Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is making headlines as it continues to spread around the globe. Below are reports posted to VSCNews in recent months as more about this pathogen has been revealed. One report is from a presentation during the recent Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo. You can view that presentation here. Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus Spreading Globally …
USDA Funds $77.8 Million for Sustainable Agriculture Research, Includes NC State
By Karla Arboleda The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture invested $77.8 million toward efforts to support sustainable agriculture research. North Carolina State University (NC State) is one of eight universities funded for research. Chris Reberg-Horton, professor of cropping systems at NC State, and Steven Mirsky, agro-ecologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, are codirecting …
Technology to Grow Better Cucurbits
By Karla Arboleda With a wide variety of options to choose from, researchers are working with technology in order to grow better cucurbits. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), marker assisted selection and genomic selection have been used to improve specialty crops like squash, pumpkins and watermelons. Geoffrey Meru, an assistant professor in vegetable breeding at the University of Florida Tropical Research …
USDA Grants $3.2 Million Toward Whitefly Research
By Karla Arboleda After years of growers experiencing problems with whiteflies in vegetable crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund $3.2 million toward whitefly research. The grant will fund research at the University of Georgia (UGA), Fort Valley State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service in South Carolina. Bhabesh Dutta, a vegetable Extension pathologist at UGA-Tifton, shared …
UF Research Shows Best Fungicides for Downy Mildew
By Karla Arboleda Since downy mildew can cause major destruction, a proper use of fungicides is essential to a healthy crop. Gary Vallad, an associate professor at the University of Florida (UF), described the magnitude of downy mildew disease on specialty crops at the recent Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo. “It (downy mildew) just kind of jumps from crop to …
BASF Introduces New Ag Strategy
After going through a period of transition, BASF Agricultural Solutions announced some changes. Vincent Gros, president of the Agricultural Solutions division of BASF, was happy to tell the world about the new BASF at a recent global media event in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. According to Gros, since BASF became involved in agriculture 105 years ago, it has come …
Using UV Light Against Plant Pathogens
Faculty members at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) provide cutting-edge research for Florida’s agriculture industries. Located in Wimauma, the 475-acre facility sits in the heart of Hillsborough County. The center includes large fields of research plots, laboratories, educational programs and space for student living. GCREC Center Director …
Updated Draft for Florida Hemp Rules
By Karla Arboleda The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) updated a draft on hemp rules for the state. FDACS is working with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to authorize hemp production in Florida as quickly as possible. Fred Harris, a Greenberg Traurig attorney representing the Hemp Industries Association …
The Basics of Breeding Horticultural Crops
By Doug Phillips and Patricio Munoz Plant breeding has been described as the art and science of the genetic improvement of plants. It essentially involves using the heritable genetic variability in plants to develop varieties with certain targeted, desirable traits, such as high yield, disease resistance and superior fruit quality. Breeding of horticultural crops, such as tomatoes and strawberries, may …
Inside the University of Florida Blueberry Breeding Program
By Patricio Munoz and Doug Phillips The University of Florida (UF) blueberry breeding program has a long history of pioneering the development of southern highbush blueberries (SHB) that can thrive in Florida’s hot, humid climate. The breeding program focuses on developing varieties with high yield, good fruit quality and early ripening within a shrinking market window. The success of Florida’s …