Tag: pathogens

UF develops first high-altitude device to help detect health threats from the sky

by BLOGS.IFAS
May 15, 2026

Click here for high-resolution version. Caption at bottom. African dust video GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- A University of Florida researcher is exploring whether the latest plant, animal or human health threats will come from the sky. Using the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: African Dust, Andrew Schuerger, Cape Canaveral, DART, Dust, Dust At Altitude Recovery Technology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Florida, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Kennedy Space Center, Pathogens, Plant Pathology, University Of Florida

Nearly half of global septic systems work inadequately; UF scientist urges safety in wake of climate change

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

Nearly one-fourth of the world’s wastewater comes from residential septic systems, according to the United Nations. But only 48% of such systems adequately treat wastewater. The most common type of septic system includes the tank and a ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Climate Change, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hurricane Season, Leach Field, Low-lying Areas, Mary Lusk, Pathogens, Public Health, Saturation, Septic System, Septic Tank, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Wastewater

Newest tool to fight citrus diseases may be found in citrus microbiome

by Ruth Hohl Borger
May 15, 2026

LAKE ALFRED, Fla. --- The next key to winning the battle against citrus diseases such as citrus canker may be in the tiniest microbes that live inside the citrus tree. University of Florida researchers hope to discover how these microbes may ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease
Tags: Citrus Diseases, Citrus Research, Grant, Microbes, Microbiology And Cell Science, Microcell, Nian Wang, Nifa, Pathogens, Plant Health, UF/IFAS Citrus Research And Education Center, USDA

UF experts warn of potential peril caused by ocean acidification

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

The world’s oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which does not bode well for Florida’s 825 miles of coastline. Carbon dioxide can contribute to ocean acidification -- a reduction in the pH of the ocean -- which ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Clams, Coral Reef, Emissions, Florida Aquarium, Florida Sea Grant, Josh Patterson, Lisa Krimsky, Marine, Ocean Acidification, Oysters, Pathogens, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Water Pollution

UF/IFAS scientist secures $3.5M grant to study soil micro-predators

by Megan Winslow
May 15, 2026

Ever-present but undetectable to the naked eye, micro-predators are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Pests & Disease
Tags: Bacteria, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Crop Productivity, Davis, Grant, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Megan Winslow, Micrbiomes, Micro-predators, National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, Nematodes, Nifa, Pathogens, Pennsylvania State University, Plant Pathology, Protists, Research, Samuel Martins, Soil, Soil Amendments, Soil-health Management, Stakeholders, Tomato, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of California, University Of Florida, USDA, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Viruses, William Paterson University

UF/IFAS expert shares pest control tips for hurricane season

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Chikungunya, Dengue, Extension, Fire Ants, Flooding, Florida Department Of Agricultural Consumer Sciences, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Hurricane, Johnalyn Gordon, Mosquitoes, Pathogens, Pest Control, Pest Management University, Rainfall, Red Imported Fire Ant, Termite, Viruses, Zika

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

by Brad Buck
May 15, 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: 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

Innovative tool offers palm owners, growers new line of defense against trunk rot, protecting iconic trees

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

Ever wonder why some palm varieties flourish while others suddenly bend at the trunk or topple over completely? From the iconic coconut palm to towering royal palms, these signature features of Florida’s landscapes are facing a silent ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Advancement, Biological Controls, Braham Dhillon, Canary Island Date Palms, Coconut Palm, Conservation, Date Palms, Disease, Disease Resistance, Entomology And Nematology, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Fronds, Fungicides, Germplasm Collection, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive, Leaflets, Lethal Fungus, Monica Elliott, News, Palm, Palm Landscape, Pathogens, Plant Pathology, Plant Pathology Department, Research, Resilient, Royal Palms, Thielaviopsis Trunk Rot, Trunk Rot, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research And Education (USDA-SSARE), UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, USDA, USDA-ARS, Wahingtonia Palms

UF study: Place bags on peaches to help keep pests, diseases away

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

Peaches are popular, with annual national production of about 806,000 tons. To help keep pests and diseases from damaging the fruit, growers can place bags around individual peaches, University of Florida researchers say. David Campbell, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Bags, Covers, Danielle Treadwell, David Campbell, Disease, Harvest, Horticultural Sciences, Market, Organic, Pathogens, Peaches, Pests, Plant Science Research And Education Unit

Innovative tool offers palm owners, growers new line of defense against trunk rot, protecting iconic trees

by Lourdes Mederos
November 13, 2025

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