Bananas and Mangoes
Dr. Navot Galpaz is a leading expert in plant breeding and genetics, whose research advances fruit crop production with a strong focus on bananas and mangoes. Through innovative breeding and agrotechnical programs, his work addresses key challenges facing banana plantations, including soil fatigue, yield decline, excessive plant height, and vulnerability to environmental stress. Dr. Galpaz investigates the genetic basis of tolerance to Panama Disease (TR4), develops strategies to improve frost resilience through net-house technologies, and leads breeding efforts for banana varieties better suited to sub-tropical conditions, with enhanced productivity and fruit quality. In parallel, his research also explores replant diseases in apple orchards, aiming to identify tolerant rootstocks adapted to local growing conditions. His work is conducted at MIGAL, in collaboration with the Jordan Valley Banana Research Station and research sites across the Western Galilee, bridging fundamental genetics with practical solutions for growers.
Education
- 1999 - 2001 - B.Sc. in Biology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
- 2001 – 2003- M.Sc. in Genetics at the Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Title of thesis: Generation of a saturated tomato color mutant collection and cloning of the tomato color mutants white-flower and high-pigment 3, to study the genetic regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants. Supervision by: Prof. Joseph Hirschberg
- 2003 – 2008 -Ph.D. in Genetics at the Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Title of thesis: Generation of a saturated tomato color mutant collection and cloning of the tomato color mutants white-flower and high-pigment 3, to study the genetic regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants. Supervision by: Prof. Joseph Hirschberg
- 2008 – 2010 Postdoctoral position at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany. with Dr. Matthieu Reymond Title of research program: Using quantitative genetics and natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana to study salt tolerance in plants.
- 2012-2013 Postdoctoral position at the institute of Plant Sciences, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel. with Dr. Nurit Katzir Title of research program: Studying the genetic, molecular and physiological basis of fruit development and fruit quality traits in melon.
Work Experience
- 2014- present : Banana and mango researcher at the Northern R & D.
Current Projects
1. Identifying the causative factors and developing solutions to “soil fatigue” and yield loss in the banana plantations.
2. Lowering banana plantation height by agrotechnical and genetic means.
3. Pinpointing the genetic basis of Panama Disease (TR4) tolerance in bananas.
4. Improving frost tolerance in banana plantations by net house improvement.
5. Breeding banana varieties with improved performance under sub-tropical conditions. 6. Introduction of new banana varieties with improved fruit quality.
7. Identifying the factors underlying Apple Replant Disease, evaluation and development of apple rootstocks tolerant to the phenomena in the local conditions.