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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory » Research » Research Project #444275
Research Project: Accelerating Blueberry and Cranberry Improvement by Exploiting Germplasm Resources and Multi-omics Technologies

Location: Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Finlay-Wilkinson random regression to predict yield and yield stability in cereals - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Berrybox: An affordable computer vision system for postharvest phenotyping of cranberry and other small fruits Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Neyhart, J.L., Wakholi, C., Rippner, D.A., Price, J.H., Altendorf, K.R., Heineck, G.C., Zalapa, J.E., Loarca, J.S., Sideli, G. 2026. Berrybox: An affordable computer vision system for postharvest phenotyping of cranberry and other small fruits. The Plant Phenome Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppj2.70090.

Targeted population genomics uncovers demographic history and genetic divergence in North American wild cranberry Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jimenez, N., Torres-Meraz, M., Neyhart, J.L., Zalapa, J.E., Sideli, G. 2026. Targeted population genomics uncovers demographic history and genetic divergence in North American wild cranberry. Horticulture Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhag161.

First description of the causal agent of fairy ring of cranberry and its novel dispersal method Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vaiciunas, J., Polashock, J.J., Kawash, J.K., Oudemans, P. 2026. First description of the causal agent of fairy ring of cranberry and its novel dispersal method. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-26-0020-R.

Blunt-nosed leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): A re-emerging pest of cranberries Reprint Icon - (Review Article)
Ben-Zvi, Y., Liu, H., Oudemans, P., Wells-Hansen, L., Polashock, J.J., Sideli, G., Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2026. Blunt-nosed leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): A re-emerging pest of cranberries. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmag012.

Detection and confirmation of atrazine-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in the northeastern United States Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Besançon, T.E., Brunharo, C.A., Polashock, J.J., Sosnoskie, L.M. 2026. Detection and confirmation of atrazine-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in the northeastern United States. Weed Science. 74(1). Article e25. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2026.10102.

Integrating past lessons into improved management of cranberry false blossom disease Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Oudemans, P.V., Neyhart, J.L., Kaur, J., Haines, M.J., Wells-Hansen, L.D., Holland, L.A., Polashock, J.J., Rodriguez Saona, C., Besancon, T.E., Sideli, G.M. 2026. Integrating past lessons into improved management of cranberry false blossom disease. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-25-2382-FE.

Nutrient inputs and phytoplasma infection shape plant-herbivore interactions in cranberry Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, H., Polashock, J.J., Han, P., Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2026. Nutrient inputs and phytoplasma infection shape plant-herbivore interactions in cranberry. Entomologia Generalis. https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/3828.

Transcriptomic stress responses in Vaccinium spp. F1 hybrids: Implications for temperature-resilient cranberry breeding using a crop wild relative Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dickinson, A., Kubal, J., Allsing, N., Murray, E., Michael, T.P., Polashock, J.J. 2026. Transcriptomic stress responses in Vaccinium spp. F1 hybrids: Implications for temperature-resilient cranberry breeding using a crop wild relative. Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70150.

Advances in detection and relative quantification of the cranberry false blossom disease-associated phytoplasma Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Polashock, J.J., Wei, W. 2026. Advances in detection and relative quantification of the cranberry false blossom disease-associated phytoplasma. Plant Disease. 110. Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-25-1779-SC.

Genomewide association and prediction of phenotypic stability in barley - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Dissecting genotype-environment interactions with functional implications for parental selection in cannabis breeding Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Halpin-Mccormick, A., Thompson, R., Clarke, R.C., Neyhart, J.L., Kantar, M.B. 2025. Dissecting genotype-environment interactions with functional implications for parental selection in cannabis breeding. Journal of Heredity. esaf048. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esaf048.

Leveraging genetic resources and genomic prediction to enhance flavonol content in cranberry fruit - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Environmental genomic selection to leverage polygenic local adaptation in barley landraces Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Halpin-Mccormick, A., Campbell, Q., Negrao, S., Morrell, P., Hubner, S., Neyhart, J.L., Kantar, M. 2025. Environmental genomic selection to leverage polygenic local adaptation in barley landraces. Communications Biology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08045-4.

Climate resilience conserved in global germplasm repositories: picking the most promising parents for agile plant breeding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Phytoplasma infection renders cranberries more susceptible to above- and belowground insect herbivores Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rodriguez-Saona, C., Salazar-Mendoza, P., Holdcraft, R., Polashock, J.J. 2024. Phytoplasma infection renders cranberries more susceptible to above- and belowground insect herbivores. Insect Science. 32(3):957-972. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.13444.

Intersectional hybrids of the relict species, box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera), with dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ehlenfeldt, M.K., Luteyn, J.L., Zalapa, J.E., De La Torre, F. 2024. Intersectional hybrids of the relict species, box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera), with dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa). HortScience. 59(11):1597–1602. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17916-24.

Quantitative trait loci analysis and marker development for fruit rot resistance in cranberry shows potential genetic association with epicuticular wax Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kawash, J.K., Erndwein, L.C., Johnson-Cicalese, J., Knowles, S., Vorsa, N., Polashock, J.J. 2024. Quantitative trait loci analysis and marker development for fruit rot resistance in cranberry shows potential genetic association with epicuticular wax. Phytopathology. 114:1366-1372. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-23-0477-R.

Triploid hybrids of 2x lingonberry (vaccinium vitis-idaea) by 2x black highbush blueberry (v. fuscatum) and 2x elliott’s blueberry (v. elliottii) as evidence of a genome balance requirement for hybridization success Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ehlenfeldt, M.K., Luteyn, J.L., Zalapa, J.E., De La Torre, F. 2023. Triploid hybrids of 2x lingonberry (vaccinium vitis-idaea) by 2x black highbush blueberry (v. fuscatum) and 2x elliott’s blueberry (v. elliottii) as evidence of a genome balance requirement for hybridization success. Horticulturae. 9(12):1308. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121308.