UGA Griffin Campus

Dr. Rachel A. Itle is an Assistant Research Scientist in Fruit Production and Genetics having worked in the fruit industry in blueberry research for over 12 years. She has extensively researched blueberry fruit quality attributes of southern highbush blueberry and rabbiteye blueberry cultivars, as a needs-based research focus driven by the members of the Georgia Blueberry industry. She has established a research and extension program that conducts research in perennial fruit crops in the southeastern US, such as blueberry, with an emphasis on physicochemical fruit quality traits and understanding the genetics behind them. Dr. Itle’s program also conducts research on overall plant growth in response to different cultural management techniques including freeze protection strategies, biostimulant applications, and trellising systems, among others. She has collaborated on projects on other high value fruit crops in the state including muscadines, wine grapes, and peaches. Dr. Itle is also working to breed and develop additional fruit cultivars better suited for the southeast including table grape. The overall goal of her program is to help the perennial fruit industry in Georgia and the southeast maintain and increase their market share and overall profitability.

Areas of Interest

•  Hysicochemical Qualities of Fruit
•  Cultural Management Practices of Fruit Crops
•  Fruit Breeding and Genetics.

Appointments

• 65% Research
• 30% Extension
• 5% Service

Education

• B.S. Horticulture, The Pennsylvania State University, 2006
• Ph.D. Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Florida, 2010
• Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Georgia, 2017