By Breanna Kendrick Fourth-generation citrus grower James Orrock is a plant pathology graduate student at the University of Florida who is studying tea as a possible alternative crop to be grown on former citrus land. “The citrus industry is having to go through some changes, so one of the key aspects of Florida agriculture right now is diversification,” said Orrock. …
UV Light Can Zap Plant Pathogens
How can UV light impact crop diseases? That’s a question David Gadoury has been trying to answer since 1991 in collaboration with universities in Norway, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center and the University of Florida. Gadoury, a senior research associate in Cornell’s Department of Plant Pathology, updated growers at the recent Agritech Trade Show in Plant City, Florida, …
The Next Big Biotech Traits
By Anne Schwartz Conventional breeding techniques and chemical controls have long been agriculture’s central means for disease management. However, despite hundreds of crosses performed and generations of progeny evaluated, durably resistant varieties remain elusive. Today, plant breeders are armed with an alternative method when conventional breeding techniques are insufficient. Specifically designed, genetically engineered plants offer potential for the development of …
Vegetable Pest Problems
David Riley, a professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, says that two pests have been big issues for Southeastern vegetable growers: diamondback moth (DBM) and whitefly. DIAMONDBACK MOTH DBM continues to be a struggle for Southeastern vegetable growers, mostly due to insecticide resistance. Riley says that DBM resistance in cabbage and collards is a long-standing problem. “Diamondback moth …
Blueberry Variety Update
The University of Florida’s (UF) blueberry breeding program has been bringing growers new varieties for over 40 years. Patricio Munoz, assistant professor at UF and head of the blueberry breeding program, recently highlighted two varieties released in 2016, Keecrisp and Patrecia. According to Munoz, Keecrisp is a very crisp variety, hence the name. This variety creates a firm fruit. “It’s …
Hole-Punch Technology Dramatically Reduces Herbicide Use
By Nathan S. Boyd and Arnold Schumann The majority of vegetables grown in Florida are grown on raised, fumigated beds covered with plastic mulch. This production technique has been widely adopted because the combination of plastic mulch and drip tape improves water and fertility efficiency. The use of plastic mulches has many additional benefits, including improved crop quality, reduced water …
Disease, Pest Research Increases for Georgia Grapes
By Jaci Schreckengost Research at the University of Georgia (UGA) is becoming more focused on wine grapes as the industry continues to grow in Georgia. White County Extension Coordinator and Natural Resources Agent Nathan Eason says UGA’s current entomologist is putting a lot of effort into research on wine grapes for growers. The elevation in Georgia varies depending on the …
Secretary Perdue Issues USDA Statement on Plant Breeding Innovation
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued a statement providing clarification on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of plants produced through innovative new breeding techniques which include techniques called genome editing. Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional …
Improving Nematode Management for Vegetable Crops
By Jaci Schreckengost Integrated nematode management for vegetable crops is an ongoing project at one University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research center. Johan Desaeger, an assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), said researchers are looking for more sustainable management strategies. Current research efforts include new in-field products …
Spider Mite Management Methods
If the weather is hot and dry, growers will want to keep an eye out for spider mites. According to Ayanava Majumdar, an Extension entomologist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, high populations of spider mites can devastate vegetable crops. There are several different types of spider mites, including twospotted mites, russet mites, rust mites and broad mites. All of …