September 20, 1995

by Linda McCandless, Pat Krauss, Paul Chapman, Edward Glass, and Anthony Shelton

1960-1995

• Gene gun developed. This technique has revolutionized genetic engineering in many fields and has streamlined traditional plant breeding by injecting genes into plant tissues; accelerates development of superior apple and grape varieties (Sanford). Now used also in medical sciences.

• Fundamental discoveries about the identification and synthesis of sex attractants from more than 100 insect pests and use of these attractants in integrated pest management programs (Roelofs, et al.). For his work, Roelofs has been awarded the Wolfe Prize, the National Medal of Science, and been inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.

• Development and release of the cultivars Jonagold (Way, Labelle, and Einset), Jonamac (Way), and Empire (Way and Einset). Jonagold and Empire received the prestigious Outstanding Fruit Culitvar Award from the American Society for Horticulture Sciences. Introduction of Liberty apple which is resistant or tolerant to four major diseases affecting apple (Lamb, Aldwinckle, Way, and Terry).

• Development of the Geneva Double Curtain system for trellising grapes; increases yields by at least 50 percent (Shaulis). Mechanized pruning, shoot positioning and crop load control has major influence on grape industry yields (Pool and Shaulis). Mechanical harvester for grapes helps keep New York competitive with other grape-producing regions (Shaulis, Shepherdson, Millier, and Moyer).

• Since 1973, the development of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has resulted in a 30-80 percent reduction in pesticides on crops in New York. Pest forecasting, insect monitoring, action thresholds, and biological controls lead to a more effective and economical control of diseases, weeds, insects, and mites of fruit and vegetables. New York's IPM program is a national leader in the IPM movement (IPM programs and the Departments of Entomology and Plant Pathology).

• Genetically modified squash Freedom II is introduced which is resistant to zucchini yellow mosaic virus and watermelon mosaic virus, major diseases throughout the world (Gonsalves, et al.).

• Use of dwarfing rootstocks in the establishment of high-density apple orchards, which helps growers increase profits (Rootstock Apple Breeding Program).

• Release of Cayuga White, the first grape bred specifically for the wine industry (Einset and Robinson).

• Two natural products discovered in ageratum that provide anti-juvenile activity in insects and can be used in biorational programs for insect control (Bowers).

• Development and utilization of beneficial fungi in the genus Trichoderma  as biological control agents for a wide range of plant diseases (Harman et al.).

• First large-scale field release of a genetically engineered virus for insect control; aids in the development of biorational pesticides (Shelton, Wood, and Hughes).

• Bred Hi-Dri cabbage for sauerkraut (Dickson and Stamer), multiple virus resistance in beans (Dickson), and virus resistance into crucifers and lettuce (Robinson and Provvidenti).

• Established Food Venture Center to help entrepreneurs wanting to bring new food products to market (Downing).

• Used molds to ferment and create new foods, including tempeh and ontjom, which are important on the international market (Steinkraus).

• Demonstrated that the sweetness of compounds can be related to sterochemistry of the molecule which aided the synthesis of new sweetening agents (Shallenbarger and Acree) and developed the CHARManalysis for identification of compounds responsible for the odor of foods (Acree and Barnard).

• Improved methods of developing highly nutritious soybean milk and eliminating much of the objectional off flavors (Hand, Steinkraus, and Bourne).

• Wine Research and Extension Program, and Wine Analysis Lab established which helped 77 New York wineries get established after passage of the 1976 Farm Winery Act (Food Science and Technology Dept. ).

• Liposome immunomigration assay developed as a field assay for rapid screening of samples for small molecules such as drugs and pesticide residues (Food Science and Technology Dept.).

• Studies on the degradation and synthesis of polypeptides eventually led to a breakthrough in understanding DNA and RNA. This work eventually led to a Nobel Prize for its author (Holley).

• Food scientists developed technology that allows canned vegetables to have substantially firmer texture (Bourne) and uses ultrafiltration to stabilize honey to make mead (Lee, McLellan, and Kime).

• Developed the leading pea breeding program which provided germplasm for useful characteristics such as leafless pea varieties and virus resistance (Marx).

1940-1960

• Four station scientists are among the founding members of the Institute of Food Technologists, the professional organization for food scientists (Hucker, Pederson, Kertesz, and Tressler). The IFT is the principal organization of food scientists with a present membership of more than 28,000.

• Relation between chemical constitution and insecticidal efficiency of oil sprays established (Chapman, Avens, and Pearce) and horticultural spray oils developed to control insects and mites (Chapman and Avens), a technology still used today.

• New process developed for dehydration of peas involving slitting of skin (Moyer et al.).

• Developed Red Top tomato variety, the first tomato variety that could be machine harvested and pioneered work on verticillium resistance in tomato (Tapley).

• Developed a pea grading system which is still in practice today and documented the need for crop rotation for peas and tomatoes (Sayre).

• Pioneered laboratory/greenhouse facilities and techniques for research on modes of action in relation to disease control (Hamilton and Szkolnik).

1900-1940

• Utilized Bordeaux mixture for controlling fungal diseases of potatoes (Stewart).

• Lime sulfur discovered as a control for San Jose scale, an insect affecting fruit trees (Parrott).

• Developed first biological control program for (oriental fruit moth) insect control in New York (Daniel).

• Pioneered use of organic chemicals for control of plant diseases; researcher later became a member of the National Academy of Sciences (Horsfall).

• Seed Testing Laboratory established; as Station Director Sturtevant said, "Without good seeds, there can be no good crops."

• Published seven volumes of Fruits of New York  from 1905 to 1928 (Beach and Hedrick).

• Published four volumes of Vegetables of New York  from 1928 to1937 (Hedrick and others).

• Developed and introduced (1914) the Cortland apple, a variety still widely used today.

• Conducted basic research on the structure of plant pectins and on the enzymes that degrade them. This work led to the use of pectinases to clarify fruit juices, a practice still used today (Kertesz).

• Studies on the microorganisms that spoil catsup and similar tomato products led to changes in formulations, involving salt, sugar, and vinegar that improved shelf stability of food (Pederson).

• Served as the international center for the taxonomy of bacteria and aided in the development of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (Breed, Pederson, Hucker, and Conn).

• Initiated the Bacterial Stain Commission which has played a mojor role in the standardization and improvement of dyes that are used in biology and medicine (Conn).

• Demonstrated the need for blanching frozen foods and documented their nutritive value which led to the development of the frozen fruit and vegetable industry (Tressler).

• Developed improved process for cream cheese production which doubled the production of cream cheese in New York the following year (Dahlberg).

• Developed and patented a rapid process for making sherry wine from Concord grapes (Tressler).

Prior to 1900

• Investigated the chemical composition of milk and butter and developed the Babcock method as a rapid test for fat in milk, a process still used today (Babcock).

• Developed test to determine the bacterial count in milk (Breed).

• Evaluated more than 1,000 varieties of vegetable and field crops over the years 1883, 1884, and 1885 to make sound recommendations to New York growers (Sturtevant).

• The objectives of the station are "discover, verify, and disseminate" (Sturtevant).

• To ensure the quality of agricultural products for New York growers, developed regulatory analyses of feeds and fertilizers (Van Slyke), conducted the nation's first seed testing lab (Sturtevant), and established the chemical analysis laboratory for evaluating the quality of fertilizers, feeds, soils, milk, and water.

• Paris Green used to combat the Colorado potato beetle after it became extablished in 1872 in western New York potato fields; first chemical treatment used in New York (Goff).

Contact: Linda McCandless, Communications Services

Telephone: (315) 787-2417

e-mail: llm3@cornell.edu

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