The mission of the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory (HCRL) is to investigate fundamental aspects of the physiology and pathology of a wide range of horticultural and other crops, placing emphasis on stress and flowering physiology, breeding and genetics, cultural and biological control of diseases, and the biology and application of beneficial microorganisms, especially mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria.

These objectives have been delimited in the following Current Research Information System (CRIS) projects:

• Physiology, Biochemistry and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crop Productivity and Product Quality
• Biology and Management of Soilborne Diseases and Beneficial Soil and Root-inhabiting Microorganisms
• Biology and Control of Insect Pests of Horticultural Crops
• Characterization, Detection and Control of Viruses Infecting Small Fruit Crops
• Production and Integrated Management Systems of Grapes
• Biology and Management of Foliage and Fruit Diseases of Horticultural Crops
• Testing Minor Use Pesticides on Floral and Nursery Crops
• Specific Cooperative Agreements on Horticultural Crops