From citrus trees battling HLB disease to the future of bamboo farming in Florida, UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) researchers had plenty to showcase at the 2025 American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference. The event brought together scientists, students, and industry professionals to explore the latest in horticulture research. Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni, SWES associate professor, and his Water and Nutrient Management Lab team from the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (REC) attended. Through poster sessions, oral presentations, and professional workshops, they shared their research. They also brought home fresh ideas to fuel their ongoing work in nutrient management, water conservation, and sustainable crop production.
Besides leading the team, Dr. Kadyampakeni had the honor of receiving two ASHS Extension Education Materials Awards. He was awarded First Place in the Outstanding Video and Webinar Award category under the title of: “Using Optimal Fertilization and Frequent Irrigation for Managing HLB-affected trees.” He also received First Place in the Outstanding Podcast Award category under the title of: “Digging into New Citrus Nutrient Recommendations.”
Dr. Alisheikh Atta, postdoctoral research associate, presented his work on nutrient management and rootstock interaction to mitigate HLB-affected citrus trees, fruit yield, and postharvest quality. On top of Dr. Atta’s oral presentation, He also had the privilege to moderate the citrus section and participated in the poster presentation of the graduate students from different universities. Atta also improved his stage management in his volunteer service in moderating the oral session. He worked with senior professors in judging the poster presentation of emerging prospective scientists’ findings. He also attended several oral presentations in nutrient and irrigation management, which he said provided him with great experiences.
Therese (Tess) Thompson presented a poster titled “Impacts of Organic Amendments on HLB Citrus Tree Growth and Root Development.” One of the best parts of the conference for Tess was the resources for professional development. She attended a resume and CV workshop as well as sessions on careers in horticulture. She also connected with students at Colorado State University (CSU), where she will begin her PhD studies this fall.
“Seeing research from CSU and making connections with other students before I start there was a massive plus,” Tess said. “It was also a great learning experience listening to presentations where I do not have a lot of experience, like in post-harvest processing.”
“I received great reactions for my research, and I will use the comments to improve future presentations,” she added. “It was a very encouraging learning environment!”
Labake Agunbiade, a PhD student, presented on “Effects of varying rates of irrigation and potassium fertilization on the growth of bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) in Florida.” She had the chance to share her research on irrigation management and potassium fertilization for bamboo production. This is an important area of study, since there are currently no clear guidelines for growing bamboo in Florida.
She took part in several oral and poster sessions. She learned about exciting research on topics like soil and water management, artificial intelligence, and how light is used in agriculture.
“Hearing about all these different studies was both interesting, inspiring, and gave me new ideas to think about for my work, especially with the feedback from my presentation,” Labake said.
She also met with other researchers, students, and professors from different backgrounds. Many were open to sharing their work and experiences. Labake said this made the conference even more valuable and left her with renewed perspectives and new ideas. She looks forward to using what she learned and staying in touch with the amazing people she met during the conference.
Master’s student Cyrus Januarie presented a poster on “Response of young Dendrocalamus asper to variable rate phosphorus fertilization dynamics in a controlled environment.” This allowed him to share his nutrient management research on bamboo. His aim is to contribute to the development of production guidelines.
“The findings will provide science-based information to Florida growers for this emerging and promising alternative crop,” he noted.
Additionally, Cyrus attended several oral sessions, mostly on plant nutrient management. He learned about various useful techniques and technologies in agricultural and environmental systems. Most importantly, he is grateful for the valuable feedback he got from industry and academic leaders. Networking at the conference gave Cyrus the chance to meet face-to-face with some LinkedIn connections.
A travel grant from UF/IFAS made it possible for several students to attend the conference. It also allowed them the chance to visit New Orleans and experience its vibrant culture.
Authors: Dr. Alisheikh Adem Atta, Labake Agunbiade, Cyrus Januarie, and Therese “Tess” Thompson. Edited and posted to the blog by Mike Loizzo.
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