Dr. Bruce
Carle works in watermelon and winter squash, handles administrative duties
and research budgeting for Hollar Seeds. Bruce did undergraduate studies in
biology at Dickenson College and received his Ph.D. in 1993 from the
University of New Hampshire. Dr. Carle has 21 years of cucurbit
breeding work
Dr. Qi Zhang
is the Hollar Seeds specialist in summer squash, pumpkin and
cucumber.
His Ph.D. in plant breeding is from Oregon State University in 1992. Qi's
(pronounced "chee") education focused on vegetable genetics,
statistics and seed production. Several of his items have been sent around the world to test
adaptability, the last stage before commercialization.
Dr. Xuemei Zhang
(no relation to Qi) comes to us from the University
of Kentucky where she completed her Ph.D. in 1999 with straight A's. Xuemei
(pronounced "shoe may") is improving melon and watermelon. Quality
improvement and disease resistance are her goals, whether in new varieties or
new hybrids.
The breeders are supported by a group of technicians so that pathological testing, hand pollinations and cultural care of plants is
all on the highest professional level. Other team members are Susan DeHerrera and Enda Yu. They help with pollination and cultural
care in our three state of the art greenhouses. Working year round, we have
three plant generations per year. Each generation brings better products to
improve farmer's yields around the globe.