Research

Alternative Strawberry Production Systems

• Organic production/cover crops

Bramble Cultural Studies

• Raspberry and blackberry season extension with tunnels
• Blackberry fertility

Raspberry and Blackberry Breeding

• Two breeding programs have existed at NCSU. The first program, headed by William Carlos released several red raspberry cultivars including: Dixie (1938) Mandarin (1955), Southland (joint with USDA 1963), one black raspberry Manteo (1953) and two dewberry- type blackberries, Cameron (1938) and Carolina (1955) (See article link).
• The early breeding program ceased to exist in the early 1960's and most of the breeding material was lost. Recently one of the cultivars from that program,' Mandarin' was found. See article on Mandarin.
• In the current breeding program our primary objectives are to develop new raspberry cultivars that are tolerant to the high summer temperatures and to the fluctuating winter temperatures. A smaller part of our program is focused on the development of fall fruiting blackberries. In both programs, we are looking for berries that are great tasting, large, pest tolerant and have good shelf life.
• In 2007, we applied for a U.S. Plant Patent for a primocane fruiting red raspberry, 'Nantahala'. This cultivar is adapated to the high elevations of western North Carolina.

Selected Publications

• Fernandez, G.E. and J.R. Clark. 1991. In vitro propagation of the erect thornless blackberry ‘Navaho’. HortScience 26(9):1219.
• Fernandez, G.E. J.R. Clark and J.N. Moore. 1991. Effect of seed coat manipulation on the germination of stenospermocarpic grape embryos cultured in ovulo. HortScience 26(9):1220.
• Patten, K., E. Neuendorff, G. Nimr, J.R. Clark and G. Fernandez. 1991. Cold injury of southern blueberries as a function of germplasm and season of flower bud development. HortScience 26(1):18-20.
• Clark, J.R., K. Irvine and G.E. Fernandez. 1993. Effects of gibberellic acid on seed traces of 'Venus' and 'Saturn' grapes. J. Small Fruit and Vit. 2:11-19.
• Fernandez, G.E. and M.P. Pritts. 1993. Growth and source-sink relationships in 'Titan' red raspberry.   Acta Hort. 352:151-157.
• Fernandez, G.E. and M.P. Pritts. 1994. Growth, carbon acquisition and source-sink relationships in 'Titan' red raspberry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 119:1163-1168.
• Fernandez, G.E. and M.P. Pritts. 1996. Carbon supply reduction has a minimal influence on current year's red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Fruit production. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 121:473-477.
• Fernandez, G.E. 2001. Fall-applied row covers enhance yield in plasticulture strawberries. HortTechnology. 11:440-444. PDF
• Fernandez, G.E., L.M. Butler, and F.J. Louws. 2001. Strawberry growth and development in a plasticulture system. HortScience. Vol. 36(7): 100-103. PDF
• Butler, L.M., G.E. Fernandez, and F.J. Louws. 2002. Strawberry plant growth parameters and yield among transplants of different types and from different geographic sources, grown in a plasticulture system.   HortTechnology. Vol. 12(1):6-9. PDF
• Martin, R.R., Tzanetakis, I.E., Gergerich, R., Fernández, G. and Pesic, Z. 2004. Blackberry Yellow Vein Associated Virus: A new crinivirous found in blackberry. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 656:137-142. link http://www.actahort.org/books/656/656_21.htm
• Fernandez, G.E. and J.R. Ballington. 2003. Double cropping of strawberries in an annual system using conditioned plug plants and high tunnels. Acta Hort. 614:547-552.
• Safley, C.D., O. Boldea, and G. E. Fernandez. 2006. Estimated Costs of Producing, Harvesting, and Marketing Blackberries in the Southeastern United States. HortTechnology 16:109-117. PDF
• Sydorovych, O. C. D. Safley, L. M. Ferguson, E. Poling, G. E. Fernandez, P. M. Brannen, D. M. Monks, and F. J. Louws. 2006. Economic Evaluation of Methyl Bromide Alternatives for the Production of Strawberries in the Southeastern United States. Hort Technology 16:118-128. PDF
• Leandro, L., Guzman, T., Ferguson, L. M., G. E. Fernandez, and F. J. Louws. 2007. Population dynamics of Trichoderma in fumigated and compost-amended soil and on strawberry roots. Applied Soil Ecology. 35(1): 237-246 PDF
• Leandro, L., F.L. Louws and G.E. Fernandez. 2007. Strawberry Growth and Productivity in Fumigated and Compost-Amended Production Systems. Hort Science. 42: 227-231. PDF
• Ballington, J.R. and G.E. Fernandez. 2008. Rubus breeding for the Southeastern United States. Acta Hort. 777:87-90. PDF
• Warmund, M.R., P. Guinan and G. Fernandez. 2008. Temperatures and Cold Damage to Small Fruit Crops Across the Eastern U.S. Associated with the April 2007 Freeze. HortScience. 43:1643-1647.
• Fernandez, Gina E., James R. Ballington and Susan J. Bryson. 2009. ‘Nantahala’ Red Raspberry. HortScience. 44(1): 25-26.
• Tzanetakis, I.E., T.L. Guzmán-Baeny, Z.P.VanEsbroeck, G.E. Fernandez, R. R. Martin. 2009. First report of Impatiens necrotic spot virus in blackberry in the United States. Plant Disease. Accepted. PD-08-08-0506-PDN.R2
• Fernandez. G.E. and J.R. Ballington. 2009. ‘Nantahala’ red raspberry. HortScience. 44: 25-26.