Catalogue Description

The Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (TPSS) program at UH Manoa is unique.  Students have an opportunity to take courses in tropical flower, fruit, vegetable and crop production, turf and landscape management, plant physiology, breeding and genetics, and soil science.  They learn about the full spectrum of subjects and activities required to understand and responsibly manage land, water, crops, and their environments for the benefit of humankind. In addition, they learn about the adaptation and application of new technologies, such as molecular biotechnology, computer-based systems, and the Internet, to enhance plant production systems, assure a safe food supply, and protect the environment.

Our students come from many backgrounds including those with little practical environmental or agricultural experience.  They have in common a keen interest in applying science for the purpose of finding practical solutions to problems.  The comprehensive undergraduate program affords students the opportunity to study molecules to whole plants to managed or natural ecosystems, thus providing backgrounds to a host of career prospects.  Students majoring in TPSS prepare for careers including plant production and management, plant breeding and genetics, services, marketing, extension, research, and teaching. UHM students trained in tropical plant and soil sciences have embarked on successful careers in international organizations and governmental agencies, in ecological and environmental protection, in agricultural extension, in individual entrepreneurships including farming, and as middle and upper management in corporate agriculture. They work in increasing the food supply, improving food quality, and assuring food safety while protecting the environment and improving the quality of life. Undergraduates are encouraged to obtain practical experience, which involves research under the direction of a faculty member and work in a commercial industry via our internship program.  Students have found satisfaction in applying their course work and research studies to challenging problems in business, land-use, and agricultural crop production.

Instructional Faculty
*R. E. Paull, (Chair) PhD - plant growth & development, postharvest handling
A. S. Arakaki, BS - junior extension agent, fruit and vegetable production
R. Arce, BS - junior extension agent, community development, agricultural production
*H. C. Bittenbender, PhD - coffee, kava and tropical fruit physiology and management
*J. L. Brewbaker, PhD - plant breeding, biochemical genetics
I. S. Campbell, PhD - crop management, information systems
*C. L. Chia, PhD - tropical fruits
*R. A. Criley, PhD - floriculture, flowering physiology, plant propagation
*J. DeFrank, PhD - weed science
*K. D. Fleming, PhD - agribusiness management
S. K. Fukuda, MS - Extension agent, vegetable production
*M. Habte, PhD - soil microbiology-biochemistry
*J. M. Halloran, PhD - marketing and agribusiness management
C. S. Hashimoto, MS - extension agent, fruit production
*A. S. Saulo, PhD-food technology extension, food safety and quality
*N. V. Hue, PhD - soil chemistry
*K. D. Kobayashi, PhD - fruit physiology and computer modeling
*B. A. Kratky, PhD - vegetable physiology and management
*A. R. Kuehnle, PhD - ornamental breeding and genetics
*K. L. Leonhardt, PhD - floriculture
*R. M. Manshardt, PhD - tropical fruit breeding and genetics
*S. C. Miyasaka, PhD - alternative crops, plant nutrition
*M. A. Nagao, PhD - development physiology, growth regulation
M. S. Nishina, MS - associate extension agent, tropical fruit production
*Y. Sagawa, PhD - developmental morphology, cytogenetics, tissue culture 
D. Sato, MS - educational specialist, urban horticulture
*T. Sekioka, PhD-vegetable breeding and genetics
*J. A. Silva, PhD - soil fertility and soil chemistry, statistics
*P. Singleton, PhD - crop physiology, nutrient management
V. E. Smith, MS - assistant extension agent, fruit and ornamental production
*K. Y. Takeda, PhD - solanaceous crops
G. I. Teves, BS - junior extension agent, ornamentals production
*G. Uehara, PhD - systems simulation in international agriculture
*H. R. Valenzuela, PhD - vegetable physiology and management
W. K. Wong, PhD - extension agent, landscaping and nursery management
R. M. Yamakawa, MS - associate extension agent, ornamentals production
*R. S. Yost, PhD - expert systems in soil management, fertility

Cooperating Graduate Faculty
*R. S. de la Pena, PhD - crop management, root crops
*S. A. El Swaify, PhD - soil and water conservation, salinity
*C. I. Evensen, PhD - water quality extension, environmental education
*S. C. Furutani, PhD - horticultural crop physiology
*M. K. Kawate, PhD - pesticide registration/weed science
*R. K. Nishimoto, PhD - weed science
*W. S. Sakai, PhD - ultrastructure, physiological plant anatomy
*M. J. Tanabe, PhD - in vitro propagation, turf management, plant propagation

Affliliate Graduate Faculty
*M. Austin, PhD - plant breeding, hybrid seed production
*H. Albert, PhD - plant biotechnology, gene regulation
*H. T. Chan Jr., PhD - food processing, plant biochemistry
*M. M. M. Fitch, PhD - tissue culture, genetic engineering
*J. J. McHugh, PhD - vegetable management, integrated pest management
*P. Moore, PhD - plant development, sugar metabolism
*R. R. G. Ming, PhD - plant genomics, plant breeding
*C. N. Nagai, PhD - sugar cane genetics and tissue culture
*R. V. Osgood, PhD - weed science
*D. Ragone, PhD - ethnobotany, conservation
*F. Zee, PhD - plant breeding, genetics

* denotes Graduate Faculty