Jose R. Velasco
Encyclopedia
Jose R. Velasco was a Filipino
plant physiologist
and agricultural chemist
noted for his research on soil and plant nutrition
and on coconut
diseases. In 1998, he was recognized as a National Scientist of the Philippines
.
. After nearly flunking out of a vocational high school
, he transferred to an agricultural high school (now the Central Luzon State University
), where he graduated salutatorian
. Velasco enrolled in what was then the University of the Philippines
College of Agriculture (now the University 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. Upon graduation, Velasco joined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there for the duration of World War II
, during which he endured a brief period of incarceration by the Japanese army. After the war, Velasco pursued graduate studies in the United States
and obtained a Ph.D
in plant physiology from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1949. He re-joined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there until 1967.
, Velasco conducted research on the photoperiodism
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.
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. 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.
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.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
plant physiologist
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and agricultural chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
noted for his research on soil and plant nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and on coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
diseases. In 1998, he was recognized as a National Scientist of the Philippines
National Scientist of the Philippines
The rank and title of National Scientist of the Philippines is the highest award accorded to Filipino scientists by the Philippine government.The award was created on December 16, 1976 by President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree Nos. 1003 and 1003-A, which also created the National...
.
Early life and education
Velasco was born in Imus, CaviteImus, Cavite
The Municipality of Imus is a first-class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines, and it is the officially designated capital of Cavite...
. After nearly flunking out of a vocational high school
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
, he transferred to an agricultural high school (now the Central Luzon State University
Central Luzon State University
Central Luzon State University or CLSU is a state university located in a 658-hectare campus in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The University is the lead agency of the Muñoz Science Community and the seat of the Regional Research and Development Center in Central Luzon...
), where he graduated salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
. Velasco enrolled in what was then the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
College of Agriculture (now the University of the Philippines, Los Baños
University of the Philippines, Los Baños
The University of the Philippines Los Baños is a public university located in the towns of Los Baños and Bay in the province of Laguna, some 64 kilometers southeast of Manila...
) in Laguna. He graduated at the top of his class in 1940 with a degree in Agriculture, major in Agriculture Chemistry. Upon graduation, Velasco joined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which he endured a brief period of incarceration by the Japanese army. After the war, Velasco pursued graduate studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and obtained a Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in plant physiology from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1949. He re-joined the faculty of the University of the Philippines and remained there until 1967.
Contributions to agricultural science
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Velasco conducted research on the photoperiodism
Photoperiodism
Photoperiodism is the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night. It occurs in plants and animals.Photoperiodism can also be defined as the developmental responses of plants to the relative lengths of the light and dark periods...
of the rice plant
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. 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.
Velasco was also noted for his research on the physiology of the coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, 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. 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.
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.In 1998, Velasco was named a National Scientist of the Philippines by President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Fidel Ramos. His official citation acknowledged, among others, his research in photoperiodism and on the physiology of the coconut plant.