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CTAHR Notes

Issue 147   |   January 22, 2014   |   Archive

News & Events

Let Us Consider Lettuce

Romaine LettuceThe Poamoho Research Station held a Romaine Lettuce Observational Field Day on January 21, just ahead of the harvest scheduled for later in the week. The demonstration showcased more than 20 varieties of Romaine lettuce as part of a replicated field trial, and visitors were able to see the horticultural characteristics of the lettuce samples. Identification of promising new Romaine lettuce varieties for commercial production can minimize Hawai‘i’s dependence on mainland imports, and implications from previous replicated field studies suggest Romaine can be grown successfully on O‘ahu. Go, Team Romaine!

Muscles, Bones, and Milestones

Halina Zaleski, HNFAS Department Chair; Yong soo Kim, Researcher, and Jinzeng Yang, Associate Professor.Congratulations to HNFAS’ Yong-Soo Kim for 20 years of service and Jinzeng Yang for 10 years of service at the university! Both scientists study muscle development and molecular mechanisms and their applications to improving animal production efficiency. As animal scientists, they study efficient muscle growth critical to meat production, reduced feed efficiency, and environmental impacts. Jinzeng (right) and Yong-Soo (middle, pictured with department chair Halina Zaleski) work on the regulation of myostatin, a growth-differentiation factor that controls muscle mass. Whether it’s shrimp, fish, swine, or beef cattle, muscle growth appears to be controlled by different forms of myostatin. Mutations in myostatin genes can lead to significant muscle growth and thus increased meat production. With the understanding of myostatin, growth of muscle can be studied and made more efficient. Yong-Soo and Jinzeng also use animal models with depressed myostatin function and increased muscle mass to understand impacts of skeletal muscle on obesity and diabetes prevention. Enhanced skeletal muscle mass can be very effective in maintaining glucose homeostasis in both type I and type II diabetes. They are always looking for interested graduate students and scientists to work with them in this exciting subject of myostatin and skeletal muscle.

Welcome Back

Participants at NREM Welcome Back BreakfastThe CTAHR ‘ohana celebrated the new year and a fresh semester with NREM’s Welcome Back Breakfast on January 17 in the Sherman Courtyard. NREM served approximately 50 participants a continental breakfast of bagels, muffins, fruits, coffee, tea, and orange juice. One of the most common themes that was raised at every CTAHR strategic planning activity last year was the need for more socializing at the college level. This theme really resonated with the staff and faculty in the NREM Department, and they decided to host what they hope will be the first of many departmental social events this year. A big mahalo is due to organizers (left to right) Chi Ming (Lawrence) Chan, Donna Ching (FCS), Catherine Chan-Halbrendt, and Debbie Wong! What a great way to start the new year!

Keep Calm and Learn about Tea

Tea Field DayYay Team Tea! CTAHR’s Tea Project, Risk Management Hawai‘i, and the LIFE program are presenting the popular Tea 101: Production and Processing Basics on Wednesday, February 12, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mealani Research Station. Led by Randy Hamasaki (PEPS) and Stuart Nakamoto (HNFAS), the workshop will give participants the chance to explore the possibilities of tea as a new crop in the Islands, including market feasibility, tea varieties, crop management, harvesting techniques, and evaluation of the final product. Randy and Stuart will also share current tea research conducted at the Mealani Station. Space is limited to 12 participants, so call 877-6183 or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot.

Spotlight on Our Community

Sustainability and Tradition

Tetzuzan "Benny" RonJoannie Dobbs and Alan Titchnal interviewed Tetsuzan “Benny” Ron (all are HNFAS) about food production and environmental sustainability in their Star Advertiser column. Benny stresses the need to learn from traditional Hawaiian agricultural practices and to incorporate native Hawaiian ideas into new technologies. He identifies core concepts as the conservation and preservation of our water supply, food production, and a respect for the Hawaiian culture, and explains his use of environmentally friendly aquaponics technologies and how the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics can be sustainable as well as economical.

New Publications

Beyond Aloha Shirts

The covers of Honolulu Street StyleAndrew Reilly (FDM) was recently interviewed on KITV and ThinkTech regarding his upcoming book Honolulu Street Style. Situated at the crossroads of different cultures, Honolulu has a style all of its own, he explains. Honolulu Street Style captures this unique approach as it demonstrates how global trends are transformed by stylish Honolulu denizens to create a unique, local look. Divided into chapters on hair, hats, accessories, and beachwear, the book features the styles of people encountered on the street and in many different neighborhoods, with an essay on the history and clothing of Hawai’i as a whole. Check out the book on Amazon, too!

In Memoriam

Yoneo Sagawa

Yoneo SagawaWe are saddened to report that orchid expert Dr. Yoneo Sagawa passed away December 10, 2013, in Honolulu. A CTAHR professor emeritus of horticulture and a former director of the Lyon Arboretum, Yoneo was well-known in the orchid community for pioneering techniques in orchid micropropagation, a cloning method that allows for infinite copies of a mother plant. His areas of research included tissue culture of orchids and cytogenetics of horticultural crops. He was a staunch supporter and lifetime member of the Honolulu Orchid Society as well as a well-respected teacher and mentor to many in the orchid industry around the world. Services were held December 20.


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