Tag: Matthew Smith

Douglas fir forest

Assisted by sniffer dogs and DNA sequencing, researchers discover three new truffle species

by Megan Winslow
August 1, 2025

University of Florida biologists studying fungal evolution and ecology have discovered three new truffle species, including one capable of commanding hundreds of dollars per pound within culinary circles. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Forests, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Appalachian Mountains, Benjamin Lemmon, Biologist, Biology, Cascadia, Cooking, Culinary, Delicacy, Discovery, DNA Sequencing, Dog, Douglas Fir, Fungal, Fungus, Genetic Testing, Great Smoky Mountains, IFAS, Imaia Kuwohiensis, Inaturalist, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Leucangium, Leucangium Carthusianum, Leucangium Cascadiense, Leucangium Oneidaense, Matt Smith, Matthew Smith, Megan Winslow, Morchellaceae, Oregon Black Truffle, Pacific Northwest, Pathology, Persoonia, Plant, Plant Pathology Department, Research, Rocky Mountains, Science, Sniffer Dog, Symbiotic Relationship, Truffle, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida
Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park and Campground, Miami, Florida. An example of a pine rockland habitat and one of the sampling sites in this study. South Florida slash pine are the keystone trees in this habitat. Photo Credit: Elena Karlsen-Ayala

UF/IFAS scientists discover sea-level rise threat to Florida’s endangered pine rocklands

by Lourdes Mederos
April 17, 2025

Pine rocklands are home to plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. They are also one of the world's most endangered habitats. Unique to South Florida, the Florida Keys and some islands in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, these upland ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Beneficial Fungi, Caicos, Conservation, DNA, Droughts, Ecosystem, Elena Karlsen-Ayala, Endangered Habitat, Florida, Florida Keys, Forest, Fungi, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Limestone Forest, Matthew Smith, Miami-Dade, Molecular Ecology, Mycorrhizas, News, Pine Rocklands, Plant Pathology, Reforestation, Regeneration, Rising Temperatures, Romina Gazis, Salinity, Salt Intrusion, Sea Level Rise, Slash Pines, Symbiotic Associations, The Bahamas, Tropical Research And Education Center, Turks, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida
Florida 4-H drone flying

UF drone camp steers 4-H teens toward future careers

by Megan Winslow
July 1, 2024

While many of his high school classmates relished the lackadaisical days of summer break, Putnam County resident Liam Sayler memorized Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and the basics of aerodynamics. But Liam’s tenacity ultimately ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Brittany Hall-Scharf, Camp, Career Development, Dollar Drone Company, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Extension Putnam County, Florida 4-H, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Job Skills, Joseph “Stacy” Strickland, Lance Dollar, Matthew Smith, Megan Winslow, Putnam County Commission, Putnam County Fairgrounds, Tim Wilson, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Wendy Mussoline
Two similar looking black truffles side by side

Some black truffles grown in eastern U.S. may be less valuable lookalike species, study finds

by Samantha Murray
June 21, 2023

Some truffle producers in the eastern U.S. intending to grow European black truffles –scientific name, Tuber melanosporum — are also accidentally cultivating winter truffles — Tuber brumale — a related species that looks nearly identical ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Ben Lemmond, Matthew Smith, News, Plant Pathology, Truffles

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