Kunia Research Farm
Our Kunia substation on the island of Oahu is an excellent location for winter nursery growouts and production. HARC supports the breeding programs of seed companies and other agricultural institutions with our research staff trained in horticulture, agronomy, entomology, pathology, genetics, physiology, weed science, and environmental chemistry. A wide variety of crops have been grown at this substation including corn, potato, watermelon, banana, papaya, rice, wheat, soybean, sorghum, sunflower, lettuce, onion, pepper, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, basil, coffee, cacao, kava, leucaena, pongamia, jatropha, teak, and sugarcane. Maximum winter temperature averages 79.8° F while the mean minimum temperature is 63.9° F. Winter rainfall averages 2.5 inches per month with solar radiation of 352.8 cal/cm2/day. The soil is a well drained oxisol (Molokai silty clay loam) with pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8. The station has good quality irrigation water supplying drip irrigation systems in all fields. The advantages of Hawaii's year-round growing conditions make it an important location for seed production companies. The Experiment Station laboratories and administrative offices are both located in Kunia, Oahu, Hawaii, but approximately 6 miles apart. These modern laboratories are equipped with state of the art instrumentation and equipment to assist our scientists in conducting their research.
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Maunawili Research Farm
The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center’s Maunawili Substation is an 80-acre farm situated in Maunawili Valley near Kailua, Oahu. Utilized for centuries as an ideal location for agricultural production, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association (HSPA) began work on the site in the late 1920s. Recognized for having one of the best microclimates for sugarcane flowering in the world, Maunawili remains vital to developing new sugar cane varieties for the US sugar industry. Operations at Maunawili have expanded to include production of select varieties of coffee, cacao, and tropical hardwoods. HARC has an active program to develop disease resistant Acacia koa that is locally adapted to specific Hawaiian eco-regions. Koa is an endemic Hawaiian tree species with great cultural, ecological and economic value. The forestry program's ongoing objective is to develop disease resistant koa seed sources and clones by utilizing naturally occurring genetic resistance. HARC is currently working to incorporate low elevation, wilt resistant koa, with its select coffee varieties, to develop a novel agroforestry model that is ecologically and economically sustainable.
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Genomics and Bioinformatics
HARC is a part of integrative multi-institutional consortium working on sequencing, assembly and analysis of the Carica papaya genome (Nature 2008). HARC is also part of the International Coffee Genome Sequencing Consortium working towards the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the entire genome of C. canephora. In addition, HARC is involved in genome annotation and analysis of sacred lotus via the collaboration with Dr. Ray Ming at the University of Illinois.
HARC is also working on the microarray and transcriptomic analysis on disease resistance genes for their function and expression with various US and international collaborators, on several plants including Carica papaya, Vasconcellea goudotiana, and Saccharum officinarum. In collaboration with Dr. Ray Ming (UIUC), HARC has also being working on identification of papaya sex determination genes. HARC provides one central Linux server well equipped for running several bioinformatics applications and data storage. The server, with RAID backup, is securely accessed remotely by lab members as well as other project collaborators. A second Linux server, also with RAID backup, is available for peripheral data storage. We also have 7 Windows desktop/laptop computers for use by lab members, one of which is designated for running Windows-based bioinformatics applications. All the computers in the lab are interconnected via a 100/1000-Mbps LAN.
HARC is also working on the microarray and transcriptomic analysis on disease resistance genes for their function and expression with various US and international collaborators, on several plants including Carica papaya, Vasconcellea goudotiana, and Saccharum officinarum. In collaboration with Dr. Ray Ming (UIUC), HARC has also being working on identification of papaya sex determination genes. HARC provides one central Linux server well equipped for running several bioinformatics applications and data storage. The server, with RAID backup, is securely accessed remotely by lab members as well as other project collaborators. A second Linux server, also with RAID backup, is available for peripheral data storage. We also have 7 Windows desktop/laptop computers for use by lab members, one of which is designated for running Windows-based bioinformatics applications. All the computers in the lab are interconnected via a 100/1000-Mbps LAN.
Proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Traditionally, one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) electrophoreses are the common method for protein separation. Fluorescence 2D differential gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) can be used to quantify variations between samples. After proteins are digested into small fragments (polypeptides), they are further separated by liquid chromatography (LC). Protein identification uses a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) approach. Each polypeptide is ionized and detected by the spectrometers. A computer-based library assigns each polypeptide with a unique amino acid sequence to finally identify the protein.
Currently our group is using proteomics to study the papaya (Carica papaya L.) -Phytophthora palmivora interaction. Among the Hawaiian papaya cultivars, there are differences in resistance to P. palmivora , For example, 'Kamiya' is more toleran than 'SunUp'. To understand the molecular-based difference between 'Kamiya' and 'SunUp',proteins profiles of two papaya cultivars were investigated by 2D electrophoresis. Expressed protein spots were compared between "Kamiya" and "SunUp", on triplicate 2DE gels. Proteins were successfully identified by LC-MS/MS. Our results inferred that tolerant 'Kamiya' possessed various defense mechanisms to P.palmivora .
Currently our group is using proteomics to study the papaya (Carica papaya L.) -Phytophthora palmivora interaction. Among the Hawaiian papaya cultivars, there are differences in resistance to P. palmivora , For example, 'Kamiya' is more toleran than 'SunUp'. To understand the molecular-based difference between 'Kamiya' and 'SunUp',proteins profiles of two papaya cultivars were investigated by 2D electrophoresis. Expressed protein spots were compared between "Kamiya" and "SunUp", on triplicate 2DE gels. Proteins were successfully identified by LC-MS/MS. Our results inferred that tolerant 'Kamiya' possessed various defense mechanisms to P.palmivora .
Biotechnology
Improvements in crop productivity and quality historically were achieved by a combination of increased farming inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, and genetic improvement of the crop. Genetic improvement was accomplished through the traditional methods of plant breeding. Today, biotechnology is applied in crop improvement to enhance the efficiency and broaden the boundaries of traditional methods. HARC's biotechnology team utilizes techniques such as gene transformation through particle bombardment and/or agrobacterium to achieve insect and disease resistance to solve production problems and genome mapping to enhance breeding programs.
Currently, genetic transformation projects are on sugarcane, pineapple, coffee, and papaya. This year, genome mapping research has expanded from sugarcane to other tropical fruits such as papaya, coffee, macadamia nuts, and pineapple.
Tissue culture protocols for plant regeneration and micropropagation for wide range of plants including sugarcane, pineapple, banana, taro, and woody species such as Eucalyptus and Acacia have been developed and are in use.
Cellular and molecular biology research is also conducted under funds received through the USDA. This program mainly sponsors graduate students at the University of Hawaii and post-doctoral researchers collaborating with USDA scientists at HARC. Projects include improving transformation efficiency through investigation of promoters, reducing variability of transgene expression, and increasing sucrose accumulation through cell transformation with constructs which alter soluble acid invertase activity.
Currently, genetic transformation projects are on sugarcane, pineapple, coffee, and papaya. This year, genome mapping research has expanded from sugarcane to other tropical fruits such as papaya, coffee, macadamia nuts, and pineapple.
Tissue culture protocols for plant regeneration and micropropagation for wide range of plants including sugarcane, pineapple, banana, taro, and woody species such as Eucalyptus and Acacia have been developed and are in use.
Cellular and molecular biology research is also conducted under funds received through the USDA. This program mainly sponsors graduate students at the University of Hawaii and post-doctoral researchers collaborating with USDA scientists at HARC. Projects include improving transformation efficiency through investigation of promoters, reducing variability of transgene expression, and increasing sucrose accumulation through cell transformation with constructs which alter soluble acid invertase activity.
Pesticide Registration
HARC is set up to conduct regulatory pesticide field studies in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency's Good Laboratory Practices Act of 1983. HARC has
participated in several residue studies required by the EPA. These studies are generally conducted under Agency approved protocols. Every study for pesticide registration is audited internally, by the sponsor, and periodically by the EPA. HARC has never failed an audit.
participated in several residue studies required by the EPA. These studies are generally conducted under Agency approved protocols. Every study for pesticide registration is audited internally, by the sponsor, and periodically by the EPA. HARC has never failed an audit.