Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar

Contact Information

Citrus Research and Education Center
Lake Alfred, Florida
Horticulture
Phone: 863.956.1151 ext. 1276
Email: jcmelgar@crec.ifas.ufl.edu

Education

Ph.D. Crop Production, University of Córdoba, Spain.
Dissertation title: “Olive tree responses to saline water irrigation. Influence of abiotic factors”.

Bachelor of Science Agricultural Engineering. Crop Production. University of Córdoba, Spain.

Positions

2007 - Date: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, USA.

Specialization

Environmental stress physiology of fruit trees

Ongoing Research

Environmental stress physiology of citrus with emphasis on plant water relations:

• Winter time drought stress studies on late season mechanical harvesting.
• Determination of fruit detachment force on drought stressed ‘Valencia’ trees.
• Partial root zone drying and pulsed water regimes effects on citrus.
• Influence of nitrogen supply using water pulses on the control of root growth.

Refereed Publications

Melgar, J.C., Mohamed, Y., Navarro, C., Parra, M.A., Benlloch, M. and Fernández-Escobar, R. 2008. Long term growth and yield responses of olive trees to different irrigations regimes. Agricultural and Water Management (In Press).

Melgar, J.C., Syvertsen, J.P., Martínez, V. and García-Sánchez, F. 2008. Leaf gas exchange, water relations, nutrient content and growth in citrus and olive seedlings under salinity. Biologia Plantarum. 52: 385-390.

Melgar, J.C., Syvertsen, J.P. and García-Sánchez, F. 2008. Can elevated CO2 improve salt tolerance in olive tree cuttings?. Journal of Plant Physiology. 165: 631-640

Tattini, M., Traversi, M.L. and Melgar, J.C. 2008. Responses of Olea europaea to high salinity: a brief – ecophysiological – review. Advances in Horticultural Science 22 (3): 1-15.

Melgar, J.C., Benlloch, M. and Fernández-Escobar, R. 2007. Calcium starvation increases salt susceptibility in olive plants but has no effect on susceptibility to water stress. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 82 (4): 622-626.

Melgar, J.C., Benlloch, M. and Fernández-Escobar, R. 2006. Calcium increases sodium exclusion in olive plants. Scientia Horticulturae. 106: 303-305.

García-Sánchez, F., Syvertsen, J.P., Martínez, V. and Melgar, J.C. 2006. Salinity tolerance of ‘Valencia’ orange trees on rootstocks with contrasting salt tolerance is not improved by shade. Journal of Experimental Botany. 57: 3697-3706.

Non-Refereed publications

Melgar, J.C., Syvertsen, J.P. y Albrigo, G.. 2007. Growth flush and flowering is delayed by winter drought stress in ‘Valencia’ orange trees. HortScience, 42 (4): 863

Melgar, J.C., Syvertsen, J.P., Martínez, V. and García-Sánchez, F. 2007. The relative salt tolerance of ‘Rangpur’ seedlings and ‘Arbequina’ olive cuttings. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 120: 79-84.

Schumann, A., Hostler, K., Melgar, J.C. y Syvertsen, J.P. 2007. Georeferenced ground photography of Citrus orchards to estimate yield and plant stress for variable rate technology. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 120: 56-63.

García-Sánchez, F., Martínez, V., Syvertsen, J.P. y Melgar J.C. 2007. Shade effects on salinity tolerance of ‘Valencia’ orange trees on rootstocks with contrasting salt tolerance. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society,120: 85-91.

Melgar, J.C., Benlloch, M. and Fernández-Escobar, R. 2007. Calcium starvation increases salt susceptibility in olive plants but has no effect on susceptibility to water stress (in Spanish). Actas de Horticultura, 48: 828-830.

Melgar, J.C., Dunlop, J., Syvertsen, J.P. and García-Sánchez, F. 2004. Growth and gas exchange responses of olive tree cuttings to elevated CO2 concentration under saline conditions. HortScience, 39 (4): 771.

Melgar, J.C., Fernández-Escobar, R., Benlloch, M., Navarro, C. y Parra, M.A. 2003. Response of olive tree to irrigation with saline water (in Spanish). Actas de Horticultura, 39: 308-309.

Professional Membership

• 2007 – Date: Member, American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS)
• 2007 – Date: Member, Florida Society of Horticultural Science (FSHS)
• 2003 – Date: Member, Spanish Society of Horticultural Science (SECH)