Gina Fernandez

Area(s) of Expertise

Dr. Fernandez is the John D. and Nell R. Leazar Distinguished Professor. She is also the Director of Graduate Programs.

She leads the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry breeding programs at NC State University. To date she has released 'Rocco' and 'Liz strawberries, 'Nantahala' raspberry and 'Von' blackberry. Dr. Fernandez also has statewide Extension responsibilities in blackberries and raspberries (aka brambles or caneberries).

Publications

• Anthocyanin Content and Profiles of Strawberry Fruit from North Carolina Genotypes , JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY (2025)
• Multi-Omics analyses reveal dynamic interactions between DNA methylation and transcriptional regulation during black raspberry ripening , (2025)
• Strawberry Germplasm Influences Fruit Physicochemical Composition More than Harvest Date or Location , Horticulturae (2025)
• Survey of Seasonal Variation of Leaf Tissue Nutrient Concentration of Southeastern Blackberry , HORTSCIENCE (2025)
• Anecdote of homozygosity in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) , Acta Horticulturae (2024)
• Anthocyanin profiles among Rubus species , Acta Horticulturae (2024)
• Anthocyanin profiles in fruit from seminal primocane and floricane-fruiting Rubus cultivars , Acta Horticulturae (2024)
• Genetic Variation in Yield and Fruit Weight Among Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa) Cultivars and the Interaction With Year and Location Effect , PLANT BREEDING (2024)
• Identifying alternative management practices to promote blackberry lateral branch development , Acta Horticulturae (2024)
• Pine bark as an alternative to coco coir for substrate production of long-cane raspberry in southeastern USA , Acta Horticulturae (2024)