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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Agronomy and Horticulture

The Science and Application of Plants to Sustain and Enhance Human Life

Alexander D. Pavlista

Professor, Crop Physiologist, and Extension Potato Specialist

Contact Information
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DEGREES:

  • B.S., Biological Science, Manhattan College, 1968
  • Ph.D., Biology, City University of New York, 1977
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RESEARCH INTERESTS:

  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Plant Growth and Development (canola, camelina, corn, dry bean, potato, wheat)
  • Potato Production and Pest Management

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

Extension: Major program activities on potato are the newsletter 'Nebraska Potato Eyes' and the web-site 'Potato Education Guides' also blight forecasting, pest alerts, diagnostic field tours, and cultivar evaluation. Participate in Extension programs on corn, dry bean, oilseed crops, and wheat.

Research: Major program activities include growth and development of canola and camelina especially under limited irrigation, gibberellic acid application to dry bean as a harvest aid and winter wheat as a planting aid, and skip-row corn. On potato, the focus has been on plant growth regulators for yield and tuber quality.

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

  • Potato Production Management and Pest Control

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Pavlista, A.D., Baltensperger, D.D., Hergert, G.W., and Lyon, D.J. 2008 (in press). Yield components as affected by planting dryland corn in a double-skip row pattern. Crop Science.

  • Pavlista, A.D., and Baltensperger, D.D. 2007 (in press). Phenology of oilseed crops for bio-diesel in the High Plains. In Issues in New Crops and New Uses. Eds. J. Janick and A. Whipkey.

  • Pavlista, A.D., Schild, J.A., Hergert, G.W., and Urrea, C.A. 2006. Early growth promotion of dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by gibberellic acid. Ann Rept Bean Improvement Coop 49:93-95.

  • Pavlista, A.D. and Feuz, D.M. 2005. Potato prices as affected by demand and yearly production. Amer J Potato Res (in press).

  • Pavlista, A.D. 2005. Early-season applications of sulfur fertilizers increase potato yield and reduce tuber defects. Agron J 97:599-603.

  • Pavlista, AD. 2003. Thidiazuron, a cytokinin-like compound, enhances fungicidal activity against early blight in potato. Acta Hort 619:145-152.

  • Pavlista, AD. 2002. Skin set evaluation by skin shear measurements. Am J Potato Res 79:301-307.

  • Pavlista, AD. 2001. Thidiazuron increased yield of potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.). Plant Growth Regul Soc Am Quart 29:72-80.

  • Pavlista, AD. 2001. Hydrothol as a vine desiccant of 'Atlantic' potatoes. J Vegetable Crop Production 7:59- 68.

  • Pavlista, AD. 2001. UCC-C4243 Desiccation of potato vines. HortTechnology 11: 86-89.

  • Blumenthal, JM, Baltensperger, DD, Cassman KG, Mason SC, and Pavlista, AD. 2001. Chapter 3. Importance and Effect of N on Crop Quality and Health. In Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems and Management, Ed. RF Follett and JL Hatfield. Elsevier Science B.V., the Netherlands.

  • Pavlista, AD and Blumenthal, JM. 2001. Potatoes. Chapter 22, pp. 151-156. In Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska, Ed. R.B. Ferguson and K.M. DeGrout. Univ Nebraska Coop Ext 01-155. (Agronomy Soc Amer award).

  • Kefi, S, Pavlista AD, Read, PE, and Kachman, SD. 2000. Comparison of thidiazuron and two nitroguanidines to kinetin on potato microtuberization in vitro under long and short days. J Plant Growth Regul 19:429-436.

  • Kefi, S, Pavlista AD, Meagher, MM, and Read, PE. 2000. Invertase activity during tuberization in vitro as influenced by cytokinin-like compounds. Am J Potato Res. 77:57-61.

  • Guenthner, JF, Wiese, MV, Pavlista, AD, Sieczka, JB, and Wyman, J. 1999. Assessment of pesticide use in the U.S. potato industry. Am J Potato Res 76:25-29.

  • Wiese, MV, Guenthner, JF, Pavlista, AD, Wyman, J, and Sieczka, JB. 1998. Use, target pests, and economic impact of pesticides applied to potatoes in the United States. USDA NAPIAP Report 2-CA-98. (U.S. Dept. Agric. award)

  • Pavlista, AD and Ojala, JC. 1997. Potatoes: Chip and French Fry Processing. Chapter 10, pp. 237-284. In Processing Vegetables: Science and Technology, Ed. Smith, Cash, Nip & Hui. Technomics Publ. Co. Inc., Lancaster, PA.

  • Speltz, L.M., Walworth, B.L., and Pavlista, A.D. 1990. Substituted nitro and cyano-guanidines and their uses of increasing crop yields. USA Patent # 4,594,092.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

Potato Assn Amer, Europ Assn Potato Res, Agronomy Soc Amer, Amer Soc Horticultural Sci, Plant Growth Regulator Soc Amer, and Czechoslovak Soc Arts & Sci in Amer.

OTHER:

  • Vice President, Potato Association of America (PAA)
  • Host of the 2004 annual meeting of the PAA in Scottsbluff, NE.
  • Associate Editor of the Agronomy Journal

LANGUAGES SPOKEN:

Conversant in French and Czech