Avocado and Quinoa
Dr. Lior Rubinovich is a researcher specializing in horticultural physiology and crop development, with a primary focus on avocado. His research addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing avocado orchards, particularly frost sensitivity and yield instability. Dr. Rubinovich studies the physiological mechanisms underlying frost tolerance and susceptibility in avocado, while developing practical frost mitigation strategies and frost-tolerant plant material. His work also includes the development of avocado tissue culture techniques and the breeding of new, high-quality avocado varieties with improved yield and reduced alternate bearing. In addition, Dr. Rubinovich leads research on the adaptation of quinoa as a new field crop in Israel, contributing to agricultural diversification and climate resilience.
Positions Held and Academic Status:
2024- present: Promoted to Senior Lecturer at Tel-Hai College
2024- present: Promoted to rank A (equivalent to "Associate Professor ") at Migal/Northern R&D
2022- present: Member of the limited management at Migal-Northern Agriculture R&D
2022- present: Scientific consultant and partner, BesTree LTD, Israel
2018- 2022: Co-founder and acting director, AgroCulture LTD, Israel
2019- 2024: Promoted to rank B (equivalent to "Senior Lecturer") at Migal-Northern R&D
2016 - 2019: Research Scientist (P.I.) at Migal-Northern Agriculture R&D
University Education and Additional Training:
2004 – 2006 B.Sc. in Plant Sciences (graduated with excellence) at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
2007 – 2008 M.Sc. in Biotechnology at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Title of thesis: (moved on to the direct track to Ph.D.); Supervision by: Prof David Weiss
2008– 2013 PhD in Plant Sciences (direct track) at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Title of thesis: “The role of GASA proteins in gibberellin responses and redox regulation”; Supervision by: Prof David Weiss
2013 – 2015 Postdoctoral position at Migal Research Institute at Prof Rachel Amir's lab. Research subject: Establishment of Punica granatum L. peel cell culture for the production of bioactive compounds
Current Projects
Selected research objectives:
- Improving frost tolerance in Avocado orchards using frost mitigation techniques.
- Identifying the physiological factors involved in frost tolerance and sensitivity in Avocado.
- Development of frost-tolerant Avocado plants.
- Development of Avocado tissue culture.
- Development of new high-quality Avocado varieties.
- Improving yield and lowering alternate bearing in Avocado.
- Development of Quinoa as a new field crop in Israel.