Elina Coneva, Ph.D.

Elina Coneva, Ph.D.

  • W. A. Jr. & C. Dozier Endowed Professor
  • Extension Specialist
  • Department of Horticulture
(334) 750-0752
edc0001@auburn.edu
101 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849
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Dr. Elina Coneva is an Extension Specialist and W. A. Jr. & C. Dozier Endowed Professor at the Department of Horticulture, Auburn University. Her research interests focus on fruit crops pomology and stress physiology. Dr. Coneva has extensive research experience conducted in various climatic and geographic regions of the world. As an apricot breeder in Bulgaria, she developed and established a nationally recognized breeding program for genetic improvement of apricot focused on cold hardiness, stress resistance, high productivity and superior fruit quality. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Counsil of Canada, she conducted research on tree fruit physiology aiming to assess plant hormones effect on flowering, bloom delay, fruit set, yield, fruit quality and production efficiency. Dr. Coneva’s integrated research and extension program at Auburn University is designed to seek solutions to production constraints in the areas of fruit crops physiology and pomology, evaluate the best management practices for tree fruits, small fruits and grapes, investigate innovative training systems for high density, highly efficient orchards that provide early returns to the grower. Dr. Coneva initiated original research exploring the commercial potential of Vitis vinifera grapes as an alternative specialty crop in the state of Alabama and the Southeast. Dr. Coneva has a strong publication record evident by 62 refereed journal articles, 259 abstracts, 240 Extension publications. Dr. Coneva has a solid record of acquiring and managing competitive grant funding. A total of over $4.4 million has been awarded in support of her extension and research program at Auburn University. Dr. Coneva has served as a national co-leader in the development of two www.eXtension.org websites: “All About Blueberries” and “Grapes”. Dr. Coneva served as an elected President of the SR ASHS and is also a recipient of numerous prestigious local, regional and national awards in recognitions of her research and extension contributions.

Education

  • Ph.D.Agricultural University, Plovdiv2001

  • B.S.Agricultural University1984

Professional Experience

  • A. Jr. & C. Dozier Endowed Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of  Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, October 2020 – present.
  • Extension Specialist and Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, August 2016 – September 2020.
  • Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, August 2011 – August 2016.
  • Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, October 2006 - August 2011.
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture, ON, Canada, 2004 – 2006.
  • NSERC Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture ON, Canada, 2002 – 2004.
  • Research Technician, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Center, St. Catharines, ON, Canada – 2001.
  • Research Scientist, Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Apricot Research Station, Silistra, Bulgaria, 1988 –2000.

Research

My research program at Auburn focuses on investigating the potential of alternative and 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 fruit crops, innovative orchard training systems that improve production efficiency, are essential areas that my research program is designed 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 pathogenic bacteria. Our improved understanding of crop/cultivar resistance to the pathogen/vector complex is going to provide information for proper cultivar selection, aid in the development of effective IPM strategies and contribute to reduced crop losses and resilient industry.

Extension Experience

The main objective of my extension efforts is to develop and deliver research based educational curriculum that can be used by fruit growers and the general public and can result in the adoption of new horticultural strategies that will lead to a reduction in economic loses and can help to sustain the fruit industry in Alabama.

My research and extension programs are fully integrated, so solutions we discover in my research program are translated immediately to growers for adoption. I keep close contact with growers to identify production constraints and work to address their concern through research. I teach growers, extension agents, and other stakeholders on how to adopt the outcomes of research. Extension activities in my lab are based on interactions with other members of the Commercial Horticulture Team on projects that are designed to deliver science-based programs and support our clientele throughout the state. I have established successful collaborations with Extension colleagues from other Universities resulting in a half-million USDA-Specialty Crop Research Initiative funded project to develop the Community of Practice (CoP), focused on blueberry production and consumption, where I have assumed the leadership responsibilities for the development of the “Blueberry Production” section of the national Extension website that became a powerful one-stop-shop for blueberry production and consumption. The primary goal of the project was to increase blueberry production efficiency and the consumption of blueberries nationwide. Our team has developed new research-based extension recommendations related to blueberry production and consumption and has utilized a variety of approaches to develop project content including video, audio podcasts, photo galleries, interactive-training modules, interactive diagrams, animation, and social media networking tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter and blogs).

Other impacts of my Extension programmatic activities are reflected as change in management practices by stakeholders leading to reductions in yield losses, production costs and environmental impacts, while improving fruit quality, production sustainability and revenues. Helping growers adopt effective production practices or refrain from using ineffective methods is referred to as growers’ positive behavioral change that helps increase farmers net gains.