For her work leading a team of scientists focusing on developing high-quality, disease-resistant peach varieties, Clemson associate professor Ksenija Gasic was awarded the 2020 Godley-Snell Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research.
Gasic, who works in the plant and environmental sciences department in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Science, develops new stone fruit cultivars with superior product quality and disease resistance. Her work focuses on varieties suited to southeastern U.S. growing conditions.
Chalmers Carr, president and CEO of Titan Farms in Ridge Spring, the state’s largest peach producer, said, “Dr. Gasic’s leadership as a geneticist has revitalized the South Carolina peach industry, and her work in developing and applying modern DNA tests and breeding methods in rosaceous crops will sustain the industry in this region for generations to come.”
Gasic also supports the future of fruit crop production by mentoring and advising high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, visiting scientists and post-doctoral research associates, which includes advising 24 undergraduate and nine graduate students.
In addition to her research and teaching success, Gasic focuses much of her energy on imparting knowledge to growers throughout South Carolina and the Southeast.