GMREC Research Projects

Over forty active research projects are ongoing at the facility in coordination with over a dozen faculty and graduate students across five CAES departments.

Apples:

• Spray Regimen for Glomerella Leaf Spot. Another major fungal pathogen that is impacting Georgia growers. Research emphasis is directed at the control of this disease with various chemistrys. (Dr. Phil Brannan)
• Bitter rot (Dr. Phil Brannan): This is a major fungal disease for which disease control is limited in Georgia. It is a primary research emphasis of the pathology program for apples. We need to develop better fungicidal control for this disease. This is a continuing issue, and it will be a yearly research project. The chemicals tested will often change from year to year, but it is anticipated that this will be a yearly effort.
• Lost and Found: Resurrecting Rare and Extinct Apple Cultivars. Material was sourced from homesteads and declining nurseries across the southeast. Varieties were selected for their value in the South with a goal of preserving them while assessing their potential. A full list of the varieties at GMREC can be found on the GMREC FB page. (Dr. Stephen Mihm). Trees are not for sale, but there may be opportunities for scion material in the future. Full List
  

Blueberries:

• 2025 Mummy Berry Disease Spray Trials on Blueberry: Mummy berry disease is an important disease that affects blueberry production throughout the United States. Growers routinely use chemical fungicides to control this disease in commercial production. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fungicide products for their efficacy in controlling mummy berry disease of blueberry.(Dr. Jonathan Oliver)

Forages:

• Winter Hardiness Evaluation of Alfalfa Populations. Various crosses of alfalfa have been made to develop various populations. Testing in Blairsville will determine their fall dormancy and winter hardiness.(Dr. Ali Missaoui)
  
• Tall Fescue Yield Variety Trial. Evaluate the productivity of newly developed tall fescue experimental varieties as compared to commercial varieties that are currently available. This trial needs to be conducted to determine adaptation and overall performance in this environment. (Dr. Ali Missaoui)
• White Clover Yield Variety Trial. To determine the best white clover experimental varieties that have been developed within the cultivar development research program. This assessment will provide information to which experimental variety or varieties are eligible for commercialization. (Dr. Ali Missaoui)
• Red Clover Yield Variety Trail. To determine the best red clover experimental varieties that have been developed within the cultivar development research program. This assessment will provide information to which experimental variety or varieties are eligible for commercialization. (Dr. Ali Missaoui)

Grape:

• Surfactant Effect on Sulfur for Powdery Mildew Control. 1: To determine if non-ionic oraganosilicone surfactants increase the efficacy of sulfur on powdery mildew control 2: To determine if non-ionic organosilicone surfactants alone have activity on powdery milde. (Dr. Phil Brannan)
• 2025 Muscadine Cultivar Trial to Evaluate production characteristics of muscadine cultivars in the Georgia mountains.(Dr. Sarah Lowder)
  

Hops:

• Evaluating Hop Variety Suitability for Cultivation in Georgia. The objective is to assess the agronomic performance of selected varieties at varying locations throughout Georgia while evaluating their chemical composition and potential for growers. Installation of the Hop yard in 2024 with planting and data collection in 2025. (Dr. Donglin Zhang).
  

Ornamentals:

• Evaluating selected breeding material for landscape use in zone 7a (Dr. Bodie Pennisi): Abelia, Vitex, little bluestem, Arborvitae, and Wax Myrtle selections are currently being evaluated at this site. These evaluations are ongoing. Additional selections will be planted, including the new crop Aronia berry.
• Evaluation of Ornamental Plants in North Georgia (Dr. John Ruter): Plants have been developed at the Tifton Campus in USDA hardiness zone 7b and need to be evaluated for cold hardiness and other attributes in a colder climate before they can be released as cultivars.
• Aronia(Chokeberry) evaluation for commercial systems (Dr. Carol Robacker): There is potential for Aronia to be a secondary commodity marketed in Blueberry orchards. Varieties planted at GMREC are being evaluated for their potential.(Dr. Bodie Pennisi)
• Evaluation of Torreya Taxifolia germplasm in north Georgia (Dr. John Ruter)
• Evaluate Cold Tolerance of Coneless Pine Trees in North georgia (Dr. Wayne Hanna)

Sweet Sorghum:

• 2025 Sweet Sorghum Variety Trial: This trial will evaluate four different sorghum varieties for their productivity and quality of juice. It will also look into the mineral makeup of the different varieties. (ANR Agent Jacob Williams)

Vegetables:

• Diversity of Heirloom and Ancient Tomatoes. To facilitate the evaluation of the genetic basis of horticulturally significant traits in fleshy fruit development using tomato as a model organism.(Dr. Esther van der Knaap). Publication website.