January, 1999

Penn State fruit specialist Loren Tukey dies

On the wall of Loren Tukey’s kitchen hangs a plaque that reads, “You have to go out on a limb to get the best fruit.”
“Loren’s entire life was spent going out on that limb,” said Rob Crassweller, Pennsylvania State University Extension tree fruit specialist. “He contributed a great deal of knowledge to the field of horticulture.”
The internationally-know pomologist and educator who worked at Penn State for four decades died November 5, 1998 at the age of 76 after a massive stroke. He served on the faculty of Penn State in the horticulture department from 1951 to 1992. His father, H.B. Tukey, was the head of Michigan State University’s Horticulture Department from 1945-62.
Loren earned a bachelor’s degree in 1943 and master’s in 1947 in horticulture from MSU and a Ph.D in Horticulture and Botany from Ohio State University in 1952. He began with Penn State in 1951 until retiring in 1992 as professor emeritus of pomology.
Loren’s work in pruning and training systems, especially the Penn State four-wire trellis was world renown. Even though he developed the system, he named it not after him, but after Penn State, which showed his loyalty and dedication to the university, Crassweller said.
Besides the four-wire trellis system, he is also especially known for the fruit-size method for timing chemical thinning in apples and the use of triazole growth substances on apples.
Loren’s research program included studies on plant growth substances for control and regulation of growth and production of apples, pears and grapes; on plant environmental relations in fruit growth and development; on very dwarfing rootstocks; on intensive production systems; and on developing orchard productivity, including computer studies on facets of maximizing potential yield.
He lectured around the world and visited fruit research institutes and production areas in Europe, South America and Asia. He was a fruit research consultant in apple production in Argentina for the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (1965-70) and the Instituto Interamericano De Cooperacion Para La Agricultura (1988), and in cocoa production in Trinidad (1990) and Malaysia (1993).
“Dr. Tukey collected information from and shared information with scientists from around the world and visited many of them on his foreign travels,” said Richard Funt, Ohio State University horticultural professor. “The world was his stage. Nearly every country that produced a temperate fruit crop knew of him and his works as well as his smile, enthusiasm, energy and optimism.”
Tukey was the editor of the Penn State Hort Reviews from 1962-91, associate editor of the Journal of Horticulture Science (England) 1978-92 and the author of over 200 papers dealing with fruit research and production.
He was a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; member of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, Plant Growth Regulator Society of America, American Pomological Society (Paul Howe Shephard award 1964, secretary 1968-74, business manager of the Fruit Varieties Journal 1968-89), the North American Fruit Explorers (Milo Gibson Award, 1989) the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania (Outstanding Horticulturist Award 1986), the Michigan State Horticultural Society, the International Society for Horticultural Science, The International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association (Service and Leadership Award 1988), The British Society for Plant Growth Regulators and Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.
Loren served as a captain in the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army the European Theatre of operations, 1943-46. His motor pool group drove up to the front lines to deliver gasoline to General George S. Patton’s troops during the war.
He is survived by his wife, Louise, son David, and daughter Barbara Shea. Contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, 121 1/2 E. Beaver Ave., State College, PA 16801.