People often ask me if agriculture could help improve livelihoods in Kashmir and how to improve agriculture in the region. My response is “Yes” for sure! Agriculture is critical for the region’s food and nutritional security and a strong economy. (1/7)

Today is 1 year since starting a most amazing 6 months, sabbatical along Silk Route, following the domestication path of apples!! We traveled extensively in Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (Almaty), Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Bukhara, & Samarkand), Pakistan, Georgia, Jordan, & Greece!

My explanation of randomness of declining apple trees after 7 years’ research: The decline is likely due to a weak root system or an imperfectly healed graft at the planting time. Though the tree initially grew well, abiotic stress & heavy crop load likely triggered its collapse.

A DEI question! How to address the exclusion of scientists from Global South in professional meetings held at expensive cities in North America & Europe? These conferences have prohibitive costs & visa restrictions, making participation impossible. GS has ~ 6 billion people.

Isn't it ironic that since 2004, I've had to kill approximately 30,000 to 35,000 apple trees with fire blight—to save them from fire blight!

This morning I spoke briefly to 980 CKNW radio station from Vancouver Canada about importance of breeding disease resistant #Apples. open.spotify.com/episode/2V2UKI…

Chai & cake rusks! My childhood memories are tied to these treats. Somehow I ended up gathering five different packet in my cupboard!

“All life evolves” such a powerful message! At the Field Museum, Chicago.

One year ago in hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia #Türkiye with family!

Now you can buy your citations to pad your Google Scholar 😠. The citation black market! nature.com/articles/d4158…

Enjoying last moments with these beautiful ruby-throated hummingbirds in Upstate NY before they start migrating south!

Could you please recommend plant genetics and genomics journals that have a robust peer-review process and offer low/realistic article APC? #PlantGenetics #AcademicPublishing

How are #Apples called in different languages? Urdu: سیب (Saib) Persian: سیب (Sib) Turkish: Elma French: Pomme Spanish: Manzana German: Apfel Swedish: Äpple Dutch: Appel Italian: Mela Russian: Yabloko

It is September, & fall is here in Upstate New York! This flowering apple is dreaming of another world! Let's daydream together!

Apple naming contest! Guess the names of these four apples & hopefully you’ll be munching on delicious apples whenever you wish!

Just created a graph to compare apple production in the United States & Türkiye (2016-2022). Data source: FAO What are the main reasons for reduced apple production in the US & increased production in Türkiye? Labor shortages, increased costs 🇺🇸 growing export market for 🇹🇷

This picture of nine #Apples shows the genetic & visual diversity shaped by domestication, selection & #PlantBreeding. From natural mutations to intentional breeding, these apples represent a range of origins, chance seedlings, intentionally bred cultivars & wild apple relatives.