Hunter, David, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Contact Information:

Vineland Research Farm, 4902 Victoria Ave N.
PO BOX 6000
Vineland Station, Ontario L0R 2E0
Telephone: 905-562-4113 (242)
Fax: 905-562-4335
Email: david.hunter@agr.gc.ca

Areas of Expertise:

  • cultivar development: Development of pear cultivars and selections with improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
  • in vitro culture: Micropropagation of pear cultivars and selections
  • plant biotechnology: Development of transgenic pear selections incorporating novel disease resistance genes
  • genetic variation
  • selection
  • biochem. & morphology (response to disease & stress)
  • plant physiology
  • plant diseases & control (bacterial diseases - fire blight)
  • fruit trees (apple & pear)
  • plant breeding/reproduction (breeding systems
  • gene transfer
  • Development of tree fruit selections and cultivars with improved resistance to biotic (diseases, pests) and abiotic stresses
  • Development of pear selections and cultivars with improved resistance to the bacterial disease fire blight
  • Development of genetically modified pear selections incorporating novel genes for disease resistance.
  • Evaluation of pear cultivars and selections for fresh and processing markets and for regional adaptation
  • Micropropagation of pear cultivars and selections

Current Projects:

  • Developing high quality, adaptable, disease resistant tree fruit varieties for Canada.
  • Pear breeding for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses [AAFC Research proposal (2006)]
  • Development of pear cultivars and selections with improved resistance to fire blight [MII (2006-2009)]

Affiliations:

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture
  • Graduate Faculty, University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture
  • Professional Agrologist, Ontario Institute of Agrologists

Research Publications:

The links below lead to abstracts with access to full text.

2010:

  • Hunter, D.M., Svircev, A.M., Kaviani, M., Michelutti, R., Wang, L.P., and Thompson, D. (2010). "First Report of Pear Decline Caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ in Ontario, Canada.", Plant Disease, 94(5), pp. 634.2. doi : 10.1094/PDIS-94-5-0634B

2009:

  • Hunter, D.M., Kappel, F., Quamme, H.A., Bonn, W.G., and Slingerland, K.C. (2009). "‘Harovin Sundown’ Pear.", HortScience, 44(5), pp. 1461-1463.