![[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/plantbiopath.gif "[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]"){kind=small}
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Rutgers University
Department of Plant Biology & Pathology
Foran Hall/ Cook Campus
59 Dudley Rd.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
henninger@aesop.rutgers.edu
Campus Location
Office: Room 168 Foran Hall, 732-932-9711 x120
Extension and Research Interests
Conducts field trials to evaluate varieties of white and sweet potatoes, in addition to other fresh market vegetables (cole crops and squash). Conducts cultural trials with both conventional and organic growing techniques for white potatoes to development of management profiles (fertility, spacing, harvest date and pest control strategies) for new and existing varieties.
With white potatoes, New Jersey has a market window for chipping potatoes in late July and early August; as well as table potatoes from July to November. Direct marketing of speciality varieties is becoming more popular every year. This includes red and purple skin color; in addition to red, purple, and yellow flesh color. Long russets and fingerlings are also grown. I test early generation seedlings for heat tolerance(internal heat necrosis, second growth, heat sprouts, and hollow heat). from breeding programs at Cornell University, University of Maine, USDA at Beltsville and Aberdeen, Michigan State, and University of Minnesota.
I am participating with the USDA-ARS Beltsville to study the inherence of Internal Heat Necrosis to better breed high yielding and high dry matter varieties for processing into potato chips.
Publications
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Rutgers Affiliations
Dr. Melvin Henninger joined the department in 1972 and serves as the Extension Specialist in Potatoes/Vegetable Crops.