Pistachio Micropropagation

One of the most satisfying aspects of life is witnessing the far-reaching impact of your work. It is particularly gratifying when the scale of your efforts extends beyond the limits of vision. The pistachio micropropagation system I developed at Tissue-Grown Corporation produced in over ten million pistachio rootstocks, translating to approximately 70,000 acres of orchards. These trees will thrive and be productive for the next 50 to 100 years, significantly influencing the pistachio industry for years to come.

Developing the First UCB-1 Micropropagation System for Mature Selections

I joined Tissue-Grown Corporation shortly after they received a research contract to develop the first large-scale UCB-1 pistachio rootstock production system for mature selections from The Wonderful Company, the world's largest fruit and nut producer. This contract was awarded to us because other commercial companies, which also held research contracts, were unable to successfully produce the plants. Initially hired as a Research Assistant, I quickly made significant contributions and was entrusted with the role of primary researcher on the project. My work enabled the company to advance the research project into a full-scale production contract, resulting in the annual production of millions of plants.

During the 11-year period in which we produced millions of pistachio trees, I refined my research skills by employing advanced Design of Experiments (DoE) methodologies to reduce production costs. Additionally, the extensive data collected every time a technician handled the plant cultures allowed me to leverage advanced data analytics to further reduce costs and consistently meet production targets.

In addition to my research and data analytics responsibilities in the lab, I dedicated considerable time in the greenhouse to ensure the efficient ex vitro transitioning of lab-cloned plants. I managed inventory in our greenhouse and utilized the PRIVA greenhouse controller to maintain optimal growing conditions. Additionally, I trained employees in integrated pest management and research methods in the greenhouse.

I am deeply proud of what I learned and achieved throughout this project. Anyone who has worked with plants or tissue culture understands that conditions are rarely stable, and that insight and creativity are essential to maintaining production. The skills I developed during this project significantly enhanced my ability to develop tissue culture micropropagation systems.