Tag: Plant Pathology Department

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

by Lourdes Mederos
November 13, 2025

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’s Plant Diagnostic Center earns national accreditation – a first for U.S. universities

by Brad Buck
October 7, 2025

The University of Florida just made plant pathology history. Its Plant Diagnostic Center is now the first university-based lab in the nation to earn accreditation from the prestigious National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) -- a recognition ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Carrie Harmon, Crop Security, Diagnosis, Disease Spread, Farmers, Global, Mathews Paret, National Plant Diagnostic Network, Plant Diagnostic Center, Plant Diseases, Plant Pathology Department, Prevention, “gold-medal Seal Of Approval”

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

New EDIS/Ask IFAS Document Published by Plant Pathology During May and June

by Gillian McGuire
July 7, 2025

Discover the latest research and practical solutions from UF/IFAS experts. This is a new EDIS/Ask IFAS document published by the Department of Plant Pathology during May and June. Stay informed and inspired with our updates! Oyster Mushrooms ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes
Tags: Ask IFAS, Department Of Plant Pathology, EDIS Journal, Oyster Mushrooms, Plant Pathology Department

Dead wood: Nature’s invitation to your yard

by Megan Winslow
February 24, 2025

Katy Deitz’s laurel oak was decades old, the trunk half the length of her body, when the hollowing effects of heart-rot decay rendered the tree unsafe to stand. Arborists felled the oak, and Deitz intended to grind the stump. “I’m ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Arborist, Ask IFAS, Dead Wood, Ecological, Environment, Forest Entomology, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jiri Hulcr, Katy Deitz, Master Gardener Volunteer, Megan Winslow, Natural, Nature, Neighborwood Watch, Plant Pathology Department, School Of Forest, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS, Snag, Stump, Survey, Tree, Trunk, Tyler Jones, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Urban Environment, Wendy Wilber, Wildlife Pole, Woodpecker, Woodpecker Pole

UF/IFAS researchers work to prevent a disease threatening your favorite chocolate

by Megan Winslow
February 10, 2025

As you nibble on a chocolate truffle or bite into a chocolate-dipped strawberry on Valentine’s Day, consider the elongated, ribbed pods of the cacao tree, which made that sweet treat possible. A group of UF/IFAS plant pathologists has partnered ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Africa, Black Bottom Rot, Black Pod Rot, Cacao, CATIE, Chocolate, Costa Rica, Disease, Erica Goss, Farming, IFAS, Inoculate, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jeremy Brawner, Lab, Lesion, Mariana Herrera Corzo, Mars, Megan Winslow, Phytophthora, Phytophthora Megakarya, Plant Pathology, Plant Pathology Department, Research, Tropical Agricultural Research And Higher Education Center, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Valentine's Day

O Earthstar of Wonder, Earthstar of Potted Plants

by Gillian McGuire
December 19, 2024

While you have undoubtedly seen a star upon a Christmas tree, have you ever seen this star-shaped mushroom growing from the soil of your potted plants? This holiday season, I am reminded of the Earthstar mushroom. Earthstars Are Growing Slightly I ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Ask IFAS, Department Of Plant Pathology, Edis, Holidays, Horticulture Industry, Houseplants, Mushrooms, Plant Pathology Department

“Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum”: An Emerging Pathogen Infecting Potato and Tomato

by Samantha Murray
September 18, 2015

A bacterium called "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" infects potatoes and tomatoes, causing zebra chip in potatoes and psyllid yellows in tomatoes. These disease are highly destructive and have been known to reduce yields by up to 85%. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Binoy Babu, Carrie L. Harmon, Mathews L. Paret, Nicholas Dufault, Plant Pathology Department, Potato, Tomato

Plant Diagnostic Clinic and HLB Lab

by Diana Hagan
August 26, 2015

The Plant Pathology program at the UF/IFAS Southwest Research and Education Center is the state and local resource for plant diagnostic services, including HLB (Huanglongbing, or citrus greening) detection, and for insect identification. This ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing), Citrus Pest Management, Jamie Burrow, Joubert Fayette, Pamela Roberts, Pest Identification And Services, Plant Pathology Department, Shea Teems, Southwest Florida REC

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