Donald C. Elfving
Scientist/ Professor
(WSU faculty member since 1997)
Areas of Interest
Plant bioregulator effects on growth, development, flowering, fruiting, crop load and fruit quality in apple, pear and sweet cherry production systems.
For more information, go to the PGR website.
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Plant Physiology, University of California, Riverside
- M.S., Horticulture, University of California, Davis
- B.S., Botany, University of California, Davis
Work Experience
- 1997-present
Horticulturist and Professor, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA. - 1993-1997
Horticulturist and Superintendent, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA. - 1991-1993
Manager, Research Programs, Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, Vineland Station, Ontario - 1989-1991
Research Scientist 5, Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, Simcoe, Ontario - 1979-1989
Research Scientist 4, Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, Simcoe, Ontario - 1977-1979
Associate Professor of Pomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (with tenure) - 1972-1977
Assistant Professor of Pomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Honors and Awards
- U.P. Hedrick Second Place award for review paper “Crop Load Management of Apple via Induced Plant Stress” authored by T. R. Schmidt and D. C. Elfving, American Pomological Society (2007)
- Fellow, American Society for Horticultural Science (2005)
- Jerome R. Hull Distinguished Lecturer, Michigan State Horticultural Society, 130th Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI. (2000)
- Robert F. Carlson Distinguished Lecturer, International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association 36th Annual Meeting, Wenatchee, WA. (1993)
- U.P. Hedrick First Place Award for review paper “The History of the ‘Empire’ Apple”, authored by M. Derkacz, D.C. Elfving and C.G. Forshey, American Pomological Society. (1992)
- Invited-Speaker Travel Grant, American Society for Horticultural Science, for 23rd International Horticultural Congress, Florence, Italy. (1990)
Classes Currently Taught
Selected Publications
- Schmidt, T.R., D.C. Elfving, J.R. McFerson and M.D. Whiting. 2008. Gibberellic acid accelerates ‘Honeycrisp’, but not ‘Cameo’, apple fruit maturation. HortTechnology 18:39-44.
- Elfving, D.C., S.R. Drake, A.N. Reed and D.B. Visser. 2007. Preharvest applications of sprayable 1-methylcyclopropene in the orchard for management of apple harvest and postharvest condition. HortScience 42:1192-1199.
- Elfving, D.C. and D.B. Visser. 2007. Improving the efficacy of cytokinin applications for stimulation of lateral branch development in young sweet cherry trees in the orchard. HortScience 42:251-256.
- Elfving, D.C. and D.B. Visser. 2006. Cyclanilide induces lateral branching in sweet cherry trees. HortScience 41:149-153.
- Elfving, D.C. and D.B. Visser. 2006. Timing cyclanilide and cytokinin applications in the nursery to obtain desired lateral branch height in apple and sweet cherry trees. HortScience 41:1238-1242.
- Lenahan, O., M.D. Whiting and D.C. Elfving. 2006. Gibberellic acid inhibits floral bud induction and improves ‘Bing’ sweet cherry fruit quality. HortScience 41:654-659
- Elfving, D.C. and D.B. Visser. 2005. Cyclanilide induces lateral branching in apple trees. HortScience 40:119-122.
- Elfving, D.C. and R.A. Cline. 1993. Benzyladenine and other chemicals for thinning ‘Empire’ apple trees. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 118:593-598
- Forshey, C.G., D.C. Elfving and R.L. Stebbins. 1992. Training and pruning apple and pear trees. ASHS Press, American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA.
- Forshey, C.G. and D.C. Elfving. 1989. The relationship between vegetative growth and fruiting in apple trees. Chapt. 7, p. 229-287. In: J. Janick (ed.) Horticultural Reviews, Vol. 11. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
