Crops that could eventually be affected include tomatoes, squash, beans, watermelons and many other vegetables and ornamentals, said Lance Osborne, an entomology professor at UF/IFAS.
“Our study shows that we need to learn more about their habits and impacts in the park so the Florida Park Service can make science-based decisions on how to manage these non-native monkeys,” said Steve Johnson, a UF/IFAS associate professor of wildlife ecology and conservation.
When invasive Burmese pythons are breeding, radio-tracking one python can help find and capture more, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher says. “It is complementary to our current removal tool, in which we drive on roads and levees to capture moving pythons. It’s complementary because it’s effective at a time of year when we do not catch pythons on the road, and also because it provides more opportunities to catch the really big, breeding females,” said Brian Smith, lead author of the study.
UF/IFAS faculty credit quick, decisive actions by FDACS, UF/IFAS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for limiting the reach of the fruit fly. Among other things, the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center provided logistics, acting as the hub for the entire operation, said Edward "Gilly" Evans, professor of food and resource economics at the Tropical REC.
With citrus growers trying to save their groves in the wake of the deadly greening disease, a UF/IFAS researcher has found a new technique that could help growers answer a vexing question – why so much fruit is dropping to the ground prematurely.
From 2008 to 2015, state and federal water resource managers spent about $125 million to control invasive aquatic plants in Florida, according to an April Extension document co-written by Lyn Gettys, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agronomy and aquatic weed specialist. Of all the invasive plants in Florida’s waterways, hydrilla costs the most to contain -- $66 million over a seven-year period.
“The goal is to put together a model that can predict the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from soils under a climate that is expected to be warmer and experience more extreme dry and wet periods across the Southeast,” said Stefan Gerber, a UF/IFAS assistant professor in soil and water sciences and one of the investigators on the new study.
A new test could save time and money diagnosing plant viruses, some of which can destroy millions of dollars in crops each year in Florida, says a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher.
A previously mysterious family of enzymes removes abnormal versions of some very common chemicals found in all life forms, opening many possibilities for health and agricultural applications, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher says.
Consumers know some of the benefits blueberries provide, but they’re less aware of the advantages of reverting aging, improving vision and memory, a new University of Florida study shows. Researchers surveyed more than 2,000 people in 31 states – mostly on the East Coast and in the Midwest – to see what they know about the health benefits of blueberries.
Because the Q-biotype whitefly feeds for longer periods on some plants, it has a greater chance of acquiring a plant virus, said Jane Polston, a UF/IFAS plant pathology professor. The more time a whitefly spends feeding on a plant, the more likely it is to acquire a virus from an infected plant.
Tyler D'Angelo and his fellow ambassadors will spread the word about the importance of agricultural education and learning more about how to teach the subject.
Will Dezern focuses his research on the phenotypic, biochemical and genetic characterization of peanuts. Through his research, Dezern hopes to provide peanut breeders a standardized, updated database to reference and compare peanut lines for their work. “One area in particular I have focused on is the use of genetic markers to select for increased oleic acid content in peanuts,” he said.
By detecting green, immature citrus more accurately and efficiently, growers can plan when and where to apply nutrients when fruit is growing and estimate their yield and profit before harvest, said Daniel Lee, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
Reza Ehsani, is an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida. Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus REC, touted Ehsani’s work in using steam to help citrus trees infected by greening.
Among his legacies, Ed Gilman wants to make sure trees don’t snap in Florida’s tropical storm-force winds. When Gilman retires this month from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, he can point at several crowning achievements in his career. Now, at age 62, Gilman will spend more time with family, of course, and do more woodworking, “working with dead trees instead of live trees,” he said.
Researchers call them “water considerate” consumers because they conserve water fairly well but could stand some improvement. These water users might be the most appropriate people to target if you want to get more people to conserve water, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows.
Jiri Hulcr, an assistant professor of forest resources and conservation at UF/IFAS, sees this conference as an opportunity for the UF/IFAS forest entomology team to disseminate innovative solutions to maintain tree health. “Exploring the use of biotechnology in tree health protection is important to us, because we are increasingly running out of other options,” he said.
Through their research, scientists developed thresholds of impervious surface around planting sites. In other words, they defined points at which the amount of pavement around a tree reduces its condition. Using these established levels of impervious surface, landscape architects and other landscape professionals can plant trees in a way that reduces pest damage and economic loss.
The Q-biotype whitefly, a significant tropical and subtropical pest, may threaten Florida crops such as tomatoes, squash, beans, watermelons and many other vegetables and ornamentals if immediate measures are not taken to prevent its spread.
While consumers are aware of genetically modified crops and food, their knowledge level is limited and often at odds with the facts, according to a newly published study by a University of Florida researcher.
Figure this: Asian and Formosan subterranean termites cause about $32 billion in damage annually, worldwide, when you combine harm to structures and measures to control them. Now, UF/IFAS researchers predict these pests will dramatically increase their impact in the next two decades in South Florida and possibly across the nation.
As the laurel wilt pathogen casts a cloud over the $100-million-a-year Florida avocado industry, University of Florida researchers continue to look for clues to prevent the pathogen from spreading.
When those cute animals gnaw on wood enclosures at a zoo, they may be risking their health by ingesting toxic levels of arsenic, UF/IFAS researchers say.
If grocers put nutrition labels on packages of raw fish -- a good nutrient source for cardiovascular health -- parents may be more likely to buy the fish, the study shows.
In the study, clearing the beach of flotsam and jetsam increased the number of nests by as much as 200 percent, while leaving the detritus decreased the number by nearly 50 percent.
Until this study, the conservation and management of fox squirrels in Florida was constrained by a lack of reliable information on the factors influencing its distribution. But with this research, which combines sightings and photos of fox squirrels by everyday citizens and professional ecologists, scientists now know they can get help from citizen scientists in conserving the fox squirrel population.
In accepting the position as interim director at Indian River REC, Ron Cave said he envisions the restoration of the Indian River District as a thriving production region for the world’s highest quality grapefruit and oranges.
“Flavors of Florida is a chance for UF/IFAS to showcase the many fine foods and beverages developed by our world-renowned scientists to not only make food tastier and more nutritious but to help growers sell more food at the grocery store,” said Jack Payne, UF senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources.
Professor K. Ramesh Reddy is among five recipients of this year’s National Wetlands Awards, given by the Environmental Law Institute. Reddy is being recognized for his 40 years of groundbreaking work on nutrient cycling in wetlands aquatic systems.
Northern cardinals and tufted titmice are two abundant bird species in the woods of eastern North America. Many bird and mammal species rely on information from tufted titmice calls to detect and respond to dangerous predators. This causes important information networks to form around tufted titmouse communication. Normally, northern cardinals listen to tufted titmouse predator alarm calls and will typically respond by fleeing or freezing until the danger passes.
The facility will house 5,000 square feet of multipurpose enclosed space and another 15,000 square feet for cattle pens and working area. Beef is big business in Florida. Nine of the top 25 beef cattle producers in the nation are located in Florida. Beef producers own about 1.6 million beef cattle.
Yan used essential oils from thyme for the experiments. Small portions of two essential oils, carvacrol and thymol, were mixed into food-grade wax that was then applied to fresh fruit on which citrus black spot lesions were present. The wax is typically used in packinghouses to protect fresh fruit during shipping.
Growers need help because citrus greening has infected more than 80 percent of Florida’s citrus trees, according to a recent UF/IFAS survey of growers. Although these two new early Valencias are not resistant to greening, the scientist who bred them thinks it’s a harbinger of good things to come.
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences thanks the many partners who are helping sponsor this year’s Flavors of Florida festivities, an annual event designed to showcase how top-notch science creates delectable, nutritious food and beverages.
The only counties not to have reported laurel wilt are Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla – all in the Panhandle, said Crane, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida. “Eventually, all Florida counties will have laurel wilt,” Crane said. Crane is giving homeowners tips on how to deal with laurel wilt.
The Royal Entomological Society has awarded its 2016 Best Paper Award to a paper written by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers. Lukasz Stelinski, an associate professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, spearheaded the study in which investigators came up with a synthetic aroma to lure redbay ambrosia beetles into traps. “Identifying an effective lure for the beetle is an important step in developing management tools for this pathogen-spreading insect in Florida,” Stelinksi said.
Students who earned honors from the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at its April 14 banquet show exemplary scholarship, leadership and commitment to the community.
Imagine your instructor using rap to get her point across. That might pique your interest and make you listen more attentively, especially if you’re a university student. Rapping is one of many approaches Berthrude Albert uses to get her students to listen.
While Javan Brown will make a career out of the military, then retire after 25 years or so and find another vocation, other UF CALS graduates will take different paths. Approximately 50 percent will continue their education in graduate or professional school. Others will begin careers as managers, teachers, scientists and marketers in private companies, government and non-governmental agencies.
The contributions to avocado research are suggesting that some Hass-like avocado selections may be grown under Florida conditions and provide attractive options for growers, said Mark Ritenour, UF/IFAS associate professor of horticulture.
Muscadine grapes are grown only in the South and are not very well known in other parts of the country, said UF/IFAS Professor Charles Sims said. Apparently, more consumers are apt to buy muscadine grapes if they know about them, at least according to a recent UF/IFAS experiment.
As we near the summer and its inevitable rain, we also head toward mosquito egg-laying season. As we do, Florida mosquito control officials may learn to emulate Pinellas County’s mosquito-borne disease surveillance program and its response to a West Nile virus outbreak in 2005, a University of Florida entomologist says.
The six University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty members who were recognized are trying to solve global issues as wide-ranging as better alternative fuels and nutrient absorption.
“Even though the industry acknowledges that greening has reached epidemic proportions across the state, estimates of the level of infection and its impact on citrus operations are scarce,” the researchers wrote in the paper.
Whether it’s hybrid termites, grain pathogens, mosquito mating or something in between, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers are studying important topics and helping to solve global issues.
Culex erraticus is more abundant than Culiseta melanura, the study shows. So it may be more important than scientists originally thought in transmitting EEE virus, at least in the Southeast. EEE virus, transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, can be passed to a wide range of animals including birds, reptiles and mammals. But once infected, horses and humans appear to suffer the most adverse effects.
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