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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research

Research Programs and Projects at this Location

ARS research is organized into National Programs. Within each National Program are research projects. Listed below are  the National Programs and research projects currently conducted at this location.

Clicking on a National Program (NP) will take you  to the main ARS site for more information on the program. Clicking on a research  project title will take you to more information on the project.


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Human Nutrition (NP #107)
Genetic Improvement of Lettuce, Spinach, Celery, Melon, and Related Species
(In-House Appropriated)
Controlled Self-pollination of the Melon Core Set for Genetic Analysis and Development of the Set for Long-term Improvement of Melon
(Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement)
Assessing the Effect of Exogenous Silicon Application on Yield and Quality of Lettuce Produce
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Characterization of Lettuce Resistance to Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
CucCAP 2: Harnessing Genomic Resources For Disease Resistance And Management In Cucurbit Crops – Bringing The Tools To The Field
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Enhancing Resource Utilization for Sustainable Lettuce Production in Changing Climates
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Exploring Genetic Control of Plant Metabolome for Developing Drought Resilient Lettuce Cultivars
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Improving Lettuce Cultivars against Bacterial Leaf Spot (BLS) through Breeding, Genetics, and Study of the BLS-Lettuce Interaction
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Enhancement of Spinach & Leafy Vegetables for Disease Resistance & Nutritional Components using Genome-wide Association Study & Genomic Prediction
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Celery Breeding for Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii Race 2 and Race 4
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding and Genetics (2021)
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding for Improved Resistance to INSV, Pythium
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding for Improved Resistance to INSV, Pythium, Verticillium, and Fusarium
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Resistance to Tipburn and INSV+Pythium wilt
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Viral Infection in Lettuce in Support of the USDA Lettuce Breeding Program
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Soil and Air (NP #212)
Strategies to Improve Soil and Pest Management in Organic Vegetable and Strawberry Production Systems
(In-House Appropriated)
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Research (NP #216)
Strategies to Improve Soil and Pest Management in Organic Vegetable and Strawberry Production Systems
(In-House Appropriated)
Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement (NP #301)
Genetic Improvement of Lettuce, Spinach, Celery, Melon, and Related Species
(In-House Appropriated)
Controlled Self-pollination of the Melon Core Set for Genetic Analysis and Development of the Set for Long-term Improvement of Melon
(Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement)
Assessing the Effect of Exogenous Silicon Application on Yield and Quality of Lettuce Produce
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Characterization of Lettuce Resistance to Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
CucCAP 2: Harnessing Genomic Resources For Disease Resistance And Management In Cucurbit Crops – Bringing The Tools To The Field
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Enhancing Resource Utilization for Sustainable Lettuce Production in Changing Climates
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Exploring Genetic Control of Plant Metabolome for Developing Drought Resilient Lettuce Cultivars
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Improving Lettuce Cultivars against Bacterial Leaf Spot (BLS) through Breeding, Genetics, and Study of the BLS-Lettuce Interaction
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Enhancement of Spinach & Leafy Vegetables for Disease Resistance & Nutritional Components using Genome-wide Association Study & Genomic Prediction
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Celery Breeding for Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii Race 2 and Race 4
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding and Genetics (2021)
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding for Improved Resistance to INSV, Pythium
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding for Improved Resistance to INSV, Pythium, Verticillium, and Fusarium
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Lettuce Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Resistance to Tipburn and INSV+Pythium wilt
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Viral Infection in Lettuce in Support of the USDA Lettuce Breeding Program
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Plant Diseases (NP #303)
Biological and Biotechnological Approaches for Management of Insect Vectors and Vector-borne Viruses Affecting Vegetable Crops
(In-House Appropriated)
Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries
(In-House Appropriated)
A Metagenomics Marker System for Identification of all Fusarium oxysporum Taxa in Field Soils
(Cooperative Agreement)
Geographic Patterns in Cropland Use in Strawberry Producing Regions of California
(Cooperative Agreement)
Improved Methods for Trapping and Monitoring Thrips in Lettuce Crops (UC Cooperative Extension)
(Cooperative Agreement)
Improved Methods for Trapping and Monitoring Thrips in Lettuce Crops (UC Davis)
(Cooperative Agreement)
Leveraging Population Genomics to Understand the Migration and Evolution of the Causal Pathogens of Boxwood Blight
(Interagency Reimbursable Agreement)
Methyl Bromide Alternatives for Weed and Disease Control in Strawberry Production
(Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement)
A Metagenomics Marker System for Identification of All Fusarium oxysporum Taxa in Field Soils
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Advanced Breeding for Broad Genetic Resistance to Downy Mildew in Spinach for Organic Production
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Delivering Breeding and Management Solutions to Prevent Losses to Emerging and Expanding Disease Threats in Strawberry
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Deployment of a Commercial Early-Warning System for Airborne Pathogens
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Development of Immuno-detection for Lettuce Dieback Associated Virus and Greenhouse Evaluation of Lettuce for Resistance
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Enhancing Virus Control in Lettuce and Melons by Optimizing Immunity Priming Approaches
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Host Resistance and Fumigation Alternatives for Control of Macrophomina Phaseolina in Strawberry
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Identifying Landscape Variables and Cropping Patterns Associated with Viral Epidemics in Lettuce
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Identifying Sources of Thrips Vector Populations that Pose a Risk for Transmitting Impatiens necrotic spot virus to Lettuce in the Salinas Valley
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Improved Methods for Trapping and Monitoring Thrips in Lettuce Crops
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Integration of Host Plant Resistance with Immunity Modification for Management of Established and Emerging Virus Threats to Melons
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Interregional Surveillance of Spinach and Lettuce Downy Mildew in California to Improve Management Practices
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Management of Diseases Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and Macrophomina phaseolina (Year 3)
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Novel Precision Technologies to Reduce Insecticide Use Targeting Aphids and Thrips in Lettuce
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Optimization Of Techniques For Detection And Quantification Of Soilborne Pathogens Using Molecular Techniques
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Pathogenomics-based Development of Crop-specific Diagnostics Tools for Emerging and Expanding Fungal Diseases in the U.S.
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Receptor Inference: A Novel IPM Technology for Managing Key Insect Pests of Vegetables in California
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Systematic Identification of Oomycete Plant Pathogens Important to California Specialty Crops
(Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement)
Aerial Dispersal of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and the Airborne Microbiome on the Central Coast of California
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Analysis of the Carrot Rhizosphere
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Automation Technology for use in Strawberry Production Systems Toward Improving Production Practices and Control of Pests and Diseases
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Beet Leafhopper Genome and Transcriptome Research
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Characterization and Modeling of Strawberry Yield Data Using Remote Sensing Technology
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Genetic Diversity of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) Isolates Affecting Important Vegetable and Horticultural Crops
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Genomic Sequencing and Assembly of Graminicolous Downy Mildews
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Optimization of Precision Strawberry Yield Data Collection and Analysis
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Precision Agriculture for Management of Strawberry Production
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Characterization of Plant Health
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Economic Analysis
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Food Origins Yield Quantification
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-Specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Fumigation and Weed Management
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Modeling Strawberry Yield
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Remote Sensing
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Santa Maria
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-Specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems - Yield Monitoring
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry & Vegetable Cropping Systems – Oxnard Plot Management
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Site-specific Soil Pest Management in Strawberry and Vegetable Cropping Systems – Oxnard Trials
(Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement)
Characterization and Detection Methods for Lettuce Dieback associated Virus
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Development of a Molecular Assay for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Development of a Molecular Assay for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Downy Mildew Epidemiology and Control
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Enhanced Surveillance Strategies of Thrips Vectors and Understanding the Interplay between INSV and Pythium Wilt of Lettuce
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Monitoring and Cultural Strategies to Reduce the Impact of Thrips-Transmitted INSV Affecting Lettuce on the Central Coast of CA
(Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement)
Crop Protection & Quarantine (NP #304)
Methyl Bromide Alternative Treatments for Perishable and Stored Products
(In-House Appropriated)
Minor Use Pesticide Testing on Vegetables and Sugar Crops
(In-House Appropriated)
Strategies to Improve Soil and Pest Management in Organic Vegetable and Strawberry Production Systems
(In-House Appropriated)