University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply. Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand shifting weather and growing challenges.
German Sandoya, associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is leading the effort with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
The research targets bacterial leaf spot, a persistent disease that can significantly reduce yield and quality. Scientists are also responding to rising temperatures that threaten lettuce, a crop adapted to cooler conditions.
Read more about On the Edge of a Breakthrough: UF/IFAS Breeding Disease-Resistant Lettuce for U.S. Farms, Kitchens.
