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 […]
Alachua County Beekeepers Struggle Against Mites
A recent national survey of beekeepers showed a significant loss rate of colonies, which may impact the future of commercial beekeeping. The annual survey from the Bee Informed Partnership found that 37.7% of honeybee colonies died this past winter. This is about 9% higher than the average winter loss. More than 4,700 beekeepers managing over […]
UF Agricultural Researchers Cultivate Industrial Hemp
With the help of state lawmakers, industrial hemp is now a growing crop across the state of Florida. A new law makes it legal for state industrial programs to administer and oversee the cultivation of hemp. Researchers at the University of Florida are growing industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is not marijuana, but they are the […]
Beneath the Earth, the ‘Black Box’ of Soil Holds a Key to Crop Growth
University of Florida scientist Sarah Strauss seeks to help untangle the web of intrigue surrounding soil microbes to improve agricultural production in Florida and globally. “There are microbial activities going on that we don’t exactly understand. It’s known as the ‘black box’ in soil,” said Strauss, an assistant professor of soil and water sciences at […]
UF Researchers Take Integrated Approach to Protect Trees from Citrus Greening
While citrus growers continue to look for best management approaches to deal with the deadly greening disease, some scientists at the University of Florida will take an integrated look at how to protect young trees, by using tools growers already can use. Five scientists from the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will compare […]
Orange Peels May Improve Cardiovascular Health, UF Study Suggests
Yu Wang, an assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, part of the USDA. With the award, Wang plans to lead a research team to study extracts from orange peels […]