Fields of research: • Studying the pollination and fertilization processes in deciduous (pear, apple, plum, apricot) and subtropical (avocado, lychee) fruit trees. • Development of techniques for chemical thinning of deciduous trees to reduce hand-thinning costs. • Development of innovative techniques to increase fruit size of deciduous trees in order to improve profitability • Studying the fruit-cracking disorder in 'Pink Lady' apples and development of new techniques for reducing cracking. • Studying the relationship between vegetative: fruiting balance • Identification of the best rootstocks for growing apples and pears in the warm climate of Israel.

Eco-entomology Laboratory- Pest’s Ecological Solutions (PEST)
Rakefet Sharon (Ph.D.)   Researcher
Maor Tomer (M.Sc.)    Assistant Researcher     maortomer11@gmail.com
Almog Avraham (B.Sc.)  projects manager     almog17@hotmail.com
Zeev Farkash (B.Sc.)       Senior Technician     zevik9f@gmail.com

Ecological solutions to pests (insect)

The objectives of the lab are providing ecological solutions to agricultural pests, through the exploitation of pest behavior and dispersal, to reduce direct damage and disease spread.

• Main crops: vineyards, pomegranate, almonds and apples
• Main pests: Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers, plant hoppers etc.); Sternorryncha (Coccoidea; Aphidoidea); Lepidoptera;

Current research subjects

• Development of precise agriculture methods for monitoring the dispersal of pests, including the epidemiology of vector-born plant diseases, in and between crops and the adjacent environment.
• Manipulations on pest behavior, mainly communication related, using semiochemicals (pheromone and kairomone) as attractants and repellent factors; chemicals, visual and acoustic cues to disrupt mating search.
• The effects of extreme climate events on pest population dynamics and pests-plant interactions.

MIGAL, Northern Agriculture R&D, P.O.B. 831, Kiryat Shmona, 11016, ISRAEL

  קורות חיים (CV) של דר' רקפת שרון ורשימת פרסומים.

Selected research topics 1. Development of tools in order to minimize the expression of the GLRaV-3 virus as a means to decrease its effect on fruit load and wine quality 2. Examination of imported clones from leading wine grapes species in Israel. 3. Development of a DSS for apple trees thinning based on precision agriculture principles 4. Identification and development of cianamid substitute for dormancy release in deciduous fruit trees. Research location: Migal and Research stations

selected research objectives: 1. Improving frost tolerance in Avocado orchards using frost mitigation techniques. 2. Identifying the physiological factors involved in frost tolerance and sensitivity in Avocado. 3. Development of frost-tolerant Avocado plants. 4. Development of Avocado tissue culture. 5. Development of new high-quality Avocado varieties. 6. Improving yield and lowering alternate bearing in Avocado. 7. Development of Quinoa as a new field crop in Israel.

selected research objectives: 1. Identifying the causative factors and developing solutions to “soil fatigue” and yield loss in the banana plantations. 2. Lowering banana plantation height by agrotechnical and genetic means. 3. Pinpointing the genetic basis of Panama Disease (TR4) tolerance in bananas. 4. Improving frost tolerance in banana plantations by net house improvement. 5. Breeding banana varieties with improved performance under sub-tropical conditions. 6. Introduction of new banana varieties with improved fruit quality. 7. Identifying the factors underlying Apple Replant Disease, evaluation and development of apple rootstocks tolerant to the phenomena in the local conditions. Location: MIGAL / Jordan valley banana research station / Western Galilee

Selected research topics: 1. Insect plant interaction: affecting pests by plant manipulation    a. Using resistant pear trees as interstock to reduce pear psylla    b. Using plant growth regulators to reduce pear psylla    c. The study of interaction between fertilization and pests 2. Pest management through soil management    a. Bio-fumigation with plant residuals as a mean to produce pest free herbs and vegetables    b. Examining the effect of soil cultivation on wheat pests    c. Studying the effect of compost on ground mite (Rhizoglyphus robini) Suppression in Onion and Garlic 3. Integrated pest management:    a. Tuta absoluta in tomatoes -natural enemies and Economic injury level    b. Development of Economic injury level of cereal aphids in wheat    c. Processing of agricultural plant waste, using the black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens    d. Environmentally friendly agriculture area wide project- A case study in the Hula valley Research location: Northern R&D Research stations