Gennaro Fazio

Dr. Fazio a plant breeder and research geneticist with the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, NY. He is the Lead Scientist in the collaborative effort to breed the Geneva® series of apple rootstocks. As such, the focus of his 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. He conducts basic and applied research on apple genetics, particularly in the area of disease resistance, root and tree architecture, drought tolerance, water use efficiency, rootstock mediated plant nutrition and dwarfing mechanisms of apple rootstocks. His research also aims to expand use of genetic resources within the National Malus Collection for apple rootstock improvement and to increase the sustainability of apple growing.