Gennaro Fazio

Plant Genetic Resources Unit, USDA-ARS

I am a plant breeder and research geneticist with the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, NY.  The focus of my research is to develop new apple rootstocks that are more productive than current commercially available varieties and are resistant to devastating diseases like fire blight (caused by Erwinia amylovora) and replant disease.  Part of the research focus is directed toward developing marker assisted breeding protocols for the breeding program, therefore I conduct basic and applied research on apple genetics, particularly in the area of disease resistance, root and tree architecture, rootstock mediated plant nutrition and dwarfing mechanisms of apple rootstocks.  My research also aims to expand use of genetic resources within the National Malus Collection for apple rootstock improvement.