Elina Coneva

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

My research program at Auburn focuses on investigating the potential of alternative or underutilized fruit crops in Alabama that are disease resistant, adaptable to the hot and humid environment, and possess superior biological characteristics. Alabama is unique in that its fruit commodities are marketed almost exclusively through local outlets. My program is designed to evaluate different varieties of traditional fruit crops as well as newly developed selections to assess suitability for this market culture. Along with colleagues in related disciplines such as Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Biosystems Engineering, Postharvest Physiology, a series of experiments are being conducted to evaluate the performance of various tree fruit and small fruit crops in the state and to determine the main fruit production constraints. New crops and advanced selections are introduced for testing in Alabama conditions. Improving economic and environmental sustainability through precision irrigation, new environmentally safe technologies for thinning peaches, innovative orchard training systems that improve production efficiency, are essential areas that my research program is design to address. The experimental results provided by my program demonstrate the economic advantages of growing better adapted fruit crops that are resistant to common pests in southeastern U.S. Studies in my lab led to identification and the scope of distribution of viruses affecting state’s blackberry production. Research done in my lab has identified a number of insect species that are effective vectors of a bacteria and identified insect pests that caused significant loses to fruit industry and especially to the blueberry crop in the southeastern U.S. Our improved understanding of crop/cultivar resistance to this pathogen/vector complex is going to provide information for proper cultivar selection, aid in developing of effective IPM strategies and contribute to reduced crop losses and sustainable industry.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

My Extension activities are based on interaction with other members of the Commercial Horticulture Team on projects that are designed to deliver horticulture based programs and support to our clientele throughout the state. Through the USDA-Southern Region SARE program, I conducted on-farm research on sustainable irrigation methods for alternative crop production. This project provided funding to organize and conduct two annual workshops during the course of the study, a field day for on-farm demonstrations, and provided educational fact sheets presenting project results and promoting sustainable cultural practices for the southeastern U.S. Newly generated knowledge aided the newly established blueberry industry in the Wiregrass region and entire southeast region to overcome considerable production constraints by applying a combination of proper irrigation scheduling and acid injection.
I am the Alabama lead investigator in a USDA-Specialty Crop Research Initiative funded project that developed an www.eXtension.com Community of Practice (CoP), focused on blueberry production and consumption. The “All about Blueberries” Community of Practice is adapting the best existing extension publications and developing new research-based extension recommendations related to blueberry production and consumption. The primary goal of the project is to increase blueberry production efficiency and consumption of blueberries nationwide. We are using a variety of approaches to develop project content including: video, audio podcasts, photo galleries, interactive-training modules, interactive diagrams, animation, and social networking tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter and blogs). I maintain a close contact with blueberry producers and representatives of local farmers’ markets who serve on our advisory committee. I have assumed responsibilities as a leader for the “Blueberry Production” topic. Our multistate team launched the www.extension.org/blueberries website in 2010, which became a powerful one-stop-shop for blueberry production and consumption that benefits not only the producers, but also the nation.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

• Coneva, E.D., Hu, Y., Svyantek, A. and Vinson, E. (2019). Growth and development of Pierce’s disease-tolerant hybrid bunch grapes in the southeastern USA. Acta Hortic. 1248, 561-566 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1248.75
• Ashley K. Brantley, James D. Spiers, Andrew Thompson, James Pitts, J. R. Kessler, Jr., A. Wright and Elina Coneva. 2019. Effective pollination period of Actinidia chinensiy ‘AU Golden Sunshine’ and A. deliciose ‘AU Fitzerald’ kiwifruit. HortScience 54(4):656-660.
• G.L. Reighard, W. Bridges, Jr., D. Archbold, A. Atucha, W. Autio, T. Beckman, B. Black, D.J. Chavez, E. Coneva, K. Day, P. Francescatto, M. Kushad, R.S. Johnson, T. Lindstrom, J. Lordan, I.S. Minas, D. Ouellette, M. Parker, R. Pokharel, T. Robinson, J. Schupp, M. Warmund, and D. Wolfe. Nine-Year Rootstock Performance of the NC-1 40 ‘Redhaven’ Peach Trial across 13 States. J. of the American Pomological Society. (Accepted).
• Edgar L. Vinson, III, Elina D. Coneva, Joseph M. Kemble, J. Raymond Kessler, Jr., Esendugue G. Fonsah, Penelope M. Perkins-Veazie, Floyd M. Woods and Jeff L. Sibley. Reflective Mulch Application and Cover Crop Usage to Stimulate Earlier Banana Flowering. J. Am. Pomological Society. (Accepted)
• Svyantek, A.*, E. Coneva, J.R. Kessler, E. Vinson, and J. Pitts. 2019. Assessing the Effect of Selected PGRs on Yield, Fruit Quality and Morphology of `Fireprince´ Peaches. Acta Horticulturae (Accepted).
• Vinson, Edgar L. III*, E.D. Coneva, J.M. Kemble, F.M. Woods, J.L. Sibley, E.G. Fonsah, P.M. Perkins-Veazie, and J.R. Kessler. 2018. Prediction of Flower Emergence and Evaluation of Cropping Potential in Selected Banana Cultivars (Musa sp.) Cultivated in Subtropical Conditions of Coastal Alabama. HortScience 53(11):1634–1639: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13290-18
• Reighard, G.L., Bridges, W., Archbold, D., Atucha, A., Autio, W., Beckman, T., Black, B., Chavez, D., Coneva, E.**, Day, K., Kushad, M., Johnson, R.S., Lindstrom, T., Lordan, J., Minas, I., Ouellette, D., Parker, M.L., Pokharel, R., Robinson, TL., Schupp, J., Warmund, M. and Wolfe, D. 2018. Rootstock performance in the 2009 NC-140 peach trial across 11 states. Acta Hortic. 1228, 181-186 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1228.27 https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1228.27
• Brantley, A.K.*, Spiers, J.D., Thompson*, A.B., Pitts, J.A., Kessler, J.R., Wright, A. and Coneva, E. 2018. Evaluating the length of time that kiwifruit flowers can be successfully pollinated. Acta Hortic. 1218, 139-142 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1218.18 https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1218.18
• Potter, R.J.* and Coneva, E.D. 2018. Assessment of Newly Released and Well-Established Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) Cultivars in North Alabama. Agricultural Sciences, 9, 78-98. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2018.91007
• Vinson III, E.L.*, Coneva, E.D., Kemble, J.M., Woods, F.M., Sibley, J.L., Perkins-Veazie, P.M. and Fonsah, E.G. 2017. Phenological parameter responses gauge banana fruit production potential in the coastal region of Alabama, USA. Acta Hortic. 1178, 61-66 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1178.11
• Dipayan Sarkar, Widya Agustinaha, Floyd Woods, Elina Coneva, Edgar Vinson and Kalidas Shetty. 2017. In Vitro Screening and Evaluation of Phenolic Antioxidant-linked Anti-Hyperglycemic Functions of Rabbit-Eye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) Cultivars” Journal of Berry Research 7:163–177. DOI:10.3233/JBR-170154
• Andrej W. Svyantek*, Elina D. Coneva, J. Raymond Kessler, James D. Spiers, Edgar L. Vinson III, and James Pitts. 2016. Exploring the Growth and Cropping Potential of Pierce’s Disease Resistant Vitis vinifera L. Selections for Enhanced Viticultural Sustainability in Alabama and the Southeast. Journal of the American Pomological Society 70(4): 224-227.
• Elina D. Coneva. 2016. Growing Pierce’s Disease Resistant 87.5% V. vinifera Grapes in Alabama. Acta Hortic. 1115, 75-82. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1115.12 http://dx.doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1115.12
• Edgar L. Vinson*, III, and Elina D. Coneva. 2015. Investigations on Phenological Responses to Determine Banana Fruit Production Potential in the Coastal Region of Alabama, USA. Journal of the American Pomological Society 69 (3):164-167.
• Johnson, R.S., Reighard, G.L., Ouellette, D., Beckman, T.G., Coneva, E.D., Day, K.R., Fachinello, J., Robinson, T.L., Fallahi, E., Newell, M.J. and Wolfe, D. 2015. Environmental Effects on Fruit Ripening and Average Fruit Weight for Three Peach Cultivars. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 1084:453-458 http://www.actahort.org/books/1084/1084_62.htm
• Reighard, G., Bridges, Jr., W., Archbold, D., Wolfe, D., Atucha, A., Pokharel, R., Autio, W., Beckman, T., Black, B., Lindstrom, T., Coneva, E., Day, K., Johnson, R.S., Kushad, M., Parker, M., Robinson, T., Schupp, J. and Warmund, M. 2015. NC-140 Peach Rootstock Testing in Thirteen U.S. States. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 1084:225-232 http://www.actahort.org/books/1084/1084_32.htm
• A. W. Svyantek*, E. D. Coneva**, J. R. Kessler, J. D. Spiers, E. L. Vinson III, J. A. Pitts. Exploring the Growth and Cropping Potential of Pierce’s Disease Resistant Vitis vinifera L. Selections for Enhanced Viticultural Sustainability in Alabama and the Southeast. Journal of the American Pomological Society 70(4): 224-227.
• Elina D. Coneva and Edgar L. Vinson*. 2014. Investigating Innovative Fruit Crop Production Systems for Local Markets. Auburn Speaks: On Food Systems. Auburn University: 81-85.
• Richard Joel Potter*, Elina Coneva, Jeff Sibley, Fenny Dane, Jay Spiers and Kenneth Tilt. 2013. Land’s Prior Use Affects the Establishment and Productivity of Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) Cultivars. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering A 2 (2013) 725-731.
• Jessica R. Bowerman*, James D. Spiers, Eugene K. Blythe, Elina D. Coneva, Kenneth M. Tilt, and Donna A. Marshall. 2013. Cutting Type Affects Rooting Percentage of Vegetatively Propagated Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). Journal of Environmental Horticulture 31(4):253–258.
• Michael R. Harrison*, James D. Spiers, Elina D. Coneva, Floyd M. Woods, J. Raymond Kessler, Jr., and William A. Dozier, Jr. 2013. Influence of Orchard Design on ‘Owari’ Satsuma Mandarin Citrus unshiu (Marcovitch) Fruit Quality, Physiology, and Productivity. Journal of the American Pomological Society 67(1):34-46.
• Michael R. Harrison*, James Spiers, Elina Coneva, William Dozier and Floyd Woods. 2013. Orchard design influences fruit quality, canopy temperature, and yield of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unsui ‘Owari’). International Journal of Fruit Science 13(3): 334-344.
• Bowerman, J.R.*, J.D. Spiers, E. Coneva, K.M. Tilt, E.K. Blythe, and D.A. Marshall. 2013. Propagation of sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) improved via cutting type. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 1014:385-388.
• Yilanna Hu*, Elina Coneva, Edgar Vinson, J. Raymond Kessler, Jr., Jay Spiers, and Joyce Ducar. 2012. Assessment of the Feasibility of Growing Pierce’s Disease Tolerant American and French-American Hybrid Bunch Grape Cultivars in Alabama. Journal of the American Pomological Society 66(4): 220-222.
• Hummel, N., D. Attaway, E. Coneva, J. Braswell, W.O. Cline, D. Marshall, D.M. Ferrin, K.L. Machtmes, and H.J. Roy. 2012. Creating a Community of Practice for blueberries. International Journal of Fruit Science 12:350-359.
• Hummel, N., D. Attaway, K.L. Machtmes, E. Coneva, Kimberly Morgan, William Cline. 2011. Collaborative Development of Nutrition Information for the All About Blueberries eXtension Community of Practice. Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics. 43(4).
• Ma*, X., E. Coneva, H. Fadamiro, J.F. Murphy, Charles Ray, and F. Dane. 2010. Seasonal occurrence and abundance of sharpshooter leafhoppers in Alabama Orchards and Vineyards. International Journal of Fruit Science 10:341-354.
• Coneva, E., J. Murphy, R. Boozer, and N. Velasquez. 2010. Incidence and distribution of viruses in blackberry (Rubus sp.) in Alabama. International Journal of Fruit Science 10:87-95.
• Coneva, E., J. Murphy, R. Boozer, and N. Velasquez. 2008. First report of Tobacco ringspot virus in Blackberry (Rubus sp.) in Alabama. Plant Disease 92: 1708.
• Coneva, E., and J. Cline. 2006. Blossom thinners reduce crop load and increase fruit size and quality of peaches. HortScience 41:1253-1258.
• Coneva, E., and J. Cline. 2006. Gibberellic acid inhibits flowering and reduces hand thinning of “Redhaven” peach. HortScience 41:1596-1601.