Tag: diseases

Fallen tree branches on a lawn in front of a suburban house.

You can have it ‘made in the shade’ by planting more diverse trees

by Brad Buck
April 13, 2026

When we plant the same trees over and over again, we create urban forests that are vulnerable to being wiped out by invading pests and diseases, a University of Florida researcher says. Deb Hilbert wants to avoid tree deaths. In fact, she ... READ MORE

Category: Forests
Tags: Andrew Koeser, Deb Hilbert, Diseases, Diversity, Environmental Horticulture, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hillsborough County, Orange County, Pests, Research, Shade, Species, Trees, Urban Canopy
Group of five blue tang fish swimming in a dark water environment.

Tropical Aquaculture Lab celebrates 25 years helping fish farmers, aquarium enthusiasts

by Brad Buck
April 10, 2026

RUSKIN, Fla. --- Aquarium hobbyists count on the hard work of tropical fish farmers to supply the species they adore. Think barbs, tetras, angelfish and more. As a UF/IFAS multi-county tropical aquaculture Extension agent nearly 30 years ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: 25th Anniversary, Angelfish, Aquariums, Craig Watson, Diseases, Extension, Fish Veterinarian, Invasive Species, Roy Yanong, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tetras, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish Farming
A fallen tree branch lying across a suburban street, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees.

UF scientists aim for more tree varieties to ensure urban canopy survives pests, diseases

by Brad Buck
March 31, 2026

If you plant a wider array of tree species in urban areas, you might avoid your forest being wiped out by a single pest or disease, say University of Florida scientists. “When cities are dominated by only a few species, new infestations ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Andrew Koeser, Arborists, Canopy, Diseases, Diversity, Environmental Horticulture, Forest, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Impediments, Landscape Architects, Pests, Trees, Urban, Variety
Close-up of oranges on a tree with green leaves in bright sunlight.

From problem to on-farm solution: The journey of one UF/IFAS AI technology

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

A few weeks after Yiannis Ampatzidis started working at the University of Florida in 2017, Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Florida peninsula and its citrus groves. Growers needed to count their trees with precision to get crop insurance, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricutural And Biological Engineering, Agroview, Archive, Artificial Intellgience, Citrus, Counting, Crop Insurance, Diseases, Farms, Insurance, Inventory, Lab, Pests, Prec-ag, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Trees, Yiannis Ampatzidis
A partially flooded agricultural field with rows of green plants.

Hurricanes can bring crop diseases, but plant clinics help farmers quickly and accurately battle pathogens spread by storms

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Last fall, strawberry fields in the Tampa Bay region and at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) were riddled by colletotrichum crown rot disease, which was spread by winds and rain from Hurricane Milton. The Category ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Archive, Crops, Crown Rot, Disease Control, Diseases, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hurricane Milton, Hurricanes, Kenneth Parker, Marcus Marin, Mathews Paret, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Natalia Peres, North Florida Research And Education Center, Pathogens, Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Plant Diseases, Plant Pathology, Rapid Diagnosis, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Soybean Rust, Strawberries, Tropical Research And Education Center
Close-up of strawberries, with ripe red and unripe greenish-yellow fruit, and a white flower.

UF study traces complex history of the strawberry

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

If you eat fruits or vegetables, how often do you think about their history? Former University of Florida post-doctoral researcher Zhen Fan did, as he traced the strawberry back over centuries. In a new paper published in the Proceedings ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Archive, Chromosome, Cross, Diseases, DNA, Doug Soltis, Evolution, Florida Museum Of Natural History, Genetic Diversity, Genetics, History, Hybrid, Octoploid, Pam Soltis, Pests, Plant Breeding, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences, Species, Strawberries, Strawberry, Vance Whitaker, Zhen Fan
An artist's rendering of the Interior of a spacious facility with a tractor and people near large windows and tables.

Groundbreaking for AI center part of 100th anniversary celebration of UF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Agriculture isn’t just rows of citrus groves and fields of strawberries – it’s Florida’s second largest economic powerhouse, trailing only tourism. With more than 133,000 jobs riding on its success, farming fuels communities across the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: 100th Anniversary, Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Center For Applied Artificial Intelligence In Agriculture, Dana Choi, Digital Twin, Diseases, Economy, Environment, Farming, Food, Fruits, Groundbreaking, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, J. Scott Angle, Jack Rechcigl, Jobs, Kevin Wang, Labor, Nathan Boyd, Ornamental Plants, Pests, Plant Breeding, Prec-ag, Precision Spraying
Modern building with an angular roof and glass windows, surrounded by people and greenery.

AI center goal to put technology directly into growers’ hands to solve problems

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

It’s one thing to listen to a farmer describe the challenges of battling pests, unpredictable weather or dwindling resources — and quite another to hand them a tool that can tackle those problems head‑on. Imagine technology that manages ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Agriculture, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Center For Applied Artificial Intelligence In Agriculture, Climate, Dana Choi, Diseases, Drones, Economy, Farmers, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticutural Sciences, Kevin Wang, Nathan Boyd, Pests, Prec-ag, Precision Spraying, Prototype, Technology, Weather
Close-up of strawberries in a clear plastic container and yellow trays.

Florida strawberry season bursts with sweetness

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Florida’s late fall and winter don’t just bring cooler, less humid weather. The seasons bring the sweet burst of locally grown strawberries. Juicy, vibrant and fresh from the fields, these Sunshine State gems are waiting for you at your ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: Archive, Aroma, Consumers, Diseases, Ember, Encore, Flavor, Florida Strawberry Season, Genetics, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticultural Sciences, Pests, Pineberry, Plant Breeding, Strawberries, Strawberry Breeder, Strawberry Season, Vance Whitaker
Photo of papaya open on a table.

Better mangoes, papayas and other tropical fruit: Breeding fruits consumers love, growers need

by Lourdes Mederos
August 27, 2025

Florida has long held a special place in America's fruit bowl. With its subtropical climate, the state remains one of the few parts of the continental United States where exotic fruits -- from mangoes and avocados to papayas and dragon fruit ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Avocado, Consumers, Crops, Cultivars, Diseases, DNA, Dragon Fruit, Exotic Fruits, Flavor, Florida, Gardens, Genetic Markers, Genetic Tools, Growers, Health, Jugpreet Singh, Laurel Wilt, Mango, Nutrition, Papaya, Papaya Ringspot, Pests, Production, Shelf Life, Subtropical Climate, Tropical Fruit, Tropical Research And Education Center

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