Kaan Kurtural

Dr. Kaan Kurtural joined the department November 2015 as a new Cooperative Extension Specialist in Viticulture. Dr. Kurtural’s research focuses on three main parts with short and long-term outcomes:

• improving production efficiency in vineyards by applying principles of canopy and crop load management using vineyard mechanization and applied water amounts
• identifying quality improvement traits in berry composition by translating fundamental research into applied production practices in vineyards;
• evaluating alternative methods of control invasive species in vineyards.

Selected Publications

• M.W. Fidelibus, S. Vasquez and S.K. Kurtural. 2016. Late season plastic covers affect canopy,microclimate and fruit quality of Autumn King and Red Globe table grapes. HortTechnology. (in press).
• C.C. Nelson, Y. Zhang, J.A. Kennedy and S.K. Kurtural. 2016. Applied water and rootstocks affect productivity and anthocyanin composition of Zinfandel in central California. Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 67:1. (in press)
• M. G. Cook, Y. Zhang, C. Nelson, G. Gambetta, J.A. Kennedy and S.K. Kurtural. 2015. Anthocyanin composition of Merlot is ameliorated by light microclimate and irrigation in central California. Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 66:3 266-278
• P. Wilson, D. Archbold, J. Masabni and SK. Kurtural, 2014. Balanced cropping of Vidal blanc (Vitis spp.) improves primary bud cold hardiness and maintains yield and berry composition in warm climate. HortScience 49: 474-480.
• SK. Kurtural, LF. Wessner, G Dervishian, 2013. Vegetative Compensation Response of a Procumbent Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Cultivar in Response to Mechanical Canopy Management HortScience 43:1-8 (cover page article)