Edgar Vinson, Photo, HORT

Edgar L. Vinson

Assistant Extension Professor

Horticulture

(205) 646-3610 

  vinsoed@auburn.edu 

  

Get In Touch

Address:
Chilton Research & Extension Center
120 County Road 756
Clanton, AL 36804

Biography

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. Auburn University
  • M.S. Auburn University
  • B.S. University of Alabama

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2016 – Present – Assistant Extension Professor, Chilton Research and Extension Center (Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station), Clanton, AL
  • Summer, 2018 – Interim Director – Chilton Research and Extension Center (Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station), Clanton, AL
  • June 1997 – May 2016 – Research. Technician – Research Associate. IV, Department of Horticulture, Auburn Univ.
  • September 1995 – May 1997 – Biological Specialist, Terry Farms Technology Division, Auburn, AL
  • March 1993 – August 1994 – Research Technician, Aquatic Mycology Laboratory, Dept. of Biological. Sciences, Univ. of AL
  • Sept 1991 – March 1993 – Medical Laboratory and X-ray Technician Maude L. Whatley Health Center, Tuscaloosa. AL

SELECT HONORS AND AWARDS

  • 2023 – American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Leaflet National Award Winner
  • 2021 – American Society of Horticultural Science Extension Division National Award Winner for Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Webinar Series
  • 2020 – Dean’s Project Team Award – Alabama Beginning Farmer /Commercial Horticulture Program Team
  • 2019Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists, Professional Excellence Award, 1st Place
  • 2019 – Applied research poster, Application of two bactericides to mitigate damage caused by frost in developing peach flowers in ‘Fireprince’ peach (Prunus persica)
  • 2019American Society of Horticultural Science Extension Division Outstanding Education Materials Award, Primarily Visual Category (2019) for the publication titled Alabama Peaches: Quality, Flavor, Freshness
  • 2018American Pomological Society, Ulysses P. Hedrick Award 2nd Place (2018) for the manuscript titled: Screening Underutilized Banana for Carotenoid Content, Washington, DC (August)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science
  • American Society for Horticultural Science – National International Society for
  • Horticultural Science
  • American Pomological Society
  • Alabama Pomegranate Association
  • Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
  • Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
  • National Watermelon Association
  • Promusa Banana Network
  • Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists
  • National Association of County Agricultural Agents
  • Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professional Organization
  • National Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honor Society – Auburn University

Research

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

My research centers on technologies and concepts to help producers of specialty fruit crops navigate production challenges encountered in the diverse but challenging Alabama environment. Major areas of focus are in peach and strawberry – two leading specialty crops in Alabama. Climate change is affecting the way peach crops accumulate chill, which is the necessary exposure to cool temperatures during the fall and winter for the alleviation of dormancy in the spring. We are evaluating the effectiveness of rest breaking substances to alleviate dormancy used during seasons when there is insufficient chill accumulation. This also includes exploration of relatively new concepts of measuring chill accumulation, which are more appropriate for regions like the Southeast where occurrence of wintertime warming trends are common. These warming trends have a significant effect on chill accumulation. We are also investigating developing technologies to reduce tree mortality due to Armillaria root rot (oak root rot) in peach orchards. In strawberry, my research involves collaborative efforts to enhance sustainability of strawberry production by evaluating effective herbicide application strategies and strawberry cultivars for adaptation to the climate.

Other areas of study include invasive insect pest IPM, use of ‘softer’, alternative chemistries and strategies to control insect and disease pests, new, alternative crops, which have potential to be produced in Alabama, specialty crop cultivar evaluations, and pollination methods in kiwifruit and their impact on fruit quality attributes.

EXTENSION

My Extension programming is statewide and involves communication of research-based information to the residents of Alabama. This knowledge is mostly the result of research conducted on experimental plots or on-farm locations in our state and region.