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
• Evaluation of fruit quality traits in Southern heirloom apple cultivars in Georgia(Dr. Nobuko Sugimoto): 1. Identify unique flavor and nutritional compounds in Southern heirloom apple cultivars to support the development of both distinctive cider products and improved fresh eating quality, thereby expanding market opportunities for apple growers. 2. Evaluate key fruit quality traits, including size, maturity stage, harvest timing, storability, susceptibility to storage disorders, and flavor profiles, to support the breeding and selection of new cultivars adapted to warmer climates and aimed to reduce postharvest fruit loss. 3. Generate preliminary data to support future grant proposals and long-term research initiatives focused on sustainable postharvest management, with broader applications in apple production, breeding, and climate adaptation.

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. Bodie Pennisi): There is potential for Aronia to be a secondary commodity marketed in Blueberry orchards. Varieties planted at GMREC are being evaluated for their potential.
• Evaluation of Torreya Taxifolia germplasm in north Georgia (Dr. John Ruter)
• Evaluate Cold Tolerance of Coneless Pine Trees in north georgia (Dr. Wayne Hanna)
• 2026 Yaupon: Advancing A Specialty Georgia Agricultural Crop to Support Economic Growth & Enhance Human Health (Dr. Bodie Pennisi): This project will establish two yaupon field trials at the UGA Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center in Blairsville and at the Georgia UGA Hort Farm in Athens, Georgia, to assess cold hardiness, establishment and performance of select lines of yaupon holly. The objective is to identify superior lines with adaptability to north Georgia conditions as well as high secondary metabolite content (i.e. caffeine, theobromine, etc) and desirable taste profile. The planting will be used as an outreach resource for growers and the public to showcase plant material, teach hands-on techniques for harvesting, processing, and tea-making.

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)

Turfgrass:

• 2025 Blairsville, GA Tall Fescue Trial (B25TFNAI)  (Dr. Phillip Vines) Research trials to evaluate tall fescue breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environment
• 2025 Blairsville, GA Perennial Ryegrass Trial CTBT (B25PRCTBT)  (Dr. Phillip Vines): Research trials to evaluate perennial ryegrass breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environmen.
• 2025 Blairsville, GA Perennial Ryegrass Trial (B25PRNAI)  (Dr. Phillip Vines): Research trials to evaluate perennial ryegrass breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environment
• 2024 Blairsville, GA Kentucky Bluegrass Trial (B24KB) (Dr. Phillip Vines): Research trials to evaluate Kentucky bluegrass breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environment
• 2024 Blairsville, GA Perennial Ryegrass Trial (B24PR: (Dr. Phillip Vines): Research trials to evaluate Perennial Ryegrass breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environment.
• 2024 Blairsville, GA Tall Fescue Trial (B24TF) (Dr. Phillip Vines): Research trials to evaluate Tall Fescue breeding germplasm. Evaluate turfgrass plots for (i) disease resistance, (ii) turfgrass quality, and (iii) adaptation to mild temperature environment.
• Selected Meyer x PI Zoysiagrass Evaluation for Cold Tolerance(Dr. Brain Schwarz): This is a continuation of Research Farm Project #6417. Elite selections have been made based on research trials in Georgia, North Carolina, and Indiana. Further evaluation is needed in larger plots. Screening elite selections of zoysiagrass for cold tolerance and winter survival, to determine if experimental zoysiagrasses can be successfully used in home lawns in North Georgia under home-owner management such as rotary mowers.
• 2023 Tall Fescue GWAS study(Dr. Brain Schwarz): Research trials to evaluate tall fescue genome-wide association study. Evaluate 300 unique genotypes for a genome-wide association study to better understand traits of interest including (i) seed yield, (ii) flowering date, (iii) disease resistance, (iv) adaption to mild climate for identification of broadly-adapted material, and (v) turf performance.
• 2023 Zoysiagrass Crossing Block (Dr. Brain Schwarz: Research trials to develop seeded zoysiagrass populations. Evaluate zoysiagrass parents for: 1) General combining ability for seed yield 2) Seed yield components and floret fertility 3) Adaptation to environments colder than in south Georgia.
• Cold tolerance Screening of Centipede(Dr. Brain Schwarz): Multiple locations are required to ensure that grasses bred in South Georgia will survive and prosper in soils and environments outside of Tifton Georgia. Screening cold tolerance and winter hardiness of centipede lines bred at the UGA Tifton Campus.
• Cold Temp Screening Advance Centipede Lines(Dr. Wayne Hanna): Multiple locations are required to ensure that grasses bred in South Georgia will survive and prosper in soils and environments outside of Tifton Georgia. The screening of the next Tifton centipedegrass release for cold tolerance and winter hardiness to ensure its survival and prosperity in North Georgia.

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.