ARF - Current Projects
AGRF Annual Report

Current Projects

Each year, the foundation's General Fund awards seed money to Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences through its Competitive Grant program. The Board of Directors solicits proposals from faculty members at Oregon State University interested in researching new ideas that may result in a positive economic impact to Oregon's agricultural industries. The Foundation's active interest in supporting research programs affirms our commitment to this long established partnership.

For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the General Fund awarded $372,235 to initiate 33 new projects. These projects are listed below.

PI Department Project Title
Armstrong, Donald
Botany and Plant Pathology Naturally-Occurring Herbicides for the Control of Grassy Weeds
Butler, Marvin Central Oregon Ag and Research Center Strategy for Restoring Central Oregon Rangeland from Medusahead and Cheatgrass to a Sustainable Bunchgrass Environment
Castagnoli, Steve Mid-Columbia Research and Extension Center Pear Pollination: Identifying Genetically Compatible Cultivars Using Molecular and Field Methods
Chang, Jeff Botany and Plant Pathology Sequencing the Genomes of 16 Plant-Beneficial Bacteria
Charlton, Brian Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center Suppressing Soil-Borne Nematode Pathogens Using Green Manure Crops in the Klamath Basin
Chastain, Tom Crop and Soil Science Seed Increase and Evaluation of Camelina Accessions
Cherian, Gita Animal Sciences Developing Value-Added Chicken Eggs Using Full Fat Oil Seeds
Duggan, Brian Central Oregon Ag and Research Center Identification of Flowering Dates of Brassica Species and Use of Growth Inhibitors for Canola Production
Flatt, Patricia College of Pharmacy Genetic Engineering of Pseudomonas fluorescens as Biocontrol Agents
Fuchigami, Leslie Horticulture Developing the Plant Database and Calibration of the OSU PDA-Based Nitrogen, Chlorophyll and Water Meter
Fuchigami, Leslie Horticulture Susceptibility of Deciduous Bareroot Nursery Trees to Phytophthora syringae: Assessment of how Fertilizer and Defoliation Practices and Disease Control Methods Influence the Susceptibility of Deciduous Plants to Phytophthora syringae and Control of this Disease
Hulting, Andrew Crop and Soil Science Volunteer Canola Management in Grass Seed Production
Hulting, Andrew Crop and Soil Science California Brome (Bromus carinatus) Biology and Management in Grass Seed Production
Kaiser, Clive Umatilla County - Milton-Freewater Extension Service Development of Flexible Hydrophobic Biofilms for the Prevention of Sunburn in Apples
Lambrinos, John Horticulture Testing Potential to Improve Puncturevine Biocontrol in Oregon
Machado, Steve Columbia Basin Ag and Research Center Evaluating the Potential of Barley Straw for Ethanol Production in Eastern Oregon
Mallory-Smith, Carol Crop and Soil Science Mode of Action Determination for Western Juniper Bioherbicide (Juniperoside): Implications as a Natural Weed Control Agent for Oregon Nurseries, Vineyards, and Christmas Tree Farms
McPhail, Kerry College of Pharmacy A New Approach to the Chemical Investigation of Microbial Producers of Natural Herbicides
Mockler, Todd Botany and Plant Pathology Development of a Fast and Cost-Effective Method for Gene Discovery in Plants
Mueller, Chad Animal Sciences Potential Use of Hooded Barley as a Forage Source for Ruminants in Oregon
Murthy, Ganti Biological and Ecological Engineering Design and Evaluation of Efficient Photobioreactors for Algae Production
Owen, James North Willamette Research and Extension Center Quantifying Winter Discharge of Controlled Release Fertilizers to Determine Environmental Impact and Plant Uptake
Pastey, Manoj College of Veterinary Medicine Development of Rapid and Sensitive Real-Time PCR for the Diagnosis of Border Disease Virus of Sheep in Clinical Samples
Pirelli, Gene Animal Sciences A Comparison of Selenite and Selenate as Selenium Sources for Sheep in Mineral Supplementation
Riera-Lizarazu, Oscar Crop and Soil Science Characterization of Non-Allergenic Wheat Lines
Rondon, Silvia Hermiston Ag Research and Extension Center Thrips Control on Dry Bulb Onions in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington
Sarker, Mahfuzur College of Veterinary Medicine Inactivation of Clostridium perfringens Spores by High Hydrostatic Pressure
Shock, Clint Malheur Experiment Station Innovative Reduction of Phosphorus Losses from Irrigated Cropland
Smiley, Richard Columbia Basin Ag and Research Center Developing a Molecular Diagnostic Method to Identify Root-lesion Nematodes in Soil
Smiley, Richard Columbia Basin Ag and Research Center Development of Molecular Markers for Breeding Wheat Varieties with Resistance to Root-lesion Nematodes
Sugar, David Southern Oregon Experiment Station Organic Pear Scab Control Through Fruit Surface pH Modification
Vales, Isabel Crop and Soil Science Genetic Analysis of Durable Late Blight Resistance in Potatoes: Towards Marker-Assisted Breeding
White, Linda Coos County Extension Service The Effects of Calcium Applications to Cranberry Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Funds provided by the Agricultural Research Foundation also help pay for color reproduction in Oregon’s Agricultural Progress magazine, published twice a year, by the Oregon State University Experiment Station headquartered in the College of Agricultural Sciences.