Category: Horticulture

Papaya banker plant system strengthens biological control of whiteflies

by Stella Canfield
March 24, 2026

A new study finds that papaya banker plants can strengthen control of the sweet potato whitefly, one of the most damaging pests in ornamental crop production. Published in the journal “Biological Control,” the research highlights a promising ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Banker Plants, Biological Control, Cindy McKenzie, Lance Osborne, Papaya, Pests, Poinsettias, Whiteflies, Whitefly
Pothos lined up in a greenhouse.

UF/IFAS Researcher Recognized for Patented Pothos Varieties

by Stella Canfield
June 11, 2025

Jianjun Chen, environmental horticulture professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, was recently recognized with a Plant Patent and Variety Protection Certificate at the Florida Agricultural Experiment ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cultivars, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Research Awards Ceremony, Indoor Foliage, Indoor Plants, Jianjun Chen, National Horticulture Foundation, Pothos
Carved pumpkin in a forest.

Halloween with a Horticultural Twist: Spider Mites and Poison Ivy

by Stella Canfield
October 31, 2024

Halloween is a time for ghosts, ghouls and goblins, but the real fright might be lurking right under your nose. From destructive pests to dangerous weeds, these formidable foes can transform your greenery into a gruesome graveyard.   Fangs ... READ MORE

Category: HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS
Tags: Chris Marble, Entomology, Halloween, Herbicide, Horticulture, Lance Osborne, Landscape Weeds, Pests, Poison Ivy, Spider Mites, Weed Identification, Weeds
Collage featuring MREC faculty cards, visitors watching a monitor, and screens projecting live insects and OrangeTV clips.

MREC Exhibits at 2024 Landscape Show, Sharing Research and Resources

by Stella Canfield
September 4, 2024

The Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) connected with industry professionals at the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA)’s 2024 Landscape Show, a three-day event that brings in over 7,000 industry professionals ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: David Norman, Fngla, Lance Osborne, Liz Felter, The Landscape Show, Yilin Zhuang
An assortment of colorful begonias.

Heqiang “Alfred” Huo Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

by Stella Canfield
August 30, 2024

Heqiang “Alfred” Huo has been promoted to associate professor with tenure at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC). This significant achievement highlights ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Alfred Huo, Biotechnology, CRISPR, Environmental Horticulture, Heqiang Huo, Huo Lab, Promotion

Invasive Species Workshop: Thrips parvispinus and Lebeck mealybug

by Caroline Warwick and Liz Felter
June 2, 2023

Have you heard of Thrips parvispinus and Lebeck mealybug, two of the newest invasive pest species to impact horticulture in Central Florida, and are interested in learning more? The Mid-Florida Research and Education Center will be hosting ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture
Tags: Biological Control, Central Florida, CEU, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lance Osborne, Lebeck Mealybug, Pest, Thrips Parvispinus

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