. Close and Sally A. Bound, University of Tasmania, Australia;
5.Advances in understanding flowering and pollination in apple trees: Peter M. Hirst, Purdue University, USA;
6.Advances in understanding apple fruit development: A.N. Lakso and M. C. Goffinet, Cornell University, USA;
7.Evaluating and improving rootstocks for apple cultivation: G. Fazio, USDA-ARS/Cornell University, USA;
8.Advances in marker-assisted breeding of apples: K. Evans and C. Peace, Washington State University, USA;

Part 2 Cultivation techniques
9.Innovations in apple tree cultivation to manage crop load and ripening: Stefano Musacchi, Washington State University, USA; and Duane Greene, University of Massachusetts, USA;
10.Advances in soil and nutrient management in apple cultivation: G. H. Neilsen, D. Neilsen and T. Forge, Summerland Research and Development Centre Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and
K. Hannam, Natural Resources Canada;
11.Mechanization and automation for apple production: Q. Zhang, M. Karkee and L. R. Khot, Washington State University, USA;
12.Sustainable approaches to control postharvest diseases of apples: W. J. Janisiewicz and W. M. Jurick II, USDA-ARS, USA;
13.Advances in postharvest handling and storage of apples: Christopher B. Watkins, Cornell University, USA;

Part 3 Diseases and pests
14.Pre- and postharvest fungal apple diseases: Wayne M. Jurick II, USDA-ARS, USA and Kerik D. Cox, Cornell University, USA;
15.Management of viruses and virus-like agents affecting apple production: Kenneth C. Eastwell, Washington State University, USA;
16.Bacterial diseases affecting apples: John Norelli, USDA-ARS, USA;
17.Sustainable arthropod management for apples: Elizabeth H. Beers, Washington State University, USA;
18.Advances in pest- and disease-resistant apple varieties: Markus Kellerhals, Agroscope, Switzerland;

Part 4 Sustainability
19.The economics of apple production: R. Karina Gallardo, Washington State University, USA; and Hildegard Garming, Thünen Institute of Farm Economics, Germany;
20.Consumer trends in apple sales: Desmond O’Rourke, Washington State University and Belrose Inc., USA;
21.Assessing the environmental impact and sustainability of apple cultivation: D. Granatstein, Washington State University, USA; and G. Peck, Cornell University, USA;
22.Growing organic apples in Europe: Jutta Kienzle, Independent Researcher, Germany; and Markus Kelderer, Research Station of Laimburg, Italy;