Cloud-Based Software Helps Farmers on the Ground
A University of Florida agricultural engineer has developed a software that can help farmers find the best places to plant crops and to identify fruit and vegetable varieties that perform better against diseases. Now, Ioannis Ampatzidis is leading an effort to refine the software so it can help growers even more. To help farmers protect […]
So-Called ‘Longevity Vitamin’ Might Hold More Importance Than Scientists Thought
New research from a University of Florida microbiologist shows that disease-causing bacteria compete with their human hosts for a key micronutrient. Although queuine (pronounced KYOO-in) has been identified as essential to human health – a 2018 study by Bruce Ames referred to it as a “longevity vitamin” – much is still unknown about the compound […]
UF Hosts Meeting of Blue-Green Algae Task Force
The University of Florida will host the next meeting of Florida’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force on August 30 at 9 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the Florida Channel. Two UF/IFAS researchers are members of the six-person task force. Tom Frazer, who leads the task force, is […]
Antibiotic Injections Could Help Better Kill Citrus Greening Bacteria
Researchers at the University of Florida released a study this month in the journal Phytopathology, saying there’s a way to more quickly and efficiently kill bacteria that causes citrus greening disease. Experiments have shown that injecting antibiotics directly into an infected citrus tree trunk is much more effective than spraying. “When you’re spraying the bactericides […]
UF/IFAS Researchers Close In on a Tastier Tomato
In their quest for a tastier tomato, University of Florida scientists are finding traits they believe will tempt consumers with flavor that triggers their senses even more. They’re making significant progress on improving the UF-developed Tasti-Lee™ tomato – and it will feature improved flavor and aroma. “Modern tomato cultivars typically have poor flavor as compared to […]
Nanoparticles, Chitosan Studied As Dairy Metritis Treatment
University of Florida scientists believe they can develop new antimicrobials that will benefit dairy cattle and, eventually, people by treating bacteria that normally resist antibiotics. The uterine disease metritis costs U.S. dairy producers $600 million a year, according to KC Jeong, an associate professor of animal sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food […]
UF/IFAS Plant Geneticist Named Fellow of American Society for Horticultural Science
If you savor the sights of caladium, gerbera, and other ornamental plants, you can thank Zhanao Deng for developing better varieties. In his three-decade career, Deng beams with pride over new types of caladium and gerbera he’s bred that are more resistant to diseases. He’s also happy with his lantana varieties, which are genetically sterilized […]
University of Florida Research Proposal Selected by NASA to Support Moon, Mars Exploration
NASA has awarded 15 grants for new space biology research designed to help the agency achieve its goals under the Artemis lunar exploration program. Teams of investigators will use state-of-the-art genetic and other biological techniques to explore how life adapts and changes during spaceflight, and the results could help support human exploration of the Moon, […]
Florida Citrus: Great Strides in Fight Against HLB
The Florida citrus industry has suffered some setbacks over the last few years, primarily due to the scourge of citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB). The good news is that researchers have made great strides in their fight against the disease, and many groves seem to be on the rebound. This year’s citrus harvest was pretty […]
UF/IFAS Researchers Use AI to Take the Guesswork Out of Fruit Pricing
Pricing fruit comes down to a bit of art and some science for farmers. But new technology from the University of Florida may remove some of that guesswork. “Growers often rely on their gut to estimate a price for their crop,” said Daniel Lee, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF Institute […]