51�ԹϺ�� Davis Feeding a Growing Population News

Study Reveals How Avocados Reverse Sexes Throughout the Day

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:16:27 PDT

Some avocados are female in the morning and male in the afternoon, while others are on the opposite schedule. How avocados do this has been unclear — until now, thanks to a 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study.

That Avocado Oil Chip You’re Eating May Not Be Made With Pure Avocado Oil

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:05:43 PDT

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers tested 54 avocado oil chips, mayo and dressings. Nearly 9 in 10 were adulterated with cheaper oils despite label claims.

California Wolves Feed Heavily on Cattle, Study Finds

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:00:00 PDT

California wolves primarily eat cattle and their presence cause significant stress among livestock, a new study finds.

Honeybee Queens Push Pesticides to Eggs to Protect Themselves Over Their Offspring

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:00:00 PDT

A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study reveals the extent a queen bee will go to survive.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Uncorks Second Annual Wine Sale

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:48:54 PDT

Student-made wines from 51�ԹϺ�� Davis go on sale June 16. Six student labels plus three 51�ԹϺ�� Davis wines, grown in Davis and Napa Valley. Proceeds fund scholarships.

AI Suggests Simple Food Swaps to Make Meals Healthier and Cheaper

Andy Fell — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:00 PDT

An artificial intelligence framework that suggests just one to three ingredient swaps can make meals meaningfully more nutritious and less expensive, according to a new study published May 28 in the open-access journal PLOS Digital Health by Trevor Chan and Ilias Tagkopoulos of the University of California, Davis.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Opens Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:39:24 PDT

51�ԹϺ�� Davis opens the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation to advance climate-smart agriculture, sustainability and food security

The Fungus That Spoils Nearly Everything

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT

51�ԹϺ�� Davis scientists discovered gray mold adapts to different crops, revealing why decades of disease-resistant breeding failed.

This Single Mother Must Learn Quickly — Or Her Colony Won’t Survive

Andy Fell — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:28:53 PDT

Being a single mother of 20 is no joke, especially if the survival of a whole species depends on it.

A queen bumblebee faces this very challenge when she lays her first eggs in the spring: She is utterly alone, with no worker bees to help.

She flies miles each day, collecting nectar to feed her young. She builds a protective nursery from wax. When she’s not out foraging, she climbs atop her larvae and buzzes to warm them.

A Fresh Approach to Peppermint

Andy Fell — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:37:15 PDT

The genomics of peppermint are not as fresh as their flavor but scientists from the University of California, Davis, have found a way to breathe new genetic variation into the species.

Scientists Dispute Hypothesis That Climate Change Will Unleash Massive Ag Pest Populations

Andy Fell — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:27:49 PDT

The widespread hypothesis that climate warming will result in unprecedented agricultural pest populations and cause food insecurity worldwide is oversimplified, according to a new study by a team led by Mia Lippey, an entomologist at the University of California, Davis. But the study does indicate that pests fare better in warmer temperatures than their natural enemies, which researchers identified as a cause for concern.

Could Cultured Chocolate Unlock the Next Food Revolution?

Andy Fell — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:12:10 PDT

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, are working with California Cultured, a Sacramento based food-tech company, to keep chocolate affordable and sustainable by growing everyone’s favorite treat directly from plant cells.

Plants Walk a Fine Line Between Growth and Defense

Andy Fell — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:23:01 PDT

Salicylic acid, the active molecule in aspirin and some acne medications, is a hormone in plants that is essential for immunity, but it’s a double-edged sword: Too much can cause autoimmunity and stunt growth. In a new study published April 20 in Nature Communications, University of California, Davis, researchers discovered that plants use a surprising multi-layered system to regulate salicylic acid levels and keep their immune system in check.

National Academy of Sciences Elects 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Maize Geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra

Andy Fell — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:45:02 PDT

The National Academy of Sciences has elected Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis, as a member. His election was announced April 28.

Ross-Ibarra is one of 120 members and 25 international members elected this year in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership in the academy is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve.

Tomato Industry Taking Steps to Stop Spread of Parasitic Weed

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:51:37 PDT

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers are playing a key research role in the battle against branched broomrape, developing in-field sanitation guidelines for tomato harvesters.

Study Improves Understanding of Food Safety Risks in California Central Coast Produce

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:05:00 PST

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers found harmful strains of E. coli, including types that can cause serious human illness, in animal and environmental sources in the Salinas Valley.

Helping Beekeepers Fight Mites Through More Effective Treatments

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:18:34 PST

Researchers from the USDA and 51�ԹϺ�� Davis are helping beekeepers protect their colonies from destructive varroa mites through a promising new line of research.

Mirror Image Pheromones Help Beetles Swipe Right

Andy Fell — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:26:26 PST

There are many ways to communicate with prospective romantic partners: If you are a Japanese scarab beetle, it’s a matter of distinguishing left from right. New work from U.S. and Chinese scientists, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how these beetles use mirror-image pheromones to find a mate. The work could lead to better monitoring and control of significant agricultural pests.

Grant to Expand Self-Cloning Crop Technology for Indian Farmers

Andy Fell — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:40:53 PST

Venkatesan Sundaresan, a Distinguished Professor of plant biology and plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded a Gates Foundation grant to develop self-cloning crops for Indian farmers.

Breakthroughs for Preventing Pistachio Hull Split

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:02:56 PST

51�ԹϺ�� Davis agricultural scientists reveal how pistachio hulls are built and how their cell walls break down, lending new insight for the $2-bilion-a year pistachio industry.

51�ԹϺ��� Davis Feeding a Growing Population News