Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences

1. The grasses of Barbados and other islands of the Eastern Caribbean
2. Ecophysiology, agronomy and desirable characteristics of sport turf grasses
3. Ideal species composition and percentage cover for various sports fields
4. Turf characteristics of sports fields in response to type and intensity of use
5. Use of remote sensing and GIS in the study and management of sports fields

Current projects:

1. Taxonomy, identification and sports-related characteristics of the grasses of Barbados

2. Analysis of grass communities on selected sports fields in Barbados (with Prof. Atherton)

3. A critical review of sports turf management practices on three contrasting sites (with Prof. Atherton)

4. Design and construction of a turf grass database collating biological, agronomic and sports characteristics (with Dr Chinnery)

5. Investigation of ethylene as a regulator or at least an indicator of stress tolerance in a selected sports turf grass

Selected Publications:

Lopez, F.B., 2001. Relationships between sugar production, rainfall and froghopper damage in Trinidad. Proceedings of the XXVII West Indies Sugar Technologist Conference, (CD-ROM), 23-27 April 2001, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

Garcia, G. and Lopez, F.B. 2001 (Distance Course Writers). Technology and Management of Tropical Crop & Livestock Production Systems. University Certificate Programme in Agriculture, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

Lopez, F.B. and Bridgemohan, P. 2000. Grapevine weed (Cissus verticillata L.) control in citrus. Technical Report no. 34 (1996-97) pages 148-151, Caroni Research Station, Trinidad.

Lopez, F.B.  1998. Testing herbicides for late post-emergence control of specific weeds in sugarcane. Technical Report no. 33 (1995-96) pages 50-53, Caroni Research Station, Trinidad.

Lopez, F.B. and Mason, G. F. 1998.  Interactions between crop variety and pre-emergence herbicide in sugarcane cultivation. Technical Report no. 33 (1995-96) pages 45-49, Caroni Research Station, Trinidad.

Lopez, F.B.  1997.  Preliminary evaluation of Isoxaflutole as a pre-emergence herbicide for sugarcane cultivation in Trinidad.  In Proceedings of the West Indies Sugar Technologists 26^th Conference, Guyana, 22-26 September 1997.  pp. 155-163.

Lopez, F.B., Chauhan, Y.S. and Johansen, C.  1997.  Effects of timing of drought stress on leaf area development and canopy light interception of short-duration pigeonpea. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 178: 1-7.

Lopez, F.B. and Mason, G.F.  1997.  Herbicide ´ Variety interactive effect on weed control and growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. In Proceedings of the West Indies Sugar Technologists 26^th Conference, Guyana, 22-26 September 1997.  Pp. 130-138.

Lopez, F.B., Johansen, C. and Chauhan, Y.S.  1996.  Effects of timing of drought stress on phenology, yield and yield components of short-duration pigeonpea.  Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 177: 311-320.

Lopez, F.B., Chauhan, Y.S. and Johansen, C.  1996. Effects of timing of drought stress on abscission and dry matter partitioning of short-duration pigeonpea.  Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 177: 327-338.

Galyuon, I.K.A., McDavid, C.R., Lopez, F.B. and Spence, J.A.  1996. The effect of irradiance level on cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.):  II. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence.  Tropical Agriculture 73: 29-33.

Antwi, A., Lopez, F.B., McDavid, C.R. and Spence, J.A. 1994.  Leaf morphology and drought tolerance in Cocoa.  Proceedings of the 11th International Cocoa Research Conference, 18-24 July 1993, Cote d'Ivoire.  Pp. 617-623.

Lopez, F.B., Johansen, C. and Chauhan, Y.S.  1994.  Limitations to seed yield in short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under water stress.  Field Crops Research 36: 96-102.

Lopez, F.B. and Nobel, P.S.  1991.  Root hydraulic conductivity of two cactus species in relation to root age, temperature and soil water status.  Journal of Experimental Botany 42: 143-149.

Nobel, P.S., Lopez, F.B. and Alm, D.M. 1991.  Water uptake and respiration of root systems of two cacti: observations and predictions based on individual roots.  Journal of Experimental Botany 42: 1215-1223.

Lopez, F.B., Setter, T.L. and McDavid, C.R.  1988.  Photosynthesis and water vapor exchange of pigeonpea leaves in response to water deficit and recovery.  Crop Science 28: 141-145.

Lopez, F.B., Setter, T.L. and McDavid, C.R.  1987.  Carbon dioxide and light responses of photosynthesis in cowpea and pigeonpea during water deficit and recovery.  Plant Physiology 85: 990-995.

Setter, T.L., McDavid, C.R. and Lopez, F.B.  1984.  Photosynthate partitioning in pigeonpea in response to defoliation and shading.  Crop Science 24: 221-224.