Area(s) of Expertise

Dr. Ashrafi is interested in conventional plant breeding, molecular breeding through marker assisted selection, genetic mapping, QTL analysis, bioinformatics and statistical genomics. As an assistant professor in blueberry breeding, he is passionate to use his expertise to breed for higher quality blueberries.

Publications

• Fruit Composition Diversity among the North Carolina Strawberry Core Germplasm Collection , HortScience (2026)
• Bridging Genomics and Grower Needs: Developing Molecular Tools for Phenology and Quality Improvement in Blueberry Breeding Programs , California Digital Library (2025)
• Genetic control of prickles in tetraploid blackberry , G3 Genes Genomes Genetics (2025)
• Genetic diversity and population structure analysis in Tunisian Olive collection using genotyping-by-sequencing , Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration (2025)
• Identification of late blight resistance QTLs in an interspecific RIL population of tomato via genotyping-by-sequencing , Molecular Breeding (2025)
• Leveraging Persephone for Genomic Insights into Blueberry Morphogenic Genes , Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG 32) (2025)
• Optimization of Adventitious Shoot Regeneration Protocols for Six Vaccinium corymbosum Cultivars , HortScience (2025)
• A Blueberry (Vaccinium L.) Crop Ontology to Enable Standardized Phenotyping for Blueberry Breeding and Research , HortScience (2024)
• Advancements in Highbush Blueberry Regeneration Systems & Enhancing blueberry regeneration by genome editing , 13th International Vaccinium Symposium (2024)
• Application of RAPD and ISSR markers tools for commercial monovarietal Tunisian extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) authenticity and traceability , Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration (2024)

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