- Jose R. Velasco
Infobox Scientist
name = Jose R. Velasco
imagesize = 120px
caption =
birth_date = Birth date|1916|2|4|mf=y
birth_place =Imus, Cavite ,Philippines
death_date = death date and age|2007|1|24|1916|2|4|mf=y
death_place = Imus, Cavite
other_names =
known_for =National Scientist of the Philippines
field =chemistry andplant physiology Jose R. Velasco (
February 4 1916 —January 24 2007 ) was a Filipino plant physiologist and agriculturalchemist noted for his research on soil and plantnutrition and oncoconut diseases. In 1998, he was recognized as aNational Scientist of the Philippines .Early life and education
Velasco was born in
Imus, Cavite . After nearly flunking out of a vocational high school, he transferred to an agricultural high school (now theCentral Luzon State University ), where he graduated salutatorian. [Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 86] Velasco enrolled in what was then theUniversity of the Philippines College of Agriculture (now theUniversity of the Philippines, Los Baños ) in Laguna. He graduated at the top of his class in 1940 with a degree in Agriculture, major in Agriculture Chemistry.Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 87] Upon graduation, Velasco joined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there for the duration ofWorld War II , during which he endured a brief period of incarceration by the Japanese army. [Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 92] After the war, Velasco pursued graduate studies in theUnited States and obtained a Ph.D in plant physiology from theUniversity of California, Berkeley in 1949. He rejoined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there until 1967.Contributions to agricultural science
During
World War II , Velasco conducted research on thephotoperiodism of the rice plant. Among his findings, which were published only after the end of the war, was that the "Elon-elon" variety flowered during short days when there was less than 12 hours of light.Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 88]Velasco was also noted for his research on the physiology of the
coconut , a common crop in the Philippines. He studied the mineral nutrition of areas planted to coconut, the development and utilization of coconut products, and the nature and cause of cadang-cadang, a disease that plagued the crop of small coconut farmers throughout the country.Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 89] With respect to cadang-cadang, Velasco was skeptical of the still-prevalent view that the disease was viral in nature, and devoted considerable effort to prove his thesis that it was caused by an element in the soil that was toxic to the coconut plant.cite web| last = Carandang| first = Aristotle P.| title =National Scientist Jose R. Velasco passes away, 90| publisher = National Academy of Science and Technology|url =http://www.nast.dost.gov.ph/press%20release%20NS%20Velasco.htm| accessdate = 2007-12-30]Citations
In 1967, Velasco was appointed Commissioner of the National Institute of Science and Technology, a position he held for 10 years. Even though his duties were administrative in nature, he continued to work on various research projects using the NIST laboratories. [Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 90]
In 1998, Velasco was named a National Scientist of the Philippines by President
Fidel Ramos . His official citation acknowledged, among others, his research in photoperiodism and on the physiology of the coconut plant. [Ongkiko, National Scientists of the Philippines, p. 85]Notes
References
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*External links
* [http://www.nast.dost.gov.ph/pro_velasco.htm DOST - National Academy of Science and Technology: Jose R. Velasco]
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