WPTRC | Horticulture

Horticulture

Western Pacific Tropical Research Center horticulturists are engaged in vegetable and ornamental research agendas as well as native plant protection projects. Experiments and field trials are conducted at the three research stations on island.

Technical Reports and Fact Sheets

Ruellia prostrata (An addition to the Color Atlas of Common Weeds of Guam) November 2023
Ruellia nudiflora (An addition to the Color Atlas of Common Weeds of Guam) November 2023
Ruellia tuberosa (An addition to the Color Atlas of Common Weeds of Guam) November 2023
Phytochemical Analyses of Horticultural Crops December 2021
Application of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) December 2021
Eggplant ‘Ideal’: Open-pollinated local cultivar in Guam  June 2021

Variety Trials

Variety trials are carried out to find the vegetable varieties that respond well to the climatic conditions and soils of Guam. Horticulturists Mari Marutani and  Joseph Tuquero have recently conducted trials for eggplant, hot pepper, lettuce and kale, which help Guam farmers and gardeners know the best varieties to plant. Read about these trials in the 20202017 and the 2016 Impact Reports. Click on the links below for fact sheets.

Heirloom Eggplant Hibiscus Bell Pepper Bok Choy Chinese kale   Hot Pepper Kale 
Lettuce  Zucchini          

 

   

 

 

 

 UOG Triton Farm

Triton farm students learn about aquaponics 

Misson

The Triton Farm contributes to the University of Guam’s land grant mission of “Ina” (to enlighten), Deskubre (to discover) and Setbe (to serve) by providing research, instruction, and research opportunities in sustainable agriculture practices to faculty, students, farmers, and other community members in Micronesia. The Triton Farm promotes agricultural production, sustainable environmental management, food security, economic development, and enhanced quality of life incorporating Micronesian and global agricultural wisdom as well as culturally appropriate techniques while embracing inclusiveness, fairness, and collaboration.

Goals

  • To provide outreach and training opportunities for farmers, growers, youth, civic groups, government personnel, and other stakeholders appropriate to the needs and interests of farmers and other community members
  • To contribute to the instruction mission of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and other colleges and schools of the University of Guam by providing hands-on experiential learning opportunities
  • To enable research activities to generate new knowledge on agriculture in its broadest sense
  • To foster innovation on adaption to island climatic conditions, agroforestry, aquaponics, beekeeping, egg production, food science, human nutrition, improved plant germplasm, organic waste management, pesticide-free horticulture, plant health, small-scale farming systems, value added processing, and other topics
  • To maintain demonstrations on farming systems appropriate to the socio-economic and biophysical conditions of Guam engaging local communities and other stakeholders

 

Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program (GPEPP)

Dr. Jim McConnell has been instrumental in securing grant funding for GPEPP. He and GPEPP staff are commited to protecting the rare plants of Guam through plant surveys, a native plant nursery, seed storage, and a tissue culture lab. To learn more about the role GPEPP is playing in preserving the islands plants read about their efforts in the 2018 and 2016 Impact Reports. Visit the GPEPP website.

 

Guam Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)

Dr. Jim McConnell's lab has been actively building capacity for its own staff and regional foresters through forest inventories and trainings. In partnership with the US Forest Service, Guam and the region benefit through localized research and support. Read about an Alaskan training oppportunity in the 2015 Impact Report.

 


Jim McConnell, PhD
Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Room 317 
University of Guam 
UOG Station 
Mangilao, Guam 96923 
Email: mcconnell@triton.uog.edu
Phone: (671) 735-2129 
Fax: (671) 734-4600

Mari Marutani, PhD
Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Room 318
College of Natural & Applied Sciences 
University of Guam 
UOG Station 
Mangilao, Guam 96923 
Email: marutanim@triton.uog.edu
Phone: (671) 735-2131 
Fax: (671) 734-2129

Joseph Tuquero, MS
Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Room 105
College of Natural & Applied Sciences 
University of Guam 
UOG Station 
Mangilao, Guam 96923 
Email: tuqueroj@triton.uog.edu
Phone: (671) 735-2085
Fax: (671) 734-6842