Robert E. Paull

Robert E. Paull serves as Professor in the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Science within the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where he directs research on tropical fruit physiology and postharvest systems. His work integrates genomic approaches with practical field applications to improve quality and reduce losses in economically vital crops across Pacific and Southeast Asian agricultural systems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, University of California, Berkeley
• B.Sc. in Agronomy, University of Sydney, Australia

Research Focus: Dr. Paull's program spans basic plant physiology to applied postharvest technology, specializing in pineapple flowering regulation, papaya ripening genetics, and taro allergen identification. His current projects include transcriptome analysis of pineapple flesh disorders, slow-ripening papaya mutants, and preharvest management for pineapple translucency reduction. The research uniquely combines genomic investigations (papaya, pineapple, Asian Pear, Sacred Lotus) with industry-collaborative field trials to develop practical solutions for tropical crop production.

Analysis of recent publications reveals strong emphasis on molecular mechanisms of fruit development (40% of articles), postharvest intervention technologies (35%), and species-specific horticultural guides (25%). The work demonstrates consistent progression from fundamental physiology toward genomic applications and practical industry solutions, particularly for pineapple and breadfruit systems.

Awards and Recognition:

• International Society for Horticultural Science Fellow (2014)
• American Society for Horticultural Science Fellow (2014)
• USDA Superior Service Honor Award (1992)
• CTAHR Excellence in Research Awards (2008, 2019)
• Lao Recognition for Global Postharvest Contributions (2013)

Dr. Paull actively mentors graduate students as designated Graduate Faculty and serves on editorial boards for Scientia Horticulturae (since 1990) and Tropical Plant Biology (since 2006). His research receives direct industry support through partnerships with growers, shippers, and marketers who implement field trials and adopt developed protocols. Current grant activities focus on genomic solutions for seasonal fruit disorders and allergen reduction in staple crops.

Collaborative networks include the USDA-ARS, Southeast Asian agricultural institutes, and Hawaiian commodity groups, with field research conducted through the university's agricultural extension system and industry demonstration plots across tropical growing regions.