Gina Fernandez

Area(s) of Expertise

Dr. Fernandez is the John D. and Nell R. Leazar Distinguished Professor. She is also the Director of Graduate Programs.

She leads the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry breeding programs at NC State University. To date she has released 'Rocco' and 'Liz strawberries, 'Nantahala' raspberry and 'Von' blackberry. Dr. Fernandez also has statewide Extension responsibilities in blackberries and raspberries (aka brambles or caneberries).

Publications

• A chromosome-length genome assembly and annotation of blackberry (Rubus argutus, cv. ‘Hillquist’) , (2022)
• A chromosome-length genome assembly and annotation of blackberry (Rubus argutus, cv. “Hillquist”) , G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics (2022)
• Analysis of a Multi-Environment Trial for Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.) Quality Traits , Genes (2022)
• 2021 PMSP for Blackberry in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia , (2021)
• Comparative Transcriptome Analysis to Identify Candidate Genes for FaRCg1 Conferring Resistance Against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Cultivated Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) , Frontiers in Genetics (2021)
• Detection of Fruit Meals Within Laboratory-Raised and Field-Trapped Adult Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Guts , Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2021)
• 'Liz' and 'Rocco' Strawberries , HORTSCIENCE (2020)
• Assessing Rate-Reducing Foliar Resistance to Anthracnose Crown Rot and Fruit Rot in Strawberry , Plant Disease (2020)
• Development of new genomic resources and tools for molecular breeding in blackberry , Acta Horticulturae (2020)
• Genetic analysis of drupelet count in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) , Acta Horticulturae (2020)