Faculty
Carol J. Lovatt
Professor of Plant Physiology and Physiologist Chair,
Biological Sciences Interdepartmental Major
(Ph.D., 1980, University of Rhode Island)
Office: 4130 Batchelor Hall
Phone: (951) 827-4663
Fax: (951) 827-4437
E-mail: carol.lovatt@ucr.edu
Recipient of the 1996/97 University of California Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award
Regulation of flowering, fruit set, and fruit development of citrus, avocado and pistachio. Use of foliar-applied fertilizers and growth regulators in crop production. Effects of abiotic stress on basal nitrogen metabolism in annual and woody perennials.
The goal of my basic and applied research program is to solve production problems for the California and worldwide citrus and avocado industries. Basic research is conducted with both annual plants and tree crops to advance scientific knowledge of the regulation of nitrogen metabolism in response to abiotic stress and of the physiological processes regulating flowering, fruit set and fruit development. To determine the role of hormones in regulating these processes, changes in endogenous hormone concentrations and ratios are quantified by radioimmunoassay. In addition, anatomical studies are conducted to develop morphological markers predictive of key stages in the phenology of each tree crop. Results of the basic research are used to develop and test new production management strategies to increase grower income and the sustainability of the commodity-based industries.
Some Representative Publications:
Salazar-García, S., L.E. Cossio-Vargas, I.J.L. González-Durán and C.J. Lovatt. 2007. Foliar-applied GA3 advances fruit maturity and allows off-season harvest of ‘Hass’ avocado. HortScience 42:257-261.
Violi, H.A., K.K. Treseder, J.A. Menge, S.F. Wright, and C.J. Lovatt. Density dependence and interspecific interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediate plant growth, glomalin production and sporulation. Can. J. Bot. 85:63–75.
Salazar-García, S., L.E. Cossio-Vargas, C.J. Lovatt, I.J.L. González-Durán, and M.H. Pérez-Barraza. 2006. Crop load affects vegetative growth flushes and shoot age influences irreversible commitment to flowering of 'Hass' avocado. HortScience 41:1541-1546.
Pillitteri, L.J., C.J. Lovatt, and L.L. Walling. 2004. Isolation and characterization of LEAFY and APETALA1 homologues from Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck ‘Washington’. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci 129:846–856.
Pillitteri, L.J., C.J. Lovatt, and L.L. Walling. 2004. Isolation and characterization of LEAFY and APETALA1 homologues from 'Washington' navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 129: 846-856.
Pillitteri, L.J., C.J. Lovatt, and L.L. Walling. 2004. Isolation and characterization of a TERMINAL FLOWER (TFL) homologue and its correlation with juvenility in citrus. Plant Physiol. 135: 1540-1551.
Haver, D. L., U. K. Schuch, and C. J. Lovatt. 2003. Exposure of petunia seedlings to ethylene decreased apical dominance by reducing the ratio of auxin to cytokinin. J. Plant Growth Regulation 21:459-468.
Ali, A., L.L. Summers, G.J. Klein, and C.J. Lovatt. 2003. Albedo breakdown in California. Proceedings IX Congress of the International Society of Citriculture, Orlando, Florida, December 3-7, 2000, 2:1090-1093.
Pillitteri, L.J., L.L. Walling, B.C. Hyman, and C.J. Lovatt. 2003. Regulation of flowering in the 'Washington' navel orange: Floral genes. Proceedings IX Congress of the International Society of Citriculture, Orlando, Florida, December 3-7, 2000, 1:347-350.
Zheng, Y. and C.J. Lovatt. 2003. Potassium-deficient citrus rootstocks accumulate arginine, proline and putrescine. Proceedings IX Congress of the International Society of Citriculture, Orlando, Florida, December 3-7, 2000, 1:691-692.
Lovatt, C.J. 2001. Properly timed soil-applied nitrogen fertilizer increases yield and fruit size of 'Hass' avocado. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126:555-559.
El-Otmani, M., C.W. Coggins, Jr., M. Agustí, and C.J. Lovatt. 2000. Plant growth regulators in citriculture: World current uses. Critical Rev. in Plant Sci. 19:395-447.
Zhou, Z., A.E. Metcalf, C.J. Lovatt, and B.C. Hyman. 2000. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) carbamoylphosphate synthetase gene structure records the deep lineage of plants. Gene 243:105-114.
Salazar-Garcia, S. and C.J. Lovatt. 2000. Use of GA3 to manipulate flowering and yield of the 'Hass' avocado. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125:25-30.
Current Laboratory Personnel and Projects:
Anwar Ali, Visiting Postgraduate Research Plant Physiologist. Effect of glassy-winged sharpshooter on citrus fruit physiology.
Alfredo Lopez-Jimenez, Visiting Postgraduate Research Plant Physiologist. Physiological basis for alternate bearing in avocado.
Yusheng Zheng, Junior Research Scientist. Use of properly timed soil- and foliar-applied fertilizers and plant growth regulators to increase fruit set and size of navel oranges and Clementine mandarins.
Vardis Dukakis, Graduate Student. Source/sink relationships in citrus.
Stephan Verreyne, Graduate Student. Physiological basis for alternate bearing in citrus.
Jaime Salvo, Graduate Student. Regulation of sylleptic and proleptic shoot development of avocado.
Helen Violi, Graduate Student. In situ restoration of Persea spp. in cloud montane forests of Mexico.
Grant Klein, Staff Research Associate. Statistical analysis and modeling.
Anita Weng, Elias Sernas, Toan Khuong, technical support. Effects of properly timed foliar-applied plant growth regulators and soil applied N-P-K on avocado yield and fruit quality; avocado floral development degree-day model.