Overview

My program emphasizes teaching and research equally. In each realm my goal is to develop more sustainable approaches and systems for growing fruit crops, increasing the value of farm products, and sustaining the rural communities and natural resources of New York and elsewhere around the nation and world.

Research Focus

I work on diverse fruit crops including tree fruits, winegrapes, and novel crops such as pawpaws and antique apple varieties. Some of my projects have continued for more than a decade, investigating long-term impacts and aspects of perennial crop systems. Current research areas include biological control of soilborne diseases of apples, nutrient dynamics in orchards under various soil management systems, cultural practices to improve winegrape quality, tree root demography, and evaluation of traditional American and European apple varieties for cider fermentation. More about my research program.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I participate to a limited extent in Cornell`s outreach programs, providing research updates on my program for fruit grower conferences and meetings in New York and elsewhere around North America. I have also been active in Afghanistan and Latin America, providing support to fruit growers intent on improving their production systems in those countries.

Instruction Focus

I teach or co-teach three courses: Horticultural Systems and Science (the entry level course in our major); Wines and Vines (the entry level course for our Viticulture-Enology undergraduate program); and Ecological Orchard Management (a capstone course for fourth-year undergraduates and graduate students). I also teach modules within other courses in Crop Ecology and Tropical Crop Systems. More about my teaching program.

Additional Links

• Cider pictures
• Enology and Viticulture program
• Ian Merwin`s Research Program
• Ian Merwin`s Teaching Program
• Recent publications
• Link to VIVO profile

Selected Publications

• Yao, S., I.A. Merwin, and M.B. Brown. 2009. Apple root growth, turnover, and distribution under different orchard groundcover management systems. HortScience 44(1):168-175.
• Merwin, I.A., S. Valois, and Olga Padilla-Zakour. 2008. Cider apples and cider-making techniques in Europe and North America, (J. Janick, Ed.) HortReviews 34:365-414.
• St.Laurent, A., I.A. Merwin, and J.E. Thies. 2008. Long-term orchard groundcover management systems affect soil microbial communities and apple replant disease severity. Plant and Soil 304:209-225.
• Merwin, I. A. 2008. Some antique apples for modern orchards. New York Fruit Quarterly. 16(4):13-17.
• Hostetler, G.L, I.A. Merwin, M.G. Brown, and O. Padilla-Zakour. 2007. Influence of undervine floor management on weed competition, vine nutrition, and yields of Pinot noir. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 58(4):421-430.
• Hostetler, G.L, I.A. Merwin, M.G. Brown, and O. Padilla-Zakour. 2007. Influence of geotextile mulches on canopy microclimate, yield and fruit composition of Cabernet franc. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 58(4):431-442.
• Kadzere, I., C.B. Watkins, I.A. Merwin, F.K. Akinnefesi, and J.D.K. Saka (2007) Harvest date affects colour and soluble solids concentrations (SSC) of Uapaca kirkiana (Muell. Arg.) fruits from natural woodlands. Agroforestry Systems 69:167-173.
• Rumberger, A., I.A. Merwin, and J.E. Thies. 2007. Microbial community development in the rhizosphere of apple trees at a replant disease site. Soil. Biol & Biochem. 39(7):1645-1654.
• Leinfelder, M, and I.A. Merwin. 2006. Management strategies for apple replant disease. NY Fruit Quarterly 14(1):39-42.
• Peck, G., I. A. Merwin, E. Volmer and K. Averill. 2006. Multilevel comparisons of organic (OFP) and integrated fruit production (IFP) systems for ‘Liberty' apple in a New York orchard. Ann. Mtg. of ASHS. New Orleans, LA. July 2006. HortScience 41(4):1032.
• Yao, S., I.A. Merwin and M.G. Brown. 2006. Root dynamics of apple rootstocks in a replanted orchard. HortScience 41(5):1149-1155.
• Valois, S., I.A. Merwin, and O.L. Padilla-Zakour. 2006. Characterization of fermented cider apple cultivars grown in upstate New York. Jnl. Amer. Pomol. Soc. 60(3):113-128.
• Kadzere, I., C.B. Watkins, I.A. Merwin, F.K. Akinnifesi, J.D.K. Saka and J. Mhango. 2006. Harvesting and postharvest handling practices and characteristics of Uapaca kirkiana (Muell. Arg.) fruits: A survey of roadsice markets in Malawi. Agroforestry Syst. 68:133-142.
• Kadzere, I., C.B. Watkins, I.A. Merwin, F.K. Akinnifesi, and J.D.K. Saka. 2006. Postharvest damage and darkening in fresh fruit of Uapaca kirkiana (Muell.Arg.). Postharvest Biol. and Technol. 39:199-203.
• Yao, S., I.A. Merwin, G.S. Abawi, and J.E. Thies. 2006. Soil fumigation and compost amendment alter soil microbial community composition but do not improve tree growth or yield in an apple replant site. Soil Biol & Biochem. 38:587-599.
• Miller, S. S., R.W. McNew, B.H. Barritt, L. Berkett, S.K. Brown, J.A. Cline, J.M. Clements, W.P. Cowgill, R.M. Crasswelleer, M.E. Garcia, D.W. Greene, G.M. Greene, C.R. Hampson, I. Merwin, D.D. Miller, R.E. Moran, C.R. Rom, T.R. Roper, J.R. Schupp, and E. Stover. 2005. Effect of culutivar and site on fruit quality as demonstrated by the NE-183 regional project on apple cultivars. HortTechnology 15(4):886-895.
• Yao, S. I.A. Merwin, G.W. Bird, G.S. Abawi, and J.E. Thies. 2005. Orchard floor management practices that maintain vegetative or biomass groundcover stimulate soil microbial activity and alter soil microbial community composition. Plant and Soil. 271:377-389.
• Merwin, I.A. 2005. Antique apples: A guide for eaters and growers. Pp. 16-23 in The best apples to buy and grow. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Handbook No. 181. N.Y.
• Merwin, I.A. 2005. Field performance of grafted and seedling chestnuts in New York. New York Fruit Quarterly 13(1):33-35.
• Merwin, I.A. 2004. Groundcover management effects on orchard production, nutrition, and soil and water quality. New York Fruit Quarterly 12(2):25-29.
• Greene, D., A. Azarenko, B. Barritt, B. Belding, L. Berkett, J. Cline, W. Cowgill, D. Ferree, E. Garcia, G. Greene, C. Hampson, R. McNew, I. Merwin, D. Miller, S. Miller, R. Moran, M. Parker, D. Rosenberger, C. Rom, T. Roper, J. Schupp, and E. Stover. 2004. Multidisciplinary evaluation of new apple cultivars: The NE-183 regional project. Jnl. of Amer. Pomol. Soc. 58(2):61-64.
• Miller, S., R. McNew, R. Belding, L. Berkett, S. Brown, J. Clements, J. Cline, W. Cowgill, R. Crassweller, E. Garcia, D. Greene, G. Greene, C. Hampson, I. Merwin, R. Moran, T. Roper, J. Schupp, and E. Stover. 2004. Performance of apple cultivars in the 1995 NE-183 regional project planting: II. Fruit quality characteristics. Jnl. of Amer. Pomol. Soc. 58(2):65-77.
• C.R. Hampson, R. McNew, A. Azarenko, L. Berkett, B. Barrit, R. Belding, S. Brown, J. Clements, J. Cline, W. Cowgill, R. Crassweller, E. Garcia, D. Greene, G. Greene, I. Merwin, D. Miller, S. Miller, R. Moran, J.D. Obermiller, C. Rom, T. Roper, J. Schupp, and E. Stover. 2004. Performance of ‘Braeburn,' ‘Golden Delicious' and ‘Yataka Fuji' apple on Mark and M.9 rootstocks at multiple locations across North America. Jnl. of Amer. Pomol. Soc. 58(2):78-89.
• Rumberger, A., S. Yao, I.A. Merwin, E.B. Nelson and J.E. Thies. 2004. Rootstock genotype and orchard replant position rather than soil fumigation or compost amendment determine tree growth and rhizosphere bacterial community composition in an apple replant soil. Plant and Soil. 264:247-260.
• Wargo, J.M., I.A. Merwin and C.B. Watkins. 2004. Nitrogen fertilization, midsummer trunk girdling, and AVG treatments affect maturity and quality of ‘Jonagold' apples. HortScience 39(4): 39:493-500.
• Wargo, J.M., I.A. Merwin, and C.B. Watkins. 2003. Fruit size, yield and market value of ‘Goldrush' apple are affected by amount, timing and method of nitrogen fertilization. HortTechnology 13(1):5-13.
• Merwin, I.A. 2003. Orchard Floor Management Systems. Pp. 303-318 in: Apples: Botany, Production and Uses (D.C. Ferree and I. Warrington, eds.) CABI Publ., Wallingford, England.
• Merwin, I.A. 2003. Orchard floor management. Pp. 195-202 in: The Concise Encyclopedia of Temperate Tree Fruits (S. Singha and T. Baugher, eds.) Haworth Press, Binghampton, NY.
• Merwin, I. A., R. Byard and K.W. Pomper. 2003. Survival, growth and establishment of grafted pawpaws in upstate New York. HortTechnology 13(3):421-422.
• Eames-Sheavly, M., Cramer, C. Reisinger, R. Pritts, M, and Merwin, I. 2003. The Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home. Cornell Coop. Ext. Bull. 67 p.
• Bittner, K. and I.A. Merwin. 2003. Development and testing of a shrouded flame weeder for non-chemical weed control. New York Fruit Quarterly. 11(1):23-25.
• Oliveira, M.T. and I.A. Merwin. 2001. Soil physical conditions in a New York orchard after eight years under different groundcover management systems. Plant and Soil 234(2):233-237.
• Merwin, I.A., R. Byard, T. Robinson, S. Carpenter, S. Hoying, M. Fargione. and K Iungermann. 2001. Developing an integrated program for diagnosis and control of replant problems in New York apple orchards. New York Fruit Quarterly. 9(1):11-18.
• Psarras, G., I.A. Merwin, A.N. Lakso, and J. A. Ray. 2000. Root growth phenology, root longevity, and rhizosphere respiration of field grown `Mutsu` apple trees on `Malling 9` rootstocks. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(5):596-602.
• Psarras, G. and I.A. Merwin. 2000. Water stress affects rhizosphere respiration rates and root morphology of young apple trees on M.9 and MM.111 rootstocks. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(5):588-595.
• Isutsa, D.K. and I.A. Merwin. 2000. Malus germplasm varies in resistance or tolerance to apple replant disease in a mixture of New York orchard soils. HortScience 35(2):262-268.
• Wargo, J. M., I.A. Merwin and C.B. Watkins. 2000. Effects of ReTain, nitrogen fertilization, and mid-summer trunk scoring on fruit color and quality of `Jonagold` apples. New York Fruit Quarterly. 8(4):24-27.
• Merwin, I.A. 1999. Hard Cider: An old-new apple product. New York Fruit Quarterly 7(3):3-6.

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