Sloth Fever Unlikely To Spread via Mosquitoes in Southeastern US (UF News)
UF researchers found that the primary mosquitoes in the Southeastern U.S. are poor transmitters of the Oropouche virus, easing concerns that “sloth fever” could become established in the region despite recent travel-related cases.
New Moby Dick-Like Termite Species Discovered (UF/IFAS)
An international research team led by UF entomologist Rudolf Scheffrahn discovered a new South American termite species, Cryptotermes mobydicki, named for its whale-like elongated head and hidden mandibles.
Breakthrough With First Disease-Resistant Wine Grapes Shows Hope for a Florida Wine Renaissance (UF News)
UF researchers have grown and harvested wine grapes that are resistant to the main bacterial disease that has long prevented the state from establishing a large-scale wine industry.
A Protein Can Help Make Some Citrus More Tolerant to the Deadly Citrus Greening Disease — and It’s Safe (UF News)
Greening disease has devastated the citrus crop in Florida, but UF researchers are using genes from another plant and putting them into Hamlin oranges to develop citrus plants that fight the disease.
Scientists at New AI Center Aim To Help Florida Farmers and Protect the Environment (UF News)
To protect crop yields and the environment, UF/IFAS is leveraging technology driven by artificial intelligence by building a 40,000-square-foot AI hub at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Hillsborough County.
University of Florida To Be New Host for Major Plant Breeding Accelerator Program (UF News)
UF has been selected as the new home of Breeding Insight, a USDA-ARS-funded accelerator program that uses AI, high-performance computing, and advanced breeding methods.
Scientists Reveal Novel Therapeutic Approach to Combat Pathogens Like Salmonella (UF/IFAS blog)
A UF study led by Mariola Ferraro has identified a promising strategy to prevent pathogens from hijacking a key component of cellular machinery, revealing a novel therapeutic approach to combat infections.
AI Could Help Strawberry Growers Find, Remove ‘Runners,’ Reducing Labor and Saving Time (UF/IFAS)
UF research shows that farmers may soon find it easier to remove strawberry runners with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), which could save time and labor.
Researchers Create First High-Resolution Map of Soil Properties Across the Globe
UF researchers, as part of an international team, helped create the first high-resolution global maps of key soil properties, offering unprecedented detail to advance agriculture, sustainability, and food and water security.
Assisted by Sniffer Dogs and DNA Sequencing, Researchers Discover Three New Truffle Species
UF researchers studying fungal evolution and ecology have discovered three new truffle species, including one capable of commanding hundreds of dollars per pound within culinary circles.