Maria Estrada

Maria Estrada serves as a Lecturer in the Plant Science department at the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, California State University, Fresno, where she contributes to agricultural education and research initiatives.

Education:

• B.S. from University of the Philippines
• M.S. from Michigan State University

Research Focus: Dr. Estrada specializes in plant biotechnology with emphasis on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation techniques. Her work develops drought-tolerant lowland rice varieties through genetic modification and creates transgenic potato plants resistant to potato tuber worm by integrating natural resistance mechanisms with engineered Bt-cry1Ac gene expression. This research advances sustainable crop protection strategies while reducing chemical pesticide dependence.

Teaching Responsibilities: She instructs undergraduate courses including Introduction to Crop Science (PLANT 20), Introduction to Biometrics (PLANT 99), Food, Society, and Environment (PLANT 105), and Crop Improvement (PLANT 150), covering foundational and advanced agricultural science concepts.