last updated: 7 August 2001

Merestela, Tessie M.

A. CURRENT AFFILIATION:

Vice President for Planning and Development
Benguet State University
La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines 2601

B. SPECIALIZATION:

Agricultural Chemistry

C. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Postdoctoral Research:
NIAR, Tsukuba Science City, Japan (1999)
NODAI Research Institute, TUA, Japan (1997)

Graduate Studies:
Doctoral Degree (DAgr), The University of Tokyo, Japan (1989)
MS Soil Science, UP Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines (1979)

Undergraduate:
BS Agriculture (Soil Science), UP Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines (1975)

D. MEMBERSHIP IN HONOR SOCIETIES AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS:

• International Society for Asian Agricultural Scientists (ISAAS), Member of the Editorial Board
• Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture
• Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM), Inc.
• Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology (PSSST), President Northern Luzon Chapter
• Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP)
• Society for the Advancement of the Vegetable Industry (SAVI)
• The Philippine Association of Research Managers, Inc. (PHILARM)
• The Philippine Phytopathological Society, Inc. (PPS)
• Conservation Farming Movement (CFM)
• Philippine Association of Agricultural Educators (PASSAGE)
• Philippine Association of Japanese Ministry of Education Scholars (PHILAJAMES), President, Northern Luzon Chapter
• UPLB Alumni Association, Inc., Baguio-Benguet Chapter (UPLBAAIBBC)
  

E. Research

Biological Nitrogen fixation and Plant Nutrition

• Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean, garden pea, beans, rice bean, sitao and winged bean. Isolation of rhizobia from the host plant by trap host method and N2-fixation was measured by ARA. Leghemoglobin was isolated and characterized and the effects of rhizobial inoculation and pesticide application to N2-fixation were studied
• Diazotrophs were characterized in sweet potato by molecular methods (DNA finger printing and sequencing)
• Biology, culture and utilization of Azolla.
  Azolla technology dissemination was promoted also in the Cordillera Region
• NO₃ analysis in water by HPLC
• Vegetative terracing in Agroforestry areas (CAR)
  Quickway of identiying nutrient deficiencies in vegetables and other crops
• Studies on climatic and cultural factors of strawberry production
• Effects of potassium fertilizers and Kiku chemicals in corn, rice and tobacco