Category: UF/IFAS Research

UF/IFAS Growing Market Opportunities for Florida Persimmons

by Eva Sailly
November 19, 2025

As Florida growers look for profitable alternatives that can compete with California and other global markets, persimmons are emerging as a strong option for those seeking reliable yields, consumer appeal, and steadily increasing potential. ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Extension, Field Day, Fruit Crops, Horticultural Sciences, NFREC, NFREC Fruit Physiology Lab, Persimmon Field Day, Persimmons, Quincy, Stress Physiology

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
October 15, 2025

Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni Feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching

Dr. Jeffrey Brecht Retires After 40 Years in Postharvest

by Eva Sailly
September 16, 2025

When Dr. Jeffrey Brecht arrived at the University of Florida in 1984, fresh out of graduate school, he stepped into what would become his lifelong career. What began as a first job turned into four decades of research that advanced postharvest ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Dr. Jeffrey Brecht, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Mango, Postharvest And Handling, Tomato

Disease–Resistant Vinifera Grapes Signal New Era for Florida Wine

by Eva Sailly
September 10, 2025

In a milestone for Florida agriculture, researchers in the University of Florida’s UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences have successfully grown and harvested Pierce Disease–resistant winegrape varieties. The effort, led ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Ali Sarkhosh, Food Trend, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Breeding, UF Fruit Crop Lab, Wine

Graduate Student Spotlight with Gabriella Dickinson: Exploring Plant Metabolism through Biochemistry

by Eva Sailly
August 5, 2025

Gabriella Dickinson, our student spotlight, is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) program at the University of Florida. Working in Dr. Gilles Basset’s lab, she studies the biosynthesis of prenylated ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Curriculum, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Basset Lab, Graduate Student, Horticultural Sciences, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular And Cellular Biology, Plant Science, PMCB, Student, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS

Blackberry Field Day showcases what’s ahead for this superfruit

by Eva Sailly
June 30, 2025

Just under 100 registrants attended UF’s first-ever Blackberry Field Day at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, marking a major step in expanding blackberry production in the state. The event showcased current ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cultivars, Field Day, Fruit Crops

Graduate Student Spotlight with Nadia Mourad: Advancing Maize Genetics

by Eva Sailly
June 29, 2025

It took one elective to pivot Nadia's initial pursuit of human health research into a Ph.D. candidate in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program. Nadia Mourad now works under the mentorship of Dr. Karen Koch, who was recently honored ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Clubs & Volunteers, Curriculum, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Volunteer/Training, Work & Life
Tags: Corn, De Sousa, Genetics, Horticultural Sciences, Karen Koch, Koch, Maize, Nadia Mourad, Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular And Cellular Biology, PMCB, Student, Teaching

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Jugpreet Singh advances Tropical Fruit Breeding at UF/IFAS TREC

by Eva Sailly
June 16, 2025

Meet Dr. Jugpreet Singh, Assistant Professor of Tropical Fruit Breeding at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, Florida. Dr. Singh’s career path spans continents and disciplines, from traditional plant breeding ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alumni Feature, Horticultural Sciences, Papaya, Phd, Plant Breeding, Singh, Student, TREC, Tripical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS CALS, UF/IFAS TREC

New Systems bring Stronger yields to Florida Peaches: Stone Fruit Field Day

by Eva Sailly
June 9, 2025

Held each year at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU), the Stone Fruit Field Day brings together growers, breeders, and stone fruit enthusiasts to exchange the latest research and practical innovations shaping Florida’s ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Chaparro, Dr. Ali Sarkhosh, Dr. Jose Chaparro, Field Day, Florida Landscaping, Horticultural Sciences, Peach, Peaches, Plant Breeding, Sarkhosh, Stone Fruit, UF/IFAS PSREU

How Dr. Marcio Resende exemplifies the Eminent Scholar Chair

by Eva Sailly
May 21, 2025

This spring, Dr. Resende was named the new Lyle C. Dickson Chair in Plant Breeding, a prestigious appointment that recognizes not just a remarkable research career, but a deep commitment to growers, students, and innovation. Eminent Scholar ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: AI, Eminent Scholar, Genetics, Horticultural Sciences, Lyle C. Dickson Chair, Plant Breeding, Potato Breeding Program, Potato Lab, Resende, Sweet Corn

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