Melba Salazar-Gutierrez

DEGREES EARNED

• 2006 Ph.D. Agricultural Sciences – Plant Physiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• 1996 M.S. Statistics (Specialist), Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• 1993 B.S. Education – Biology, Universidad del Cauca- Colombia

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2021–Present – Assistant Professor Specialty Crop Physiologist, Auburn University, Horticulture Department
• 2020 – Program Modeler and Analysis Scientist. Department of Ecology, Washington State.
• 2013–2020 – Assistant Research Professor, Washington State University, Department of Biological Systems Engineering- AgWeatherNet Program. Prosser, WA.
• 2016–2018 – Interim leader of the AWN Research program, Washington State University.
• 2012–2013 – Research Associate, AWN Research program, Washington State University.
• 2010–2011 – Postdoctoral Research Associate, AWN Research program, Washington State University.
• 2006–2010 – Head of Mathematics and Applied Statistics and Associate Professor, Universidad de la Sabana, Engineering School, Colombia.
• 2008–2009 – Postdoctoral Research Associate (Sabbatical). The University of Georgia, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Griffin, GA.
• 2004–2005 – Visiting Research Scientist University of Florida, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Gainesville, FL.
• 2001–2002 – Statistics Coordinator – Lecturer Professor in Statistics, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Departamento de Planeación, Colombia.
• 1999–2000 – Research Assistant, IACR-Rothamsted Plant Pathology and Biochemistry Department, Harpenden. England, UK.
• 1997–1999 – Lecturer Professor in Applied Statistics, Universidad de Caldas, Medicine, and Biology School, Colombia.
• 1997–1999 – Lecturer Professor in Applied Statistics, Universidad Católica de Manizales, Microbiology-Bacteriology Program, Colombia.
• 1991–1995 – Research Associate, The National Coffee Federation Research Center Cenicafé.

HONORS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• 2024  Recognition and Appreciation from USDA-NIFA for service AFRI Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing Technologies Reviewer Panel, A1364 held on January 08-12, 2024.
• 2023  Recognition and Appreciation from USDA-NIFA for service AFRI SBIR 8.13 Plant Production and Protection (Engineering) program Reviewer Panel Fiscal Year 2023. held on November 28 through December 1, 2023.
• 2022  Recognition and Appreciation from USDA-NIFA for service AFRI Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing Technologies Reviewer Panel, A1364 Fiscal Year 2022- held on January 09-13, 2023.
• 2022  Auburn University Graduate Faculty Level 2 (November 2022).
• 2021  Selected as a New Faculty Scholar. Acceptance as a member of the 2021-2022 New Faculty Scholar Program offered through the Biggio Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.
• 2014  Mentor Golden Opportunity Scholar American Society of Agronomy. With Student: Nicholas Meier. Univ. of Missouri.
• 2010  Mentor of the Apprenticeship Program. Young Scholar Program. The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science. Certificate of Recognition.
• 2009  Mentor of the Apprenticeship Program. Young Scholar Program. The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science. Certificate of Recognition.
• 2009  Best presentation award at the III Horticultural Congress Sociedad Colombiana de Horticultura.
• 2004-2006 Doctoral Program Scholarship. The Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation- Colciencias, Colombia.
• 1993-1995 Graduate Student, Scholarship. The Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation- Colciencias, Colombia and the Scientific Research Program of the National Coffee Federation of Colombia – Cenicafé.
• 1991-1993 Undergraduate Student. The Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation- Colciencias, Colombia and the Scientific Research Program of the National Coffee Federation of Colombia – Cenicafé.

HONORS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS SUPERVISED BY DR. SALAZAR

• 2023  First Place Graduate competition – Nelda Hernandez graduate student supervised by Dr. Salazar, received this award with the presentation Titled” Hydroponics as an Alternative Production System for Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) in Alabama”. At Virginia Tech – during the 2nd Annual Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia. September 19-20, 2023.
• 2023  Second place award at the Norman Childers M.S. Graduate student paper competition- the candidate is in Jarret’s Price committee. Southern Region ASHS Annual Meeting, February 2023, Oklahoma City, OK.
• 2022  Graduate Student Award, College of Agriculture – Category College and School Awards. Auburn Research Student Symposium. Ali Zimeri. A graduate student supervised by the candidate received this award in Spring 2022 with a presentation Titled “Comparing three Southern high bush blueberry cultivars grown in containers”.
• 2022  First Place Graduate Research Poster Showcase.  Nelda Hernandez. Graduate student supervised by the candidate, received this award with the presentation Titled “Performance of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa ‘Chandler’) during the Fruiting Season under Annual Hill Plasticulture”, during fall 2022.
• 2020  Best Paper Presented Award to the research group Rakesh Ranjan, Rajeev Sinha, Lav R. Khot, R. Troy Peters, Melba R. Salazar-Gutierrez, “Internet of Things enabled crop physiology sensing system for abiotic crop stress management in apple and sweet cherry”. IEEE MetroAgriFor 2020.  November 09, 2020

Awards in previous years

• 2017  Second place poster competition Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. with Student: Corydon Funk. Kennewick, WA.
• 2016  First place poster competition International Society for Horticultural Science, with Student: Hector Camargo presented in Hortimodel 2016, Avignon, France.
• 2016  Honorable Mention in the Organismal, Population, Ecological, and Evolutionary Biology category SURCA, Washington State University. with Student: Corydon Funk.
• 2016  Third Place in the poster competition Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. with Student: Corydon Funk.
• 2012 Second place poster competition Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. with Student: Diana Zapata.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• 2016-Present International Society for Horticultural Science – ISHS
• 2021-Present American Society of Horticultural Science – ASHS
• 2021-Present Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science. ASHS
• 2021-Present American Pomological Society
• 2021-Present Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
• 2021-Present North American Strawberry Growers Association
• 2021-Present Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium
• 2012-2019 Member, Chair, Fruit Section, Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)
• 2012-2019 Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
• 2012-2019 American Society of Agronomy (ASA)

RESEARCH

My research program focuses on the challenges and opportunities to produce specialty fruit crops in protected environments and out-of-door production systems. As a crop physiologist and crop modeler, I am interested in studying the whole plant physiology and modeling the responses to environmental stress, climate variability, climate change, using alternative management systems, designed to optimize and maximize plant productivity, fruit quality, and on-farm-efficiency while taking care of the environment in a sustainable manner.
My main goal at Auburn University is to develop tools and do research that addresses farmers and industry needs. A key element of my program is the combination of physiological knowledge with modeling approaches.

• HORT 3000 Growth and Development of Horticultural Plants
• HORT 7960 Special Problems – Directed studies
• HORT 7970 Special Topics in Horticulture – Advanced Growth and Development of Horticultural Plants
• HORT 7970 Special Topics in Horticulture – Protected Cultivation

RECENT OR SELECT PUBLICATIONS

1. Cifuentes-Carvajal, A.*; Chaves-Córdoba, B; Vinson, E.; Coneva, E, D.; Chávez, D. and Salazar-Gutiérrez, M^, 2024. Predicting floral bud progression for three peach cultivars. Agronomy , 2024, 14, 240. Total 19 pages. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020240
2. Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R. & Hooper, Chelsy. 2023. Using Digital Tools and Strategic Assignments: A Methodological Approach to Enhance Learning. Using Digital tools and Strategic Assignments: A Methodological Approach to Enhance Learning Transformative Dialogues: Teaching and Learning Journal Status of publication: In revision
3. Nelda Hernández-Martínez, Bernardo Chaves-Cordoba, Daniel E. Wells, Wheeler G. Foshee, Amanda L. McWhirt & Melba R. Salazar-Gutierrez * 2023. Model development of the phenological cycle from flower to fruit of Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) Agronomy, 13(10), 2489 https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102489
4. Cifuentes- Carvajal, A. Chaves-Cordoba Bernardo; Vinson, E., Coneva, E. D., Chavez, D., & Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R.* 2023. Modeling the Budbreak in Peaches: A Basic Approach Using Chill and Heat Accumulation. Agronomy, 13(9), 2422. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092422
5. Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R., Lawrence, K., Coneva, E. D. & Chaves-Cordoba, B. 2023. Photosynthetic Response of Blueberries Grown in Containers. Plants, 12(18), 3272. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183272
6. Hernández-Martínez, N. R., Blanchard, C., Wells, D., Salazar-Gutiérrez. M. R. 2023. Current State and Future Perspectives of Commercial Strawberry Production: A review. Scientia Horticulturae Vol 312, 2023, 111893, ISSN 0304-4238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.111893.
7. Paranhos, J.G., W. Foshee, T. Coolong, B. Heyes, M. Salazar-Gutierrez, K. Kesheimer, A.L.B.R. da Silva. 2023. Characterization of sweet corn production in subtropical environmental conditions. Agriculture, 13: 1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061156.
8. Wang, Ying-Tsui., Pallas, Benoit., Salazar-Gutierrez, Melba R., Costes, Evelyne, and Hoogenboom, Gerrit. 2020. A Comparative Study on the Branching Pattern of Monocyclic and Bicyclic Shoots of Apple cv. “Fuji” Frontiers in Plant Science, 2020, Vol.11, p.571918-571918. Front. Plant Sci., 31 August 2020. Sec. Plant Biophysics and Modeling Volume 11 – 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.571918
9. Andrés Javier Peña Quiñones, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Melba Ruth Salazar Gutiérrez, Claudio Stöckle, Markus Keller. 2020. Comparison of air temperature measured in a vineyard canopy and at a standard weather station. PLoS ONE 15(6): e0234436. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234436
10. Ranjana, R. , Khot, L.A., Peters, T.R., Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R. Shic, G. 2020. In-field crop physiology sensing aided real-time apple fruit surface temperature monitoring for sunburn prediction. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Research Paper | COMPAG_2020_790. Sent to Production 03 Jun 2020.
11. Valencia, A., J.A., Soto, G.A., Castaño, V, G.J., Villa, Vallejo E., L.F., Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R. Morphometric identification of the sugarcane stem borers Diatraea Saccharalis and Diatraea Busckella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) In Colombia. Bulletin of Entomological Research. Pre-print BioRxiv Jan 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/385955
12. Valencia, A., J.A., Soto, G.A., Castaño, V, G.J., Villa, Vallejo E., L.F., Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R. Population dynamics of diatraea spp. Under different climate offer conditions in Colombia. Bulletin of Entomological Research. Pre-print BioRxiv Jan 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.20.957977
13. Salazar-Gutierrez, M. and Chaves-Cordoba, B. Modeling Approach for Cold Hardiness Estimation on Cherries. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 287, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.107946
14. Camargo-Alvarez, H., Salazar-Gutierrez, M., Keller, M. Hoogenboom, G. 2020. Modeling the effect of temperature on bud dormancy of grapevines. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 280, (2020) https://doi.org/107782. 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.107782.
15. Peña Q., A.J., Salazar Gutierrez, M.R., Hoogenboom, G. 2020. A Methodological Approach to Determine Flower Bud Vulnerability to Low Temperatures for Deciduous Crops in Early Spring Using Degree Days. HORTSCIENCE • https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14689-19 Published online 25 March 2020.
16. Peña Q., A.J., Keller M., Salazar Gutierrez, M.R., Knot, L. Hoogenboom G. 2019. Comparison between grapevine tissue temperature and air temperature. Scientia Horticulturae, Volume 247, Pages 407-420.
17. Peña Q., A.J., Chaves, B., Salazar Gutierrez, M.R., Keller M., and Hoogenboom G. 2019. Radius of influence of air temperature from automated weather stations installed in complex terrain. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2717-9 Volume 137, pages 1957–1973 (2019)
18. Camargo Alvarez, H., Salazar Gutiérrez, M., Zapata, D., Keller, M and Hoogenboom, G. 2018. Time-to-event analysis to evaluate dormancy status of single-bud cuttings: An example for grapevines. Plant Methods October 14:98. Available online: https://plantmethods.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s13007-018-0361-0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-018-0361-0
19. Camargo, H., Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R., Chaves, B. and Hoogenboom G. 2018. Modeling pollen tube growth of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apples. Scientia Horticulturae 240. 125-132
20. Valencia, A., J.A., Soto, G.A., Castaño, V, G.J., Villa, Vallejo E., L.F., Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R. 2018. Morphometric Identification of Stem Borers Diatraea Saccharalis and Diatraea Busckella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Sugarcane Crops (Saccharum officinarum) in Caldas Department, Colombia. PlosOne. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1101/385955
21. Camargo, Hector & Salazar-Gutierrez, Melba Ruth & Zapata, D.M. & Hoogenboom, Gerrit. 2017. Predicting the dormancy and bud break dates for grapevines. Acta Horticulturae. 153-160. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1182.18.
22. Chaves, B., Salazar, M.R., Schmidt, T., Dasgupta, J and Hoogenboom, G. 2017. Modeling apple bloom phenology. Acta Horticulturae. 1160. 201-206.
23. Chaves, B., Salazar, M.R., Schmidt, T., Dasgupta, J and Hoogenboom, G. 2017. Modeling fruit growth of apple. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1160. 335-340.
24. Zapata D.M., Salazar-Gutierrez, M., Chaves B., Keller M., and Hoogenboom G. 2017. Predicting Key Phenological Stages for 17 Grapevine Cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.). Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 68 (1): 60-68.
25. Salazar, M.R., Chaves, B., Hoogenboom, G. 2016. The freezing tolerance of apples flower buds. Scientia Hort. 198: 344–351.
26. Whiting, M.D., Salazar, M.R., Hoogenboom, G. 2015. Development of Bloom Phenology Models for Tree Fruits. Acta Hort. 1068: 107-112.
27. Zapata D.M., *Salazar M., Chaves B., Keller M., and Hoogenboom G. 2015. Estimation of the base temperature and growth phase duration in terms of thermal time for four grapevine cultivars. Int. Jour. Biometeorol. 59: 1771. *Corresponding author.
28. Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R., Chaves, B. Anothai, J. Whiting, M., Hoogenboom, G., 2014. Variation in cold hardiness of sweet cherry flower buds through different phenological stages. Scientia Hort. 172: 161-167.
29. Salazar-Gutierrez, M.R., Johnson, J., Chaves, B., Hoogenboom, G. 2013. Relationship of Base Temperature to Development of Winter Wheat in the Southeastern US. The Int. Jour. of Plant Product. 7 (4): 741-762.
30. Salazar, M.R., Hook. J. E., Garcia y Garcia, A., Paz, J.O., Chaves, B., Hoogenboom, G. 2012. Estimating Irrigation Water Use for Maize in the Southeastern USA: A Modeling Approach” Agr. Water Manage. 107:104-111.
31. López. M.A., Chaves, B., Flórez, R. V. J. Salazar, M. R. 2010. Modelo de aparición de nudos en clavel (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. Delphi cultivado en sustratos. Node appearance model for substrate grown carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. Delphi. Agronomía Colombiana. 28(1): 47-54.
32. Salazar, M.R., Jones, J.W., Chaves, B., Cooman, A., Fisher, G. 2008. Base temperature and simulation model for nodes appearance in Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), Revista Brasil. de Frutic. 30 (4): 862-867.
33. Pulido, S., Bojaca, C., Salazar, M.R., Chaves, B. 2008. Node appearance model for Lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) in the high altitude tropics. Biosyst. Engineering. 101(4): 383-387.
34. Pulido, S., Bojaca, C., Salazar, M.R., Chaves, B. 2008. Desarrollo de un modelo fenológico de lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam,): estimación de la temperatura base para la aparición de nudos. Revista de la Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano. Vol 1 (7). ISSN 2027‐0291.
35. Carranza, C., Lanchero, O., Miranda, D., Salazar, M.R., Chaves, B. 2008. A simple simulation model of dry matter distribution in broccoli (Brassica sp.) variety Coronado and cabbage (Brassica oleracea) hybrid Delus cultivated in Bogotá plateau. Agronomía Colombiana 26, (1): 23-31.
36. Salazar, M.R., Jones, J.W., Chaves, B., Cooman, A. 2006. A model for the potential production and dry matter distribution of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.). Scientia Hort. 115 (2): 142-148.
37. Salazar, M.R., Jones, J.W., Chaves-Cordoba, B., Cooman, A. 2006. A Simple Phenological and Potential Production Model for Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L). Acta Hort. 718: 105-112.
38. Salazar, G.M.R., Lopez F. Y., Mosquera S. L. P., Riaño, H.N.M., Arcila, P.J. 1997. Characterization of photosynthetic activity of coffee (Coffea sp) fruits. Supplement of plant physiology. 14 (3):1109.
39. Salazar, G.M. R., Chaves C.B., Riaño, H.N.M., Arcila, P.J., Jaramillo, R.A. 1994. Crecimiento del fruto de café C arabica L. Cenicafé (Chinchiná). Revista Cenicafe. 45 (2): 41-50.
40. Salazar, G.M. R., Riaño, H.N.M., Arcila, P.J., Ponce, D.C.A. 1994. Estudio morfológico, anatómico y ultraestructural del fruto de café C arabica L. Cenicafé (Chinchiná). Revista Cenicafe. 45 (3):93-104.
41. Salazar, G.M. R., Arcila, P.J., Riaño, H.N.M., Bustillo, P.A.E. 1993. Crecimiento y desarrollo del fruto de café y su relación con la broca. Cenicafé (Chinchiná). Avance Técnico. Nº 194 Septiembre.
42. Salazar, G.M.R., Arcila, P.J., Riaño, H.N.M., Bustillo, P.A.E. 1994. Crecimiento y desarrollo del fruto de café y su relación con la broca. Revista Asocia. 2 (3).