PhD, Whole-tree physiology, Washington State UniversityM.Sc., Postharvest physiology, University of GuelphB.Sc., Horticultural Science and Business, University of Guelph
Professor, Tree Fruit Horticulturemdwhiting@wsu.edu509-786-9260South Building24106 N Bunn Rd.
Areas of Interest
Whole-tree physiology
High efficiency orchard systems
Incorporating automation/mechanization in fruit production systems
Environmental control of fruit quality
Pollination biology/artificial pollination systems
Educational Background
PhD, Whole-tree physiology, Washington State University
M.Sc., Postharvest physiology, University of Guelph
B.Sc., Horticultural Science and Business, University of Guelph
Teaching Responsibilities
HORT 508 – Research Orientation and Presentation
HORT 509/510 – Horticulture Seminar
HORT 421/521 – Fruit Crops Management
Current students
Sarah Gruntmeir, MS student (Robotic pollination, intra-cluster variability in apple fruit quality)
Haydn Lenz, MS student (Mechanically-assisted harvest systems for tree fruit, sweet cherry and cider apple)
Jon Magby, PhD candidate (Sweet cherry hardiness/dormancy)
Juan Munguia, MS student (Strategies for reducing Calcium-related disorders in apple)
Former students
Brent Arnoldussen, PhD 2021
Dissertation title: “Plant-based dispersions are a novel class of sprayable frost protectants for fruit crops”
Katie Taylor, M.S. 2019
Thesis title: “Advancing artificial pollination systems in sweet cherry”
Probir Das, MS in Ag. 2016
Thesis title: “Precision pollination in tree fruit”
Jacqui Gordón, MS 2016
Thesis title: “The effects of mechanical pruning on yield, fruit quality and vegetative growth in apple and sweet cherry”
Nadia Valverdi, MS 2015
Thesis title: “The role of near-harvest irrigation on sweet cherry fruit quality”
Nathan Brugnone, MS in Ag., 2015
Thesis title: “Development of a suspension media for tree fruit pollen”
Lu Zhang, PhD 2014.
Dissertation title: “The pistil’s role in determining sweet cherry fruit set”
Suzanne Niemann, MS 2014
Thesis title: “The efficacy of a solid set canopy delivery system for applying plant growth regulators in sweet cherry and apple”
Antonia Sanchez-Labbe, MS 2013
Thesis title: “Optimizing establishment and maintenance of sweet cherry trained to the Upright Fruiting Offshoots architecture”
Erick Smith, PhD, 2010.
Dissertation title: “Abscission, storability, and fruit quality of mechanically harvested fresh market quality stem-free sweet cherries”
Rolando Martin, MS, 2008
Thesis title: “Causes of, and practical strategies for, reducing sweet cherry polycarpy”
Brett Adams, MS, 2008
Thesis title: “A sweet cherry planting system comparison involving virus effects with multiple genotypes”
Alejandro Antunez, Ph.D., 2006
Dissertation title: “The impact of deficit irrigation strategies on sweet cherry physiology and spectral reflectance”
Olivia Lenahan, M.S., 2005.
Thesis title: “Crop load manipulation in sweet cherry: Physiological effects and horticultural benefits of chemical thinning and gibberellic acid”