What Are Asian Giant Hornets, and Are They Really Dangerous? 5 Questions Answered
According to recent press reports, two Asian giant hornets – a species not known to occur in North America – were found in northwest Washington state in late 2019, and a hornet colony was found and eliminated in British Columbia. Now scientists are trying to determine whether more of these large predatory insects are present in […]
University of Florida Researchers Find Promising New Treatment in Fight to Beat Citrus Greening
University of Florida researchers have discovered another possible solution to the plague of citrus greening that is impacting Florida’s citrus groves. This new information adds to the growing portfolio of knowledge that UF scientists are amassing to fight the disease. Led by UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences microbiology and cell science professor Claudio […]
UF/IFAS Scientists Help National Team Breed Better Pomegranates
California farmers produce 90% of the nation’s pomegranates, but ‘Wonderful’ pomegranates come from cuttings in Florida, and some Florida farmers seeking alternative crops see pomegranates as among their options. Zhanao Deng, a professor of environmental horticulture at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), soon will collaborate with researchers nationwide to breed more […]
Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul Appointed Director of UF ICBR
The University of Florida Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research recently announced the appointment of its new director, Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D. Dr. Paul assumed the position effective March 20, 2020. For the past year, Dr. Paul has served as ICBR’s interim director. During that time, Dr. Paul spearheaded the center’s acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and furthered […]
UF/IFAS Working Hard to Deliver for the Citrus Industry
While the scenery may have changed, the work remains the same for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus faculty and Extension agents. “The coronavirus pandemic has altered the daily routine but not our mission to provide research and educational service to the citrus industry,” said Michael Rogers, director of the […]
COVID-19 and Food Safety: Fact and Fiction for Food Production
Consumers are being bombarded with tips for what to do with their groceries during the coronavirus crisis. Leave them in the garage for three days? Wash the produce with soapy water? Wipe all packaging down with disinfectant wipes? Listen to the science, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Food Science and Human […]
Florida Watermelons: Crops in the Ground, Uncertainty Abounds
Today, as fruit and vegetable farmers in South Florida decide what to do with produce once destined for now-closed schools and restaurants, watermelon farmers in North Florida have recently finished planting their crops. Given the uncertainty around the market for fresh produce, the decision to plant came down to economics, said Mark Warren, agriculture agent for […]
From Robots to Drones, Agricultural Innovation Is Rapidly Changing
“Precision agriculture,” “artificial intelligence.” It sounds like content for a science fiction movie or TV show. But we’re not talking about “The Avengers” or “Star Trek.” These scientific innovations present us with real-world applications for farms in Southwest Florida and globally. Further, they signify something special to several of our scientists at the University of […]
UF Plant and Soil Diagnostic Labs Essential to Florida Agriculture, Economy During COVID-19
In the time of COVID-19, plants still get sick, and the soil that nourishes them needs care. The health of plants and soil is critical to agriculture, an industry designated an essential service in response to the pandemic. That’s why when many American universities have transitioned to online-only and their employees adapt to working from […]
Risk Thresholds for Lance Nematodes in Turfgrass
University of Florida nematologist William Crow, Ph.D., takes a close look at the relationship between lance nematodes and turf health, and how nematicides factor in. Lance nematodes (Hoplolaimus species) have long been recognized as pests of golf course bermudagrass. Despite this, very little research effort has focused on identifying how much damage these nematodes cause […]