As state tree fruit specialist, I have interests in a broad spectrum of areas related to tree fruit research and extension. My specific research interests fall into 3 main areas:
1. Fruit size in apple. Obviously fruit size is the product of cell number, cell size and intercellular space. Our current research is examining what makes a big apple big and a small apple small. We are looking at the processes involved and what genes control those processes.
2. Factors regulating flowering in apple. The overall objective is to study various factors which influence flower initiation and differentiation, and elucidate the mechanisms by which such influences operate. Greater understanding of these processes has implications for managing biennial bearing and for characterizing the relationship between flower quality and fruit growth.
3. Apple rootstock physiology. Rootstocks are a tool used widely in fruit production and have profound influences on tree growth and development, however the underlying physiology behind these effects is not well understood. The approach used to date has involved a multiple grafting technique to separate the effects of rootstock, interstock and the graft union on growth, flowering, dry matter partitioning and root architecture.
3.
Primary responsibility for HORT 413, Tree Fruit Production. This covers the principles and practices of tree fruit production including orchard establishment, cultural management, fruit growth and quality, and aspects of the post harvest physiology of temperate fruits.
Selected Publications (last 5 years)
Shupert, D., A.P. Smith, J. Janick, P.B. Goldsbrough and P.M. Hirst. 2004.
Segregation of scab resistance in three apple populations: molecular marker
and phenotypic analysis. HortScience 39(6): 1183-1184.
Hoover, E., N. De Silva, S. McArtney and P. Hirst. 2004. Bud development and
floral morphogenesis in four apple cultivars. J. Hortic. Sci and Biotech. 79:
981-984.
Hirst, P.M. 2002. Frost damage does not predispose apple fruitlets to the effects
of chemical thinners. Hort Technology 12(1): 1-3.
Autio, W.R., J.L. Anderson, J.A. Barden, G.R. Brown, R.M. Crassweller, P.A.
Domoto, W.A. Erb, D.C. Ferree, A. Gaus, P.M. Hirst, C.A. Mullins, and J.R. Schupp.
2001. Performance of 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold', 'Empire', and 'Rome Beauty'
apple trees on five rootstocks over ten years in the 1990 NC-140 apple cultivar/rootstock
trial. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 55(3):131-137.
Autio, W. R., J. L. Anderson, J. A. Barden, G. R. Brown, R. M. Crassweller,
P. A. Domoto, A. Erb, D. C. Ferree, A. Gaus, P. M. Hirst, C. A. Mullins, and
J. R. Schupp. 2001. Location affects performance of 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold',
'Empire', and 'Rome Beauty' apple trees on five rootstocks over ten years in
the 1990 NC-140 cultivar/rootstock trial. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 55(3):138-145.
Domoto, P.A., W.R. Autio, G.R. Brown, D.C. Ferree, P.M. Hirst, C.A. Mullins
and J.R. Schupp. 2001. Blackheart innjury in 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold',
'Empire', and 'Rome Beauty' apple trees on five rootstocks over ten years in
the 1990 NC-140 cultivar/rootstock trial. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 55(3):146-153.
Hirst, P.M., W.R. Autio, J.A. Barden, G.R. Brown, R.M. Crassweller, P.A. Domoto
and J.R. Schupp. 2001. Performance of trees in the 1990 NC-140 cultivar/rootstock
planting: additional cultivars and rootstocks. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 55(3):178-184.
McArtney, S.J., E.M. Hoover, P.M. Hirst and I.R. Brooking. 2001. Seasonal variation
in the onset and duration of flower development within apple buds cv. 'Royal
Gala'. J. Hort Sci and Biotech. 76(4): 536-540.
Rieghard, G.L., J.L. Anderson, R. Anderson, W. Autio, T. Beckman, R. Belding,
G. Brown, W. Cowgill, D. Deyton, E. Durner, A. Erb, A. Gaus, P. Hirst, M. Kaps,
N. Miles, F. Morrison, S. Myers, R. Perry, C.R. Rom, W. Shane, B. Taylor, K.
Taylor, C. Walsh, and M. Warmund. 2001. Five-year performance of 19 peach rootstocks
at 20 sites in North America. Acta Hort. 557: 97-102.
Hirst, P.M. and NC-140 cooperators. 2001. Early performance of 'Gala' on 18
dwarf and 4 semi-dwarf rootstocks growing at 24 sites in North America. Acta
Hort. 557: 199-205.
Autio, W.R., J.L. Anderson, J.A. Barden, G.R. Brown, R.M. Crassweller, L.D.
Tukey, P.A. Domoto, W.A. Erb, F. Morrison, D.C. Ferree, A. Gaus, P.M. Hirst,
R.A Hayden, C.A. Mullins, J.R. Schupp. 2001. Rootstock and scion interact to
affect apple tree performance: results from the 1990 NC-140 cultivar/rootstock
trial. Acta Hort. 557: 41-46.
Marini, R.P., J.L. Anderson, B.H. Barritt, G.R. Brown, J.A. Cline, W.P. Cowgill,
P.A. Domoto, D.C. Ferree, J.M. Garner, G.M. Greene, C.R. Hampson, P.M. Hirst,
M.M. Kushad, E. Meilke, C.A. Mullins, M.L. Parker, R.L. Perry, J.P. Privé, G.L.
Reighard, T.L. Robinson, C.R. Rom, T. Roper, J.R. Schupp, E. Stover, and C.R.
Unrath. 2000. Performance of 'Gala' on four semi-dwarf rootstocks: Five-year
summary of the 1994 NC-140 semi-dwarf rootstock trial. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 54(2):84-91.
Marini, R.P., J.L. Anderson, B.H. W.R. Autio, Barritt, J.A. Cline, W.P. Cowgill,
R.M. Crassweller, P.A. Domoto, D.C. Ferree, J.M. Garner, A. Gaus, G.M. Greene,
C.R. Hampson, P.M. Hirst, M.M. Kushad, E. Meilke, C.A. Mullins, M.L. Parker,
R.L. Perry, J.P. Privé, G.L. Reighard, T.L. Robinson, C.R. Rom, T. Roper, J.R.
Schupp, E. Stover, C.R. Unrath. 2000. Performance of 'Gala' on 18 dwarf rootstocks:
Five-year summary of the 1994 NC-140 semi-dwarf rootstock trial. 2000. J. Amer.
Pom. Soc. 54(2):92-107.
Hirst, P.M. and R.R. Flowers. 2000. Rootstock effects on growth and cell size
of 'Gala' apple fruit. Acta Hort. 517:189-194.
Rieghard, G.L., R. Andersen, J. Anderson, W. Autio, T. Beckman, T. Baker, R.
Belding, G. Brown, P. Byers, W. Cowgill, D. Deyton, E. Durner, A. Erb, D. Ferree,
A. Gaus, R. Godin, R. Hayden, P. Hirst, S. Kadir, M. Kaps, H. Larsen, T. Lindstrom,
N. Miles, F. Morrison, S. Myers, D. Ouellette, C. Rom, W. Shane, B. Taylor,
K. Taylor, C. Walsh, and M. Warmund. 2004. Eight-year performance of 19 peach
rootstocks at 20 locations in North America. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 58(4):174-202.