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5. Viola Popescu

Viola Popescu

Environmental Scientist

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Biological Control Program
3294 Meadowview Road
Sacramento, CA 95832
(916) 738-6755
viola.popescu@cdfa.ca.gov

Curriculum Vitae

• Education
  • M.Sc. 1988. The Agricultural State University of Moldova, major in Agronomy.
• Professional Positions
  • 2018 to present – Environmental Scientist, Biological Control Program, Integrated Pest Control Branch
  • 1995-2017 – Scientific Aid, Agriculture Technician, Laboratory Assistant, Biocontrol, Integrated Pest Control Branch
  • 1988-1992 – Researcher at Chisinau Botanical Garden of the Academy of Science of Moldova
  • 1992 came to the USA, fluent in Romanian and Russian
• List of Publications
  • Woods, D.M. and V. Popescu. 2001. Establishment of biological control agents on squarrose knapweed (Centaurea squarrosa Willd.) in California. Proceedings of the International Knapweed Symposium. March 2001, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
  • Pitcairn, M. J., D. M. Woods, and V. Popescu. 2006. Changes in densities of biological control agents and yellow starthistle at long-term study sites in California. Proceedings of the Western Society of Weed Science, 59: 58.
  • Woods, D. M. and V. Popescu. 2007. Yellow starthistle leaf loss due to early season infection by the Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis. Phytopathology 97(7): S124.
  • Woods, D. M., W. L. Bruckart, M. Pitcairn, V. Popescu, and J. O’Brien. 2009. Susceptibility of yellow starthistle to Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis and greenhouse production of inoculum for classical biological control programs. Biological Control 50(3): 275-280.
  • Pickett, C.H., C.J. Borkent, R. Wilson, M. Stadtherr, & V. Popescu. 2021. Introduction of the cereal leaf beetle parasitoid Tetrastichus julis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) into California. Biocontrol Science and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2021.1933901
  • Pickett, C.H., C.J. Borkent, V. Popescu, D. Lightle, B. Hogg & I. Grettenberger. 2021. New insights into predation through imaging, Biocontrol Science and Technology, DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2021.1990856
  • Pickett, C. H., C. Borkent, K. Daane, and V. Popescu. 2021. Biological control of the olive psyllid in California. CAPCA Adviser 24(4): 36-39.