My research responsibilities include directing the woody landscape plant breeding and genetics program.  My primary objective is the development of new and improved trees and shrubs for USDA plant hardiness zones 3 and 4 landscapes.  This objective is met through traditional breeding and selection approaches.  The cultivar development objective is facilitated by the study of the genetic and physiological processes controlling important traits in woody landscape plants.  Such studies, often undertaken by graduate students as thesis and dissertation projects, include evaluations of cold hardiness and other environmental stress tolerances including, elevated pH, drought, and flooding/compaction, evaluations of germplasm for disease resistance and the identification of resistance genes to these diseases, and the genetics underlying plant architecture.   Historically, this has been the only project dedicated to breeding woody landscape plants hardy to cold winter regions.  Cutbacks in Experiment Station funding and significant increases in plant introduction activities in the private sector necessitate a reevaluation of future approaches for the project.

Teaching  Responsibilities

Hort 1015 Woody and Herbaceous Plants(co-taught w/ Dr. Sue Galatawitsch)

Hort 4015 Flowering Woody Trees and Shrubs            

Hort 4000 International Horticulture (New Zealand, Sp. 2007 w/ Dr. Brian Horgan)

Publications

Hokanson, S.C. and C.E. Finn.  2000. Strawberry cultivar usage in North America. HortTechnology 10:94-106.

Maas, J.L., C. Gouin-Behe, J.S. Hartung, and S.C. Hokanson.  2000. Sources of resistance for two differentially pathogenic strains of Xanthomonas fragariae in Fragaria genotypes.  HortScience 35:128-131.

Hokanson, S.C., R.R. Martin, and J.L. Maas.  2000. First report of tobacco streak virus in strawberry in the Eastern United States.  Plant Disease 84:488.

Hokanson, S.C., R.R. Martin, R.F. Heflebower Jr., R. Rouse, and J.L. Maas.  2000. Survey of strawberry viruses occurring in commercial plantings in the state of Maryland, USA.  Advances in Strawberry Research 18:25-32.

Degani, C., L.J. Rowland, J.A. Saunders, S.C. Hokanson, E.L. Ogden, A. Golan-Goldhirsh, and G.J. Galletta.  2001. A comparison of genetic relationship measures in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) based on AFLPs, RAPDs, and pedigree data.  Euphytica 117:1-12.

Hokanson, S.C., W.F. Lamboy, A.K. Szewc-McFadden and J.R. McFerson.  2001. Microsatellite (SSR) variation in a collection of Malus (apple) species and hybrids. Euphytica 118:281-294.

Hancock, J.F., C.A. Finn, S.C. Hokanson, J.J. Luby, B.L. Goulart, K. Demchak, P.W. Callow, S. Serce, A.M.C. Shilder and K.E. Hummer.  2001. A multistate comparison of native octoploid strawberries from North and South America.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126:579-586.

Hokanson, S.C.  2001. SNiPs, Chips, BACs and YACs: Are small fruits part of the party mix?  HortScience 36:859-871.

Hancock, J.F., P.W. Callow, A. Dale, J.J. Luby, C.E. Finn, S.C. Hokanson, K.E. Hummer.  2001. From the Andes to the Rockies: Native strawberry collection and utilization.  HortScience 36:221-225.

Hokanson, S.C.  2001. Collection and utilization of fruit crop genetic resources: Some case studies – An introduction to the workshop.  HortScience 36:207-208.

Tzanetakis, I.E., S.C. Hokanson, J. Maas, and R.R. Martin. 2002. Identification of strawberry pallidosis virus and development of a sensitive detection method. Proc. Southeast Strawberry Expo-North Amer. 2002 Berry Conference. p.41-43.

Hancock, J.F., S. C. Hokanson, C.E. Finn and K.E. Hummer.  2002. Introducing a supercore collection of wild octoploid strawberries. Acta Hort. 57:77-80.

Ballington, J.R., J.L. Shuman, B.J. Smith, S.C. Hokanson and G. Gimonez.  2002. Breeding strawberries for resistance to anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. Acta Hort. 57:89-92.

Nourse, S.M., E.W. Fickus, P.B. Cregan, and S.C. Hokanson.  2002. Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers in strawberry. Pg. 48-53. In: S.C. Hokanson and A.R. Jamieson (eds.). Proc. 5^th N. Amer. Strawberry Conf. Strawberry Research to 2001. ASHS Press, Alexandria, Va.

Maas, J.L., C.C. Gouin, S.C. Hokanson and J.S. Hartung.  2002. Strawberry parent clones US 4808 and US 4809 resistant to bacterial angular leafspot disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae.  HortScience 37:716-717.

Black, B.L., J.M. Enns and S.C. Hokanson.  2002. A comparison of temperate-climate strawberry production systems using eastern genotypes.  HortTechnology 12:670-675.

Tzanetakis, I.E., A.B. Halgren, K.E. Keller, S.C. Hokanson, J.L. Maas, P.L. McCarthy, and R.R. Martin. 2003. Identification and detection of a virus associated with strawberry pallidosis disease. Plant Disease 84:383-390.

Hartung, J.S., Gouin, C.C., Lewers, K.S., Maas, J.L. and Hokanson, S. 2003. Identification of sources of resistance to bacterial angular leafspot disease of strawberry. Acta Hort. 626:155-159.

Lewers, K.S., J.L. Maas, S.C. Hokanson, C.C. Gouin and J.S. Hartung.  2003. Inheritance of resistance in strawberry to bacterial angular leafspot disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae.  Jour. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128:209-212.

Lewers, K.S., J.M. Enns, S.Y. Wang, J.L. Maas, G.J. Galletta, and S.C. Hokanson.  2004. ‘Ovation’ strawberry.  HortScience 39:1785-1788.

Takeda, F., S.C. Hokanson, J.M. Enns.  2004. Influence of daughter plant weight and position on strawberry transplant production and field performance in annual plasticulture.  HortScience 39:1592-1595.

Hokanson, S.C., F. Takeda, J.M. Enns, and B.L. Black.  2004. Influence of plant storage duration on strawberry runner tip viability and field performance. HortScience 39:1596-1600.

Lewers, K.S., N.V. Bassil, S.M.N. Styan, S.C. Hokanson.  2005. Strawberry GenBank-derived and genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and their utility with strawberry, blackberry, and red and black raspberry.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130:102-115.

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.

Gardner, N. and S.C. Hokanson.  2005. Intersimple Sequence Repeat Fingerprinting and Genetic Variation in a Collection of Clematis Cultivars and Commercial Germplasm. HortScience 40:1982-1987.

Hokanson, S.C., S. McNamara, K. Zuzek, N. Rose, and H. Pellett.  2005. Rhododendron ‘Candy Lights’ and R. ‘Lilac Lights’. HortScience 40:1925-1927.

McNamara, S., K. Zuzek, N. Rose, H. Pellett, and S.C. Hokanson.  Firefall^TM Freeman Maple. 2005. HortScience 40:269-271.

Takeda, F., P. Perkins-Veazie, H.J. Swartz, and S.C. Hokanson.  2006. Strawberry transplant production and performance in annual plasticulture system in the eastern United States.  Acta Horticulturae 708:213-216.

Zlesak, D.C., K. Zuzek, and S.C. Hokanson.  2006. Rose pollen viability over time at varying storage temperatures. Acta Hort. (In press)

Whitaker, V.M., K. Zuzek, J.M. Bradeen, and S. C. Hokanson.  2006. Culturing and long-term storage of virulent races of the rose blackspot pathogen, Diplocarpon rosae.  Acta Hort. (In press)

Whitaker, V.M., K. Zuzek, and S.C. Hokanson. 2006. Resistance of Twelve Rose Genotypes to Fourteen Isolates of Diplocarpon rosae Wolf (Rose Blackspot) Collected from Eastern North America. Plant Breeding. (Accepted for publication)

Whitaker, V.M., J.M. Bradeen, and S.C. Hokanson. Preliminary AFLP Characterization of Rose Blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae Wolf) Diversity in Eastern North America. Mycological Research (Submitted)

Book chapters

Hokanson, S.C. and J.L. Maas.  2001. Strawberry biotechnology, p. 139-180. In:  J. Janick (ed.). Plant Breeding Reviews, Vol. 21. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Forsline, P.L., H. S. Aldwinckle, E. E. Dickson, J. J. Luby, and S.C. Hokanson.  2003. Collection, Maintenance, Characterization, and Utilization of Wild Apples of Central Asia. p. 1-62. In: J. Janick (ed.). Horticultural Reviews, Volume 29, Wild Apple and Fruit Trees of Central Asia. John Wiley and Sons, New York.