AVRAHAM BEN-YA˘ACOV

Regional Research Scientist, Agricultural Research Organization, Retired

The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet-Dagan, Israel  50250

011-972-6-637-2264

 

Education

Institution
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Major Field
Horticulture and Soil Science

Horticulture

Degree Received

M.S.

 


Ph.D.

Date

1961

 

 

1968

 

Professional Positions

Position Held

Farm Advisor and

Seminar Organizer


Researcher

 

Research Scientist

Regional Research Scientist

Organization

Rupin Institute of Agriculture

 

Organic Manure Center, Rupin Institute of Agriculture

 

Agricultural Research Organization

A.R.O, Hadera-Ra’anana Region

Date

1954 - 1955


1959 - 1962


1962 - 1995

1967 - 1995

 

Honors and Recognition

June 1998.  Award in Recognition of Outstanding Service to the International Avocado Industry in the area of Germplasm Rescue and Preservation.  Awarded on June 9, 1998 at the 1st workshop on avocado germplasm, Riverside, CA. 1998 by the International Avocado Society.

July 2000. American Society for Horticultural Science Career Award. OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURIST AWARD. 

 

 

Dr. Ben-Ya’acov’s career has had a major impact on the international avocado industry. He is considered by all that work in the areas of avocado breeding, selection and germplasm conservation as the leader in this field.  His contributions are centered on two distinct but related areas.

 

Identification of superior rootstock and scion selections.

In Israel, Dr. Ben-Ya’acov was responsible for the selection of improved rootstock and scion material for the Israeli avocado industry.  Most importantly, he was responsible for the evaluation and final selection of 40 avocado rootstock selections for seedling rootstocks from the original 630 that were selected from commercial plantings throughout Israel.  The material from this work has provided the basis of most of the avocado plantings in Israel for the last two decades.  Dr. Ben-Ya’acov is also responsible for the identification and evaluation of clonal rootstock material in Israel selected from commercial orchards.  In this program, the aim was to identify superior rootstock trees, which were resistant to disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi), salinity and were highly productive.  Dr. Ben-Ya’acov identified 160 such clones.  Fourteen clonal rootstocks were completely evaluated and are now recommended for commercial use under different environmental conditions throughout Israel.  For both aspects of this research program Dr. Ben-Ya’acov evaluated approximately 200,000 trees in 700 experiments.  In the process of selecting improved rootstock and scion selections Dr. Ben-Ya’acov developed the concept of “growers’ teams” in Israel where the avocado grower was an active participant in the critical assessment of the avocado material.  He has developed a “systems approach” to avocado production, which looks at the interaction between the rootstock and the scion variety in terms of stress tolerance and productivity.  He has worked closely with the Israeli avocado nursery industry to promote the use of clonally propagated avocados.  He successfully disseminated and extended this information, which he and his co-workers developed in the field.

The work which Dr. Ben-Ya’acov accomplished in Israel throughout his career has stimulated international interest.  Clonal rootstocks from his program are under evaluation in California, Florida and South Africa where salinity and Phytophthora disease pressure limit tree longevity and productivity.  Dr. Ben-Ya’acov has freely shared this material with other researchers throughout the world and has shared his research approach with others.  This is evidenced by his many publications on rootstocks and scion varieties that have been published in a wide array of technical and semi-technical journals and his participation in international horticultural shortcourses (See publication list). 

 

International Germplasm Preservation

Dr. Ben-Ya’acov is recognized throughout Central America (home of the edible avocado) and the world for his work in avocado germplasm rescue.  Dr. Ben-Ya’acov has been instrumental in galvanizing the international avocado community to recognize the value of germplasm conservation.  His relentless and enthusiastic search for avocado relatives and related species has culminated in the Persea collections which are now located in Mexico and in Israel.  These collections include approximately 300 items belonging to both Persea americana and other Persea relatives.  This activity was funded by a GIARA Foundation grant.  An additional research component of this work was the DNA characterization using RFLP technology (Publication #25).  He has generously shared this material with others interested in germplasm conservation and many of these selections are now in the Persea collection at the USDA-ARS Germplasm Repository in Miami.  Without his vision and foresight, many valuable representatives of Persea germplasm would have been lost in the last 15 years.  His work in this area is highlighted by his many presentations at recent World Avocado Congresses (see publication list).  His contributions in this area culminated with his recognition by the International Avocado Society at an International Avocado Germplasm meeting held in California in 1998 and the American Society for Horticultural Sciences (See Awards and Honor Section).


Professional Publications and Invitational Presentations

 

A LIST OF SELECTED AND RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1972).  Avocado rootstock-scion relationships: A long-term large-scale field research project I. Preparation of the experimental set-up in the planting of commercial avocado orchards in Israel.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 55:158-161.

2.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1973).  Avocado rootstock-scion relationships: A long-term large-scale field research project II. Data collected from fruit-bearing orchards.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 56: 130-134.

3.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Michelson Esther and Sela, I. (1974).  Avocado rootstock-scion relationships: A long-term large-scale field research project III. Sensitivity of avocado rootstocks to inadequate soil aeration.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 57: 108-110.

4.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A., and Frenkel, M. (1974).  Avocado rootstock-scion relationships: A long-term large-scale field research project IV. Sensitivity of Avocado rootstocks to Verticilium wilt.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 57: 111-113.

5.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Yaffe, A. and Riebenfeld, A. (1975).  Avocado rootstocks in Israel. Alon HaNotea, 29 (8-9): 404-407 (in Hebrew).

6.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A.,      (1976).  Avocado rootstock-scion relationships: A long-term large-scale field research project V. Final report on some orchards planted during the years 1960-1964.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 59: 122-133.

7.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A., (1976).  Avocado rootstocks in use in Israel.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 59: 66-68.

8.             Kadman, A., Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Raz, Z. and Peleg, J. (1976).  A method for measuring the ˛covering area˛ of avocado trees.  Yearbook Calif. Avocado Soc. 59: 105-108.

9.             Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1977).  The ˛Growers team˛ taking part in avocado research.  Hassadeh 57: 866-869 (in Hebrew).

10.          Kadman, A. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1980).  Avocado rootstocks of the G.A. 13 and Maoz types.  Alon HaNotea 34(3): 149-152 (in Hebrew).

11.          Degani, Ch. And Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1983).  The use of isozymes analysis for differentiating between rootstock and scion in highly productive avocado trees in Kibbutz Sheffayim.  Alon HaNotea 37: 443-445.

12.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1984).  Solving soil problems of the avocado: Comparison of Israeli and South-African viewpoints and methods. Research report, issued by the South-African Ministry of Agriculture. 

13.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (1985).  Selection of avocado rootstocks.  Yearbook South Africa Avocado Grower˘s Ass. 8: 21-23.

14.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (1986).  Avocado rootstocks selection in Israel.  Abstract, XXXIII Congress, Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Tropical Region, San-Jose, Costa Rica, p. 455-456.

15.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1986).  Clonal duplication of outstanding avocado trees.  Abstract, XXII International Horticultural Congress, Davis, Calif. U.S.A., p. 737.

16.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. and Lahav, E. (1987).  The first world Avocado Congress, Pretoria, S. Africa 4-7 May 1987.  Hassadeh, 67: 2298-2299 (in Hebrew)

17.          Shaulski, Y., Livne, M., Zarchi, M. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1988).  An expedition to explore subtropical and tropical fruits in Latin America, and to evaluate their suitability for Israel.  Alon HaNotea 42(7): 641-675 (in Hebrew).

18.          Zilkah, S., Ben-Ya˘acov, A., David, I., Sela, I. And Mondrick, Y. (1989).  Simultaneous leaf drop on spring as a limited factor of avocado cv. Fuerte productivity.  Alon HaNotea 43(9): 997-1003.

19.          La Cruz Torres, E., Barrientos, A.F. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1990).  A study of the avocado˘s genetic resources (Persea americana Mill) in the Central part of Mexico.  CICTAMEX Memoria 1990: 91-97 (in Spanish).

20.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1991).  Some ideas in regard to the survival of avocado orchards under conditions of reduced water quantities.  Alon HaNotea 45: 631-632 (in Hebrew).

21.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Barkan, Z., Michelson Esther, Sela, I. And Zilberstaine, Miriam (1991).  Selection of clonal avocado rootstocks in Israel, for high productivity under different soil conditions.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol.II: 521-526.

22.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Bufler, G., Barrientos, A.F., La Cruz Torres E. and Lopez-Lopez, L. (1991).  A Study of the avocado germplasm resources 1988-90: I General description of the international project and its findings.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol.II: 535-541.

23.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Lopez-lopez, L., La Cruz Torres E. and Barrientos, A.F. (1991).  A study of the avocado germplasm resources 1988-90: The findings from the Central part of Mexico.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol. II: 543-433.

24.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Zilberstaine Miriam and Sela, I. (1991).  A study of the avocado germ-plasm resources in 1988-90: VI. The evaluation of the collected material for horticultural purposes.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol. II: 559-562.

25.          Bufler, G. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1991).  A study of the avocado germplasm resources 1988-1990: III. Ribosomal DNA repeat unit polymorphism in avocado.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol. II: 545-550.

26.          Zilberstaine, Miriam, Ben-Ya˘acov, A., and Sela I. (1992).  Selection of avocado rootstocks resistant to root-rot in Israel.  Proc. Interam. Soc. Trop. Hort. 36: 15-19.

27.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Michelson Esther and Sela, I. (1993).  Rootstock effect on avocado vigor and productivity.  Acta Horticulturae,  349:191-195.

28.          Barrientos-Priego, A.F., Ben-Ya˘acov, A., La Cruz Torres, E., Lopez-Lopez, L., Bufler, G. and Borys, M.W. (1995).  Descriptors for avocado. (Persea spp.)  IPGRI, Rome, Italy, 52 pp. (in English and Spanish).

29.          Barrientos-Priego, A.F., Borys, M.W., Escamilla-Prado, E., Ben-Ya˘acov, A., La Cruz Torres, E. and Lopez-Lopez, L. (1991).  A study of the avocado germplasm resources (1988-90): IV. Findings of the Mexican Gulf region.  Proc. 2nd World Avocado Congress, CA, U.S.A. Vol. II: 551-558.

30.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., Bufler, G., Barrientos, A., La Cruz Torres, E., Lopez-Lopez, L., Degani Chemda and Solis-Molina, A. (1992).  A study of the avocado genetic resources.  Final Report submitted to GIARA Foundation. A.R.O., The Volcani Center, 126 pp.

31.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1992).  The rescue of wild relatives of avocado from their habitat.  Abstracts, The International Conference on Development of New Crops. Jerusalem. 1992.

32.          Lopez-Lopez, L. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1992).  The participation of CICTAMEX in the preservation and utilization of avocado germplasm.  Abstract, The 1st meeting of Science and Technology of the agronomy and forestry sector of the State of Mexico. SARH, p. 98  (in Spanish).

33.          Lopez-Lopez, L. Rubi Arriaga, M., Barrientos-Priego, A. and Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1993).  Advances in the study of the avocado genetic resources II. Vegetative tipification of individuals which integrate germplasm banks.  CICTAMEX Memoria 1993: 53-59 (in Spanish).

34.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. (1994).  Development and evaluation of clonal avocado rootstocks in Israel. 1. The background for clonal rootstocks development, and a general description of the development and evaluation system.  Alon HaNotea, 48: 348-353 (in Hebrew).

35.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., and Michelson Esther (1994).  Development and evaluation of clonal avocado rootstocks in Israel. 2. Identification of outstanding avocado trees, in order to use their rootstocks for clonal propagation.  Alon HaNotea, 48: 398-406 (in Hebrew).

36.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A., and Michelson Esther (1995).  Avocado rootstocks.  Horticultural Reviews, 17: 381-429.

37.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (1996).  Development of methods for avocado rootstocks selection in Israel.  Revista Chapingo 1996, Serie Horticultura, 5: 25-31.

38.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. and Zilberstaine, Miriam (1999).  The possible use of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) germplasm material as rootstocks for soil stress conditions.  Revista Chapingo, Serie Horticultura, 5:25-28.

39.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A. and Zilberstaine, Miriam (1999).  Clonal avocado (Persea americana Mill.) rootstocks In Israel.   Revista Chpingo, Serie Horticultura, 5:39-42.

40.          Zilberstaine, Miriam and Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (1999).  Integration of Strategies for Controlling Root-Rot in Avocado in Israel.  Revista Chapingo, Serie Horticultura, 5:251-253.

41.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (in press).  The Israeli avocado genepool: Where and why the items had been collected? (To be published in the proceedings of the 1st workshop on avocado germplasm, Riverside, CA. 1998).

42.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (in press).  The Persea Germplasm Resources potential as discovered during an International Collection Program. (To be published in the proceedings of the 1st workshop on avocado germplasm, Riverside, CA. 1998).

43.          Ben-Ya˘acov, A.  (in press).  Rescue of Threatened Avocado Population and their Wild Relatives. (To be published in the proceedings of the 1st workshop on avocado germplasm, Riverside, CA. 1998).

 

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS, FUNCTIONS AND SPECIAL INVITATIONS

1970        XVIII International Horticultural Congress, Tel Aviv, Israel.

1972        One month to the Ivory Coast, to advise the local authorities about avocado and pineapple development plans.

1977        XXV Annual congress, Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Tropical Region, Quito, Ecuador.

1977        II National Congress of Fruit Growing, Michoacan, Mexico.

1977        Visits, seminars and consulting students during sabbatical, at the Post-Graduate College, Chapingo, Mexico.

1978        XXVI Annual Congress, Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Tropical Region, Santiago, Chile.

1978        XX International Horticultural Congress, Sydney, Australia.

1985        One month visit to Colombia, in order to advise the Coffee growers about diversification possibilities.

1986        XXXIV Annual Congress, Intermerican Society for Tropical Hortic. San Jose, Costa Rica.

1986        XXII International Hortic. Congress, Davis, California.

1987        First World Avocado Congress, Pretoria, S. Africa.

1987        Five weeks study tour to Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico, as a member of expedition of the Fruit Board in order to explore and evaluate new fruit corps.

1988        Two weeks to Ethiopia, to advise the government on fruit marketing.

1988        XXXV Annual Congress, Interamerican Society for Tropical Hortic. Santa Marta, Colombia.

1990        XXIII International Hortic. Congress, Firenze, Italy.

1991        Second World Avocado Congress, Orange, California.

1992        XXXVIII Annual Congress, Interamerican Society for Tropical Hortic. Zamorano, Honduras.

1995        Third World Avocado Congress, Tel Aviv, Israel.

1996     XXXXII Annual Congress, Interamerican Society for Tropical Hortic. Curitiba, Brazil.

1998        First International Workshop on Avocado Germplasm Resources, Riverside, California.

1999        Fourth World Avocado Congress, Uruapan, Mexico.

Visits funded by GIARA Foundation

1988              One month study tour to Florida, Colombia and Costa Rica.

1990              Visits to Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras, while staying in Mexico for sabbatical, in order to evaluate the avocado germplasm resources of these countries.

1991              One month visits to Mexico, California and Hawaii, mainly for the avocado germplasm project.

1992-93         Three visits to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador, Peru, Honduras - aiming to coordinate the avocado germplasm project.

1994          Two visits to Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and one visit to California, Florida, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, in the frame of the avocado germplasm study.

1995-96         Final visits to Mexico and Costa Rica toward the conclusion of the project.

 

 

Excerpted from nomination letter for Dr. Ben Ya’acov prepared in June 2000 for ASHS Outstanding International Horticulturist Award.