Brent Black

• Research interests
• Extension activities
• Education
• Positions
• Affiliations
• Publications

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

• Plant Growth Regulators for regulated cropping in commercial fruit production.
• Identifying varieties, rootstocks, production systems and alternative fruit crops best suited to Utah's high elevation arid climate.

 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

• Organized the Utah Berry Growers Association
• Developing a program in improving orchard irrigation management
• Teaching the basics of home fruit production for Master Gardener classes

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. Plant Physiology, Oregon State University
M.S. Horticulture, Michigan State University
B.S. Plant and Soil Science, Utah State University


POSITIONS:

• Extension Fruit Specialist, Plants, Soils, & Biometeorology Department, Utah State University, August 2005 - present.
• Research Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS Fruit Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center , 1999 - 2005.
• Visiting Research Assistant, University of Maryland , Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, 1996 - 1999
• University Scholar, Michigan State University , Department of Horticulture, 1994

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

American Pomological Society (Executive Board Member)
American Society for Horticultural Science
American Society of Plant Biologists
International Society for Horticultural Science
North American Strawberry Growers Association
Utah State Horticulture Association
Utah Berry Growers Association

PUBLICATIONS:

Refereed journal articles:

1. Black, B.L., I.M. Fordham and P. Perkins-Veazie. 2005. Autumnberry (Elaeagnus umbellata): A potential cash crop. J. Amer. Pomological Soc. 59(3):125-134.
2. Black, B.L., S.C. Hokanson and K.S. Lewers. 2005. Fruit nitrogen content of sixteen strawberry genotypes grown in an advanced matted row production system. HortScience 40:1190-1193.
3. Black, B.L., H.J. Swartz, G.F. Deitzer, B. Butler and C.K. Chandler. 2005. The effects of conditioning strawberry plug plants under altered red/far red light environment on subsequent performance. HortScience 40:1263-1267.
4. Hokanson, S.C. , F. Takeda, J.M. Enns, and B.L. Black. 2004. Influence of cold storage duration on strawberry runner tip viability and field performance. HortScience 39:1596-1600.
5. Black, B.L. 2004. Prohexadione-calcium decreases fall runners and advances branch crowns of ' Chandler ' strawberry in a cold-climate annual production system. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 129:479-485.
6. Black, B.L., H.J. Swartz, P. Millner and P. Steiner. 2003. Pre-plant crop rotation and compost amendments for improving raspberry establishment. J. Amer. Pomological Soc. 57:149-156.
7. Black B.L., and R.H. Zimmerman. 2002. Mixtures of coal ash and compost as substrates for highbush blueberry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127(5):869-877.
8. Black, B.L., J.M. Enns and S.C. Hokanson. 2002. A comparison of temperate-climate strawberry production systems using eastern genotypes. HortTechnology 12(4):670-675
9. Black, B.L., L.H. Fuchigami, and G.D. Coleman. 2002. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves, stems, and roots of hybrid poplar. Tree Physiology 22:717-724.
10. Black, B.L., C. Parmentier-Line, L.H. Fuchigami, and G.D. Coleman. 2001. Ecotypic and genetic variation in poplar bark storage protein accumulation. Tree Physiology 21(17):1289–1297.
11. Stopar, M., B.L. Black, and M.J. Bukovac. 1997. The effect of NAA and BA on carbon dioxide assimilation by shoot leaves of spur-type ‘Delicious’ and ‘Empire’ apple trees. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 122:837-840.
12. Black, B.L., M.J. Bukovac, and J. Hull, Jr. 1995. Effect of spray volume and time of NAA application on fruit size and cropping of Redchief 'Delicious'. Scientia Hortic. 64:253-264.
13. Black, B.L., P.D. Petracek, and M.J. Bukovac. 1995. The effect of temperature on uptake of NAA by leaves of Redchief 'Delicious' Apple. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 120:441-445.

Book chapters:

1. Black, B.L., J.M. Enns, and S.C. Hokanson. 2002. Advancing the matted-row strawberry production system. In: Strawberry Research to 2001: Proc. 5th North Amer. Strawberry Conf. S.C. Hokanson and A.R. Jamieson, eds. ASHS Press, Alexandria VA. p. 112-115.
2. Black, B.L. and M.J. Bukovac. 1996. Plant growth regulator application technology, uptake, and action. In: Tree Fruit Physiology: Growth and Development. K.M. Maib, P.K Andrews, G.A. Lang and K. Mullinix, eds. Good Fruit Grower, Yakima Washington, .

Conference proceedings:

1. Black, B.L. 2006. Strawberry runner suppression with prohexadione-calcium. Acta Horticulturae 708:249-252.
2. Stevens, M.D., B.L. Black, J.D. Lea-Cox and C.J. Hapeman. 2006. Sustainability of cold-climate strawberry production systems. Acta Horticulturae 708:69-72.
3. Black, B.L. and I.M. Fordham. 2005. Autumn olive: weed or new cash crop? Proc. Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. 2005(2):14-16.
4. Fordham, I.M., R.H. Zimmerman, B.L. Black, B.M. Clevidence, and E.R. Wiley. 2003. Autumn olive: A potential alternative crop. Proceedings of the 2002 International Horticultural Congress. Acta Horticulturae 626:437-439.
5. Black, B.L., and R.H. Zimmerman. 2002. Industrial and municipal by-products as substrates for highbush blueberry production. Acta Hort. 574:267-272.
6. Black, B.L. and S.C. Hokanson. 2001. Current Status and Future Opportunities in the Strawberry Industry. Proceedings NATO/CCMS Workshop 2000: Challenges of Modern Society, New Agricultural Technologies. Report No. 247, CCMS Blue Book Series, NATO-CCMS, Scientific Affairs Division, Brussels, .
7. Black, B.L., M.J. Bukovac, and M. Stopar. 2000. Intra-spur fruit competition and position influence fruit size at harvest and response to chemical thinning agents in spur-type ‘Delicious’ apple. Acta Horticulturae 527:119-125.