Elina Coneva, Professor of Horticulture

Elina D. Coneva

Extension Specialist & Professor

Horticulture

(334) 844-7230 

  edc0001@auburn.edu 

 (334) 750-0752 

Get In Touch

Address:
101 Funchess Hall
Auburn Univ, AL 36849

Biography

DEGREES EARNED

  • 2001 – Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Agricultural University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  • 1984 – B.S., Agronomy, Agricultural University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2016 present – Extension Specialist and Professor, Fruit Crops, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, August
  • 2011 – 2016 Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, Fruit Crops, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University
  • 2006 – 2011 Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, Fruit Crops, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University
  • 2004 – 2006 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
  • 2002 – 2004 Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
  • June, 2001 – October, 2001 Research Associate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Center, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
  • 1988 – 2000 Research Scientist, Agricultural Academy, Apricot Research Station, Silistra, Bulgaria
  • 1985 – 1988 Agronomist – Specialist, Elite Seeds and Nursery Stock State Company, Silistra, Bulgaria
  • 1984-1985 Agronomist – Specialist, Agricultural Cooperative Drustar, Silistra, Bulgaria

HONORS AND AWARDS

  •  2021 American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS) Extension Division Education Materials Award, Alabama Beginning Farmer Website (Website Category).
  • 2021 ASHS Extension Division Education Materials Award, Webinar Category.
  • 2020 W. A. Jr. & C. Dozier Endowed Professorship Award.
  • 2020 Auburn University College of Agriculture Project Team Award.
  • 2019 Professional Excellence Award, Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists (AACAAS).
  • 2019 National Viticulture Extension Education Leadership (NVEEL) Award.
  • 2016 American Pomological Society (APS) UP Hedrick Award.
  • 2015 National Award for the Experiment Station Section Excellence in Multistate Research.
  • Regional Winner, Applied Research Poster Award at the Annual Conference of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Sioux Falls, SD, July 12-16, 2015.
  • 2015 Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialist Professional Improvement Poster First Place Award, and Poster Overall Best Award for the Applied Research and Extension Education Annual AACAAS Meeting, Auburn, AL, June 15, 2015.
  • 2015 American Pomological Society (APS) UP Hedrick Award.
  • 2014 Southern Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science Henry M. Covington Extension Award, SR ASHS Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, February 1, 2015.
  • 2014 Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Dean Award for Excellence in Extension and Outreach, December 2, 2014.
  • 2013 Friends of Southern IPM Pulling Together Award for Contributions to the Alabama IPM Communicator Newsletter, Southern IPM Center, March 20, 2013.
  • 2012 American Pomological Society (APS) UP Hedrick Award.
  • The National Association of County Agricultural Agents Achievement Award in Recognition of Excellence in Extension Service Educational Programs, July 17, 2012.
  • The Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists Achievement Award, Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists, Outreach/Extension, June 2012.
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post Doctoral Fellowship, Canada, 2002-2004.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • President Elect-Elect, Southern Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science (SR ASHS), 2021.
  • Executive Committee Member, SR ASHS, 2020-present.
  • Steering Committee Member, Southern Region of the Small Fruit Consortium (SR SFC), 2019-present.
  • Editorial Committee Member of the International Journal of Fruit Science, 2015-present.
  • Advisory Board Member of the American Pomological Society, 2012-2016.
  • Chair of the Pomology Working Group, ASHS, 2014-2017.
  • Chair of the Fruit Crops Section of the SR ASHS in 2012 and 2016.
  • Chair of the Extension Section of the SR ASHS, 2017.
  • Chair of the Blueberry and Small Fruit Working Group at the SR ASHS, 2010-2012.
  • Secretary of the Blueberry and Small Fruit Working Group Workshop, Southern Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 2014 – 2016.
  • Chair of the Henry M. Covington Extension Award, SR ASHS, 2017.
  • Member of the Henry M. Covington Extension Award Selection Committee, SR ASHS, 2015-2016.

Research

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.

Courses

N/A

Publications

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

  • Svyantek, A.W.*, Coneva, E., Kessler, J.R., Vinson, E. and Pitts, J. 2021. Assessing the effect of selected PGRs on yield, fruit quality and morphology of ‘Fireprince’ peaches. Acta Hortic. 1304, 257-264. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1304.36
  • Vinson, E. L., Price, K. J., Kessler, J. R., Coneva, E. D., Mwanza, M., & Price, M. D. 2021. Tolerance of ‘Camarosa’ Strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa Duch.) to Extra-label Use of Single and Tank Mix Preemergence Herbicides in Annual Hill Plasticulture. HortScience, 1(aop), 1-6.
  • Xu, E.*, Coneva, E., Kessler, J.R. and Vinson, E.L. 2021. Effect of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) resistant apple rootstocks on ‘Aztec Fuji’ fruit quality and yield efficiency. Acta Hortic. 1307, 321-326. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1307.49
  • Cline, J.A., B. Black, E. Coneva, R. Crassweller, E. Fallahi, T. Kon, M. Muehlbauer, G.L. Reighard, and D.R. Ouellette. 2021. Early Performance of ‘Fuji’ Apple Trees on Several size-controlling rootstocks in the 2014 NC-140 Rootstock Trial. JAPS, 75 (4):203-213.
  • Ioannis S. Minas, Greg L. Reighard,Brent Black, John A. Cline, Dario J. Chavez, Elina Coneva, Gregory Lang, Mike Parker, Terence Robinson, Schupp James, Poliana Francescato, Jaume Lordan, Tom Beckman, William Shane, David Sterle , Jeff Pieper, Cathy Bakker, Bernadette Clark, Dave Ouellette, Andrew Swain, Hans E. Winzeler. 2021. Establishment performance of the 2017 NC-140 semi-dwarf peach rootstock trial across 10 sites in North America. XII International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock, and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems. Acta Horticulturae (Accepted).
  • Gregory L. Reighard, and 70 other NC-140 members. 2021. Thirty-three Years Evaluating Rootstocks for Peach in the NC-140: What Have We Learned. XII International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock, and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems. Acta Horticulturae (Accepted).
  • Vinson, E.L. 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. 2020. Reflective Mulch Application and Cover Crop Usage to Stimulate Earlier Banana Flowering. J. Am. Pomological Society. 74(3):169-179.
  • 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. 2020. Nine-Year Rootstock Performance of the NC-1 40 ‘Redhaven’ Peach Trial across 13 States. J. of the American Pomological Society 74(1): 45-56.
  • Andrej W. Svyantek*, Elina D. Coneva, J. Raymond Kessler, James D. Spiers, Edgar L. Vinson III, M. Andrew Walker, and James A. Pitts. 2020. Assessment of Pierce’s Disease Resistant 87.5% Vitis vinifera L. Selections in Central Alabama. Catalyst: Discovery into Practice. (4:2) 74-81.
  • 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.
  • Brantley, A.K. *, 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.
  • 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:
  • 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: 0.17660/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
  • 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.
  • 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 S., 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
  • Svyantek, A.W.*, 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.
  • Coneva, E.D. 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
  • Vinson, E.L., 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.
  • 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.
  • Svyantek, A.W.*, 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.
  • Coneva, E.D. and Edgar L. Vinson*. 2014. Investigating Innovative Fruit Crop Production Systems for Local Markets. Auburn Speaks: On Food Systems. Auburn University: 81-85.
  • Potter, R.J. *, 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.
  • Bowerman, J.R.*, 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.
  • Harrison, M.R.*, 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.
  • Harrison, M.R.*, 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.
  • Hu, Y.*, 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.
  • Coneva, E. 2003. New apricot germplasm selected by ten characteristics. Acta Horticulturae 622:465-472.

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.

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