People

Justine Vanden Heuvel
Extension Assistant Professor

Justine received her Ph.D. from the University of Guelph in 2002. Her thesis was entitled 'Photosynthetic capacity and carbon partitioning of light- and shade- adapted leaves in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)'. This work contributed to the knowledge of grapevine physiology by quantitatively determining photosynthetic capacity and carbon partitioning patterns from light- and shade-adapted leaves at both the whole-vine and leaf level. Her research determined that, while leaves growing in the interior of a grapevine canopy are photosynthesizing, partitioning patterns of these leaves have a significant effect on the whole vine. Shade-adapted leaves import photosynthate from light-adapted leaves, and dark-adapted leaves that photosynthesize translocate little photosynthate from the leaf. Light-adapted leaves appear to be almost wholly responsible for the growth of permanent vine structures (i.e., roots and trunks). For her Master's degree, Justine tested several trellising system and cane density combinations on 'Titan' summer-bearing red raspberries. She proved that a portion of the yield benefit obtained from trellising systems is due to their stabilization of canes in the wind. Justine has also worked in apple production in both Eastern Ontario and the Netherlands.

Publications:

Onayemi, O.O, C.C. Neto, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel. 2006. The effect of partial defoliation on vine carbohydrate concentration and flavonoid production in cranberry fruit.  HortScience 41(3): In press.

Botelho, M.R. and J.E. Vanden Heuvel. 2006. Preliminary assessment of the impact of current flooding practices on non-structural carbohydrate concentrations of cranberry.  HortTechnology 16(2): 277-285.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E. and J.R. Davenport. 2005.  Effects of light, temperature, defoliation and fruiting on carbon assimilation and partitioning in potted cranberry.  HortScience 40(6): 1699-1704.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J.L. Robidoux, W.R. Autio, and C.C. Neto. 2005. Timing of partial defoliation affects carbohydrate concentration of vegetative tissues and concentration of phenolics in berries of potted ‘De Chaunac’ (Vitis sp.) grapevines.  Can. J. Plant Sci. 85(3): 703-708.

Botelho, M.R. and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2005. High dissolved oxygen concentration of floodwater reduces carbohydrate concentration of cranberry uprights during flooding.  HortScience 40(3): 569-573. 

Vanden Heuvel, J.E. and J.A. Sullivan.  2005. The effect of V-trellising on primocane-fruiting raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.).  Small Fruits Rev. 4(3): 109-116.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J.T.A. Proctor, J.A. Sullivan, and K.H. Fisher. 2004. Influence of training/trellising system and rootstock selection on productivity and fruit composition of Chardonnay and Cabernet franc grapevines in Ontario, Canada.  Amer. J. Enol. Viticult. 55(3): 253-264.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., K.H. Fisher, J.T.A. Proctor and J. A. Sullivan. 2004.  Shading affects morphology,       dry-matter partitioning, and photosynthetic response of greenhouse-grown Chardonnay grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.).  HortScience 39(1):65-70.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., E.D. Leonardos, K.H. Fisher, J.T.A. Proctor, and J.A. Sullivan.  2002.  Translocation     and partitioning patterns of 14C photoassimilate from light- and shade-adapted shoots in greenhouse-grown Chardonnay grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.).  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127(6):912-918.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J. A. Sullivan, and J.T.A. Proctor. 2000.  Trellising system and cane density affect yield and fruit quality of red raspberry. HortScience 35(7): 1215-1219.

Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J. A. Sullivan, and J.T.A. Proctor. 2000. Cane stabilization improves yield in red raspberry. HortScience 35(2): 181-183.

email Justine

Amber Awad
Research Technician

Amber graduated from UMass-Dartmouth with a BS in Biological Sciences. She is employed by UMass-Dartmouth and has been working in the Physiology Lab since May of 2003.

Amber's responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day management of all physiology projects at the station, supervising summer students and hourly help, as well as operation and maintenance of the HPLC system.

Michelle Botelho
Research Technician

Michelle received her BS from the UMass Dartmouth in Biological Sciences in 2002, and then completed her MS in 2005 here in the Environmental Physiology Lab. Michelle’s research focused on the effect of flooding on the carbohydrate balance and yield potential of cranberry vines.

Following her MS, Michelle stayed on at the lab in the role of Research Technician, where she manages our portion of the projects related to the CAR grant.

Piero Spada
MS Student

Piero joined the lab in September 2005 as an MS student, after receiving his BS from the University of Wisconsin Madison earlier that year. Piero’s research is focused on how environmental variables affect development of phenolic compounds in wine grapes, and is funded by the MA Center for Agriculture.

Brett Suhayda
MS Student

Brett graduated from Lawrence University (Wisconsin) in 2005, and joined the lab in September 2005 as a MS student. Brett’s research investigates the effects of pruning and sanding on the productivity of cranberry vines, a project which is funded by SARE.