ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONbranding.ifas.ufl.edu/.../ResearchDiscoveriesR2.pdf · testament to its importance to Florida’s economy. CONSUMER PREFERENCES ... harvesting

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Ongoing Research

2015 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | 1

Agriculture contributes more than $141 billion annually to Florida’s economy. The state’s 47,500 farms produce nearly 300 commodities, and the industry employs 2.1 million people. So its economic value cannot be overstated. University of Florida researchers seek to ensure agricultural products feed the world’s growing population, are produced sustainably and contribute to Florida’s economic well-being.

UF/IFAS’ economic research includes a study on the potential of tomato grafting, which could mean higher production costs in the short term, but increased profits in the long run. Research into oil palm tree crop rotation demonstrating how growers might profitably maintain productivity despite disease may have implications for citrus, as greening threatens to cripple Florida’s $10.68 billion citrus industry.

Strawberry growers also need to fight diseases, and now they can use a UF/IFAS-invented Web tool to save more than $2 million in 10 years’ time on fungicides. For ornamental plants, a novel computer application that tracked buyers’ eye movements is helping growers identify the product attributes that consumers value most and direct their production and marketing decisions to increase profitability. Finally, the environmental horticultural sector generates $16.3 billion in total revenue impacts, a testament to its importance to Florida’s economy.

CONSUMER PREFERENCESThe ornamental plant industry seeks to satisfy a diverse and ever-changing demand for plants to improve landscapes. A UF/IFAS research team led by Hayk Khachatryan, an assistant professor of food and resource economics at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, used an eye-tracking device that records eye movements when consumers view product images. Researchers then analyzed the relationship between visual behavior and product choices. Understanding consumer preferences and the effects of product attributes such as “Fresh From Florida” labeling helps improve marketing practices, which leads to increased demand for ornamental plants. Findings will also help growers reduce production costs by allowing them to focus on improving plant attributes that consumers value most.

PINE-BASED BIOFUELSPine tree resin is rich in terpenes (hydrocarbons) and shows promise as an alternative biofuel source. For more than 100 years, North Americans tapped pines to produce oleoresin, but domestic production disappeared in the past few decades because of high labor costs and international competition. UF/IFAS researchers including Gary Peter, a professor with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, have developed production practices and genetic improvements that could reinvigorate the domestic industry, providing landowners with a valuable new product. Compared with traditional methods, borehole tapping doubles the yield per hour, produces oleoresin free of contaminants, and avoids pest damage. Terpene compounds can then be readily converted into biofuels that substitute for diesel or jet fuel.

TREE REPLACEMENTWhen growers plant fruit-bearing trees, their future profits hinge on the trees’ long-term productivity. If groves become infected with a progressive disease, yet continue to produce marketable fruit, growers have two options — replanting or treating the disease. Kelly Grogan, a UF/IFAS food and resource economics assistant professor, developed a crop-rotation and disease treatment model for Colombian oil palm that can pinpoint the time window when replanting becomes the most cost-effective option within a treatment plan. The model appears to be applicable to greening-infected citrus trees and may prove helpful to Florida’s citrus industry.

ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION


An Equal Opportunity Institution.

Research with Impact


Joseph AlbanoCenter Director & ProfessorMid Florida Research and Education Center407-884-2034 •[email protected]

Spiro StefanouChair & ProfessorFood and Resource Economics352-392-1826 • [email protected]

Kevin Folta Chair & Professor Horticultural Sciences 352-392-1928 • [email protected]

Tim White Director & Professor School of Forest Resources and Conservation 352-846-0850 • [email protected]

UNIT LEADERS

Consumer PreferencesHayk Khachatryan Assistant Professor Food and Resource Economics Mid-Florida Research and Education Center 407-410-6951 [email protected]

Pine-Based BiofuelsGary Peter Professor School of Forest Resources and Conservation 352-846-0850 [email protected]

Tree ReplacementKelly Grogan Assistant Professor Food and Resource Economics 352-294-7633 [email protected]

Grafted TomatoesXin Zhao Associate Professor Horticultural Sciences 352-392-1928 [email protected]

Ornamental Plant IndustryAlan Hodges Acting Extension Programs Coordinator Food and Resource Economics 352-294-7674 [email protected]

Strawberry Production CostsJohn VanSickle Professor Food and Resource Economics 352-294-7634 [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS

GRAFTED TOMATOESUF/IFAS researchers studied the economic feasibility of grafted tomato production, and, among other results, they found grafting increased production costs. But because grafts produced more yield, grafting also generated more revenue, making the technology a better choice than non-grafted tomato production, said Xin Zhao, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences, who led the research. After harvesting tomatoes at the Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center in Live Oak in 2010 and 2011, study results showed that net farm income could increase from $253 to $2,458 per acre annually, depending on the rootstock, environmental conditions, price of tomatoes and the cost of seed and grafting. Scientists are now evaluating grafted tomatoes in Florida soil and weather conditions.

ORNAMENTAL PLANT INDUSTRYFlorida’s nursery and greenhouse industries produce plants for residential landscaping and interior decoration and for businesses that cater to millions of visitors. The plants also provide shade, erosion control and soil protection. In spite of freezes in 2010 that reduced revenues by $472 million, the environmental horticultural sector generated $16.3 billion in total revenue impacts, according to a study led by Alan Hodges, a UF/IFAS economist. In fact, environmental horticulture is now Florida’s largest agricultural commodity group, Hodges said. The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association used the study to lobby decision-makers statewide for policies helpful to the industry. In addition, UF/IFAS faculty work with the industry to assure the highest quality ornamental plants are produced in profitable and sustainable ways.

STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION COSTSUF/IFAS researchers developed a tool that helps Florida’s strawberry growers make decisions about fungicide applications. Called the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS), the Web-based tool takes data such as temperature, leaf wetness and past fungicide applications to advise growers on when to spray. In new research on the SAS’ economic effectiveness, John VanSickle, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Food and Resource Economics, led a team that examined data collected from UF production experiments conducted in 2006-2012. They found the tool can save growers up to $1.7 million over 10 years in fungicide spraying for anthracnose and $890,000 for botrytis on an average strawberry farm. Estimated profits for growers utilizing the SAS increased from 33 percent to 50 percent for anthracnose and from 8 percent to 26 percent for botrytis, depending on the strawberry variety.


Ongoing Research


Because Florida is surrounded by salt water on three sides and possesses the third-largest amount of inland surface water in the U.S., it’s only natural that the state supports a great deal of commercial activity related to its fisheries.

Florida hosts more recreational fishing than any other state: Each year, 2.4 million people participate in saltwater fishing here, creating an economic impact of $7.6 billion. Freshwater fishing involves 1.2 million people annually and contributes $1.7 billion in economic impact.

Commercial fishing, including harvest of marine and freshwater food and bait species, accounts for about $200 million in dockside value each year. Much of the catch is destined for markets outside Florida and even outside the U.S., strengthening Florida’s economy.

To keep these fisheries sustainable and profitable, UF/IFAS scientists are conducting research studies on a broad range of issues related to seafood harvesting, angling techniques and fisheries management.

CITIZEN SCIENCEFisheries monitoring requires a great deal of effort, sometimes more than agency personnel can provide. But additional data can be acquired through citizen science — information provided by laypeople through websites and mobile device apps. Robert Ahrens, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, leads an effort to understand how data contributed by saltwater anglers can be used to help manage fish stocks. The team, which includes personnel with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is reviewing existing apps to understand the limitations of angler-contributed data and to evaluate how the data could supplement agency efforts.

IMPROVING GROUPER SURVIVAL To keep populations sustainable, Florida enforces size limits, bag limits and closed seasons for the marine game fish gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, and red grouper, Epinephelus morio. When these species are caught in deep water and pulled to the surface their swim bladders expand, causing internal trauma that may kill the fish, which is a problem if they need to be released alive. Debra Murie, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, is part of a team evaluating two methods for helping the fish survive — venting the swim bladder to release gas, or using devices called descenders that return fish to deep water and recompress the gas. The researchers hope to determine which method is more effective, so that policy makers can improve fisheries regulations.

CATCH SHARE MANAGEMENTFor decades, commercial fishing operations in U.S. waters have been required to follow guidelines aimed at keeping fish populations sustainable. These guidelines traditionally involved seasonal closings and gear restrictions, but a new approach known as catch share management has emerged, where individual fishing operations own the privilege to harvest a specific amount of fish and may use or sell that privilege. This approach can improve harvest efficiency, increase fish quality and price, and promote safety by eliminating the need to fish in bad weather. Sherry Larkin, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Food and Resource Economics, leads a team analyzing how social networks influence the market for catch shares and how the program influences fishing strategies and management outcomes.

FISHERIES





Tim WhiteDirector & ProfessorSchool of Forest Resources and Conservation352-846-0850 • [email protected]

Spiro StefanouChair & ProfessorFood and Resource Economics352-392-1826 • [email protected]

UNIT LEADERS

Citizen Science and Gulf Sturgeon RecoveryRobert AhrensAssistant ProfessorFisheries and Aquatic SciencesSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

Improving Grouper SurvivalDebra MurieAssociate ProfessorFisheries and Aquatic SciencesSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

Catch Share ManagementSherry LarkinProfessorFood and Resource [email protected]

Artificial Reef HabitatBill LindbergAssociate ProfessorFisheries and Aquatic SciencesSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

Fishing Lure AvoidanceMicheal AllenProfessorFisheries and Aquatic SciencesSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS

GULF STURGEON RECOVERYThe Gulf sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi, has been federally classified as a threatened species since 1991. The apparent success of conservation efforts has led to a dilemma — how to determine when special protection is no longer necessary. Robert Ahrens, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, is part of a team that developed an approach for setting realistic recovery goals for sturgeon populations in the coastal river systems where these huge, armored fish spawn. Unlike other models used to estimate future stock populations, the team’s approach considers changes in the river environment that have occurred over time. These new modeling results are available for federal officials to use in upcoming decisions on the sturgeon’s protection status.

ARTIFICIAL REEF HABITATFisheries scientists often debate whether artificial reefs increase fish populations, or simply attract fish from other areas. Bill Lindberg, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, leads a team that has long investigated the issue, focusing on gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, a popular marine game fish. The team’s findings indicate that artificial reefs may attract or produce fish, depending on specific factors. To attract fish and benefit anglers, reefs should be readily accessible from key ports and have their locations advertised; however, to increase populations, reefs should provide shelter for young fish and not be advertised. These findings helped convince state officials to refrain from advertising the exact locations of artificial reefs meant to increase gag grouper production in the Gulf of Mexico.

FISHING LURE AVOIDANCEThe Florida bass, Micropterus floridanus, is the state’s most popular game fish and is pursued using a wide range of angling strategies. Micheal Allen, a professor with the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, has discovered that this species can learn to avoid artificial lures. In a recent study, Allen and his colleagues collected and weighed adult bass in a small, seldom-fished Florida lake, then spent several days trying to catch the bass using two popular lures. The number of bass caught per hour steadily declined after the fish were exposed to catch-and-release fishing, indicating that individual bass recognized the lures and learned to avoid them. The results have been reported by fishing media and now anglers are seeking new lures and ways to outsmart bass!


Ongoing Research


The year 2000 saw a tremendous breakthrough in plant science, as researchers completed the first genome sequencing for a plant, the species Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the mustard family. Though genetic mapping and gene function research on plants had been progressing for decades, the completion of the Arabidopsis genome gave encouragement to researchers involved with innumerable genetic studies on other plants.

At the University of Florida, UF/IFAS faculty members have long been at the forefront of genetic research on a broad range of economically and environmentally important plant species, ranging from food crops such as citrus and strawberry, to loblolly pine trees used for lumber and paper production, to invasive plants that must be managed in natural areas, such as the aquatic weed Hygrophila polysperma.

Today, genetic research at UF/IFAS has advanced beyond numerous efforts to sequence food-crop genomes. Many projects are under way now to apply advanced genetic knowledge and develop methods for boosting yields, improving plant health and using crops in new ways. Some researchers have even launched successful start-up companies and found ways to apply genetic knowledge obtained from plants in the realm of human health.

PLANT GENE EXPRESSION IN SPACEFor centuries, scientists could only hypothesize about how gravity might affect plant growth. But a UF/IFAS research team has been gaining insights by sending plants into space and analyzing how they respond. Team leader Rob Ferl, a UF/IFAS horticultural sciences professor and director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, says many of the experiments have yielded a fundamental conclusion — plants have tremendous ability to adapt to novel environmental conditions. By studying patterns of gene activation initiated by exposure to space flight and low gravity, Ferl’s team hopes to gain insights on producing plants that are more effective in coping with various Earthly environments, from greenhouses to deserts. The results could help researchers boost crop yields under a broad range of conditions.

PLANT GENOME ANALYSISThe average plant genome contains 20,000 to 30,000 genes, but the functions performed by at least half of them are unknown. Determining how those genes operate, and inferring why they exist, will be one of the great scientific challenges of the 21st century, says Andrew Hanson, an eminent scholar and professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences. To help address this challenge, Hanson is leading a multi-institution team that has launched an online database for plant gene information. Called PlantSEED, it enables scientists to search for information on the genes they’re studying and to predict their functions. Hanson’s group is using PlantSEED to research the enzymatic pathways involved in B vitamin synthesis in plants, and the role B vitamins play in relieving crop stress damage.

PEANUT NODULESAs with other legumes, peanut plants harbor symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia that form nodules on the plants’ roots and provide nitrogen for the plant. Jianping Wang, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, leads a research team investigating the genetic processes that control nodule formation. Wang is investigating how rhizobia enter the roots, identifying peanut genes that control nodule formation, and learning how rhizobia stimulate nodule growth. Studies using mutant peanut plants that do not produce nodules will facilitate the process of identifying genes associated with nodule formation. Wang’s ultimate goal is to provide critical knowledge to induce nitrogen fixation in non-legume crops, a process that could dramatically reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural production.

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES





Kevin FoltaChair & ProfessorHorticultural Sciences352-392-1928 • [email protected]

Robert GilbertChair & ProfessorAgronomy352-392-1811 • [email protected]


UNIT LEADERS

Plant Gene Expression in SpaceRob FerlDirector and ProfessorInterdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology [email protected]

Plant Genome AnalysisAndrew HansonEminent Scholar and ProfessorHorticultural [email protected]

Peanut NodulesJianping WangAssistant [email protected]

Maize RNA MutationMark SettlesProfessorHorticultural [email protected]

RAPiD GenomicsMatias KirstAssociate ProfessorSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

Sugarcane BiofuelFredy [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS

MAIZE RNA MUTATIONScientists once believed that the processes of cell differentiation and proliferation were regulated quite differently in animals than in plants. But research advances have uncovered many regulatory similarities, including one that may have implications for human healthcare. Mark Settles, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences, led a team studying genetic mutations in maize, Zea mays, that disrupted RNA splicing — an aspect of cell differentiation — and caused cells to proliferate excessively. In people, similar mutations are responsible for some acute myeloid leukemia cases and certain blood cell growth disorders. Settles’ team is now investigating whether similar regulatory mechanisms govern both mutations to influence cell-growth disorders; the team’s findings may lead to insights on how some cancers arise.

RAPiD GENOMICSThe past decade has seen incredible advances in genomics, the science of obtaining complete genetic sequences for individual organisms. The resulting knowledge has been applied to improve crops, fight disease and accomplish other goals. At UF/IFAS, Matias Kirst, an associate professor with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC), co-founded a company called RAPiD Genomics in 2011 to commercialize innovations developed by the school’s Forest Genomics Laboratory. RAPiD Genomics conducts fast, affordable, custom-tailored analyses to reveal the gene sequences controlling traits of interest in target organisms. Kirst formed the company with two former SFRC doctoral students; he reports that the volume of samples analyzed has grown by 50 to 100 percent each year.

SUGARCANE BIOFUELSugarcane accounts for 70 percent of the world’s table sugar production and is also globally the most cost-effective feedstock for biofuel. Fredy Altpeter, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, led a team targeting the genetic improvement of sugarcane and its pre- and post-processing residues for biofuel applications. In one initiative, metabolic engineering increased the oil content of vegetative sugarcane tissues more than 80-fold, making sugarcane residues an attractive feedstock for biodiesel production. Altpeter’s team also genetically modified the composition of sugarcane cell walls, improving the efficiency of fuel ethanol production from sugarcane residues by more than 20 percent. Novel precision breeding technologies were also developed for sugarcane to reduce the need for transgenic processes and speed regulatory approval of new varieties.


Ongoing Research


Improving agricultural production is a major priority for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and has been since its inception. To stay ahead of competitors in the U.S. and around the world, Florida’s growers need science-based information to help them grow crops with the largest possible yield while reducing the need for economically and environmentally costly inputs such as water, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. UF/IFAS researchers time and again find ways to help agricultural producers grow more marketable products at lower cost. To that end, UF/IFAS scientists are investigating sod-based rotations in combination with cattle grazing to conserve water, a jet fuel made from an oilseed crop called Ethiopian mustard that can also feed cattle, and experiments with compact, plastic-covered raised beds that produce big water savings. Studies already proving highly beneficial to producers include work to help growers better manage a costly cotton disease, a study showing that a fertigation drip can help citrus trees grow faster and produce more fruit earlier, and long-term research that has made Southern pine forests among the world’s most productive.

RAISED-BED AGRICULTURE For decades, Florida’s vegetable crops have been grown on wide, plastic-covered raised soil beds. Sanjay Shukla, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida REC, wondered if the beds could be redesigned to better fit modern irrigation and chemigation technologies. Turns out, they can. Higher and narrower beds used to grow eggplant required as little as half the amount of irrigation compared to a traditional wide bed, with no reduction in yield. The compact beds reduced water and nutrient leaching, required less fumigant, and saved up to $270 per acre. Shukla’s team is now studying compact beds for tomato and pepper. If early results hold, the reconfigured beds could save Florida’s vegetable industry millions every year while greatly shrinking its environmental footprint.

CROPS AND CATTLE Farmers have known for centuries that rotating crops results in fertile ground and better yield. But UF/IFAS agronomist David Wright says the combination of peanuts and cotton, grazing cattle and bahiagrass creates an even better result: reduced fertilizer and pesticide use, crops that require less than half the irrigation, more soil carbon and a two- to seven-fold increase in farmer income. His team has taken a long-term look at the sod-based rotation system — it’s currently in its 14th year of testing — and officials are looking into whether the method could reduce agricultural water use in Florida and Georgia as well as reduce water consumption in the Apalachicola River basin, which maintains the state’s oyster industry.

ETHIOPIAN MUSTARDImagine jet fuel made from seed — it’s renewable, it weighs less than petroleum-based fuel and it’s not harmful to the environment. Now, imagine thousands of Florida acres devoted to growing this seed as a winter crop, bringing in income, reducing erosion and creating better summer crops. Finally, imagine that this oilseed can be used as cattle feed. UF/IFAS plant pathologist Jim Marois is helping make scientists’ imaginings a reality by using U.S. Navy grant funds and other support to study how to best grow Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) and determine which varieties work best in Florida. Florida, Canada and South Dakota are working to meet the Navy’s 8-million-barrel goal by 2020.

IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION





Raised-Bed AgricultureSanjay ShuklaAssociate ProfessorAgricultural and Biological EngineeringSouthwest Florida Research and Education [email protected]

Crops and CattleDavid WrightProfessorAgronomyNorth Florida Research and Education [email protected]

Ethiopian Mustard and Cotton HardlockJim MaroisProfessorPlant PathologyNorth Florida Research and Education [email protected]

Citrus Nutrient ManagementKelly MorganAssociate ProfessorSoil and Water ScienceSouthwest Florida Research and Education [email protected]

Productive PinesEric JokelaProfessorSchool of Forest Resources and [email protected]

CITRUS NUTRIENT MANAGEMENTKelly Morgan, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida REC, has long focused his research on growing crops such as citrus and sugarcane using the fewest inputs possible. His team’s five-year study showed that using drip irrigation and a tiny amount of fertilizer in the mix helped young citrus trees grow more than 30 percent faster, with nearly double the output of fruit in the first few years. Those gains represent a huge benefit for Florida citrus growers who’ve had to replant trees far more frequently because of citrus greening and need them to produce fruit quickly. The study shows that growers can use less fertilizer than had been used in periodic applications, as well as less water overall.

COTTON HARDLOCK Cotton hardlock is a fungal disease that prevents the cotton boll from fully opening. Mechanized pickers can’t extract the bolls with hardlock, and often knock them to the ground — wasted product for growers. UF/IFAS plant pathologist Jim Marois and fellow North Florida REC scientists spent years unraveling the mystery behind the disease, eventually discovering that it enters through the bloom as the plant is flowering. Regimes in which producers keep close watch on cool nights and apply fungicide and pesticide as the plants are just starting to bloom can have as much as a 50 percent increase in yield. In 2013, the estimated impact of the research was an added $12.5 million to Florida cotton farmers.

PRODUCTIVE PINES Today, planted pine forests in the Southern U.S. cover nearly 39 million acres. These forests are among the world’s most productive, producing about 16 percent of global industrial wood. Silvicultural and genetic research and new technologies developed by UF/IFAS scientists in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation with industry collaborators doubled the yield of pine forests. New management regimes based on these technologies include combinations of mechanical and chemical site preparation, understory control, genetically improved seedlings for growth and disease resistance, density management and fertilization. UF/IFAS forest scientist Eric Jokela, colleagues and the Forest Biology Research Cooperative found that a second-rotation loblolly stand has already resulted in what Jokela calls “remarkable” growth — 5-year-old trees that average 34 feet tall and 5.8 inches in diameter.

Calvin ArnoldCenter Director & ProfessorSouthwest Florida Research and Education Center239-658-3400 [email protected]

Nick ComerfordCenter Director & ProfessorNorth Florida Research and Education Center850-875-7100 [email protected]

Dorota Haman Chair & ProfessorAgricultural and Biological [email protected]

Rosemary LoriaChair & ProfessorPlant Pathology352-392-3631 [email protected]

K. Ramesh ReddyChair & Graduate Research ProfessorSoil and Water Science352-294-3154 [email protected]

Tim WhiteDirector & ProfessorSchool of Forest Resources and Conservation352-846-0850 [email protected]

Rob GilbertChair & [email protected]

UNIT LEADERS

RESEARCHER CONTACTS


Ongoing Research


Unlike most of the state, the southernmost tip of peninsular Florida features soils, weather patterns and other crop production conditions that closely resemble those found in Caribbean island nations. Consequently, the region offers one of the few opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers to grow tropical crops under field conditions.

Tropical crop industries in Florida are supported by the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead. Opened in 1929, this facility addresses the unique needs of local growers, conducting research on various management issues and evaluating new crops and plant varieties originating in other countries.

The combined harvest of Florida’s tropical fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops has an annual farm gate value of $800 million and total economic impact in excess of $1 billion. To help this dynamic and multifaceted industry segment keep pace with changes in market demand and the production environment, researchers at TREC are constantly communicating with growers, monitoring developments in other nations’ crop production industries, conducting applied research and re-evaluating their own efforts to ensure the greatest likelihood of successful outcomes.

HELPING CROPS SURVIVE FLOODINGSouth Florida’s low elevation, high water table and frequent storms can lead to flooding that damages or kills fruit crops. Bruce Schaffer, a UF/IFAS professor with TREC in Homestead, is part of a research team investigating the effects of flooding on plant physiology and growth of fruit crops. The team’s work revealed that flooding makes avocado trees more susceptible to phytophthora root rot, a disease that is present in South Florida but rarely causes damage under non-flooded conditions. Current avocado research investigates whether pruning can mitigate flood damage; additional studies involve flooding effects on mango, papaya and other tropical fruit crops. The team hopes to identify flood-tolerant crop varieties and management practices that enable plants to survive exposure to standing water.

SMART FERTILIZERSCrops use only about 30 to 50 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer they receive if the fertilizer is applied in traditional water-soluble forms such as urea; the remainder is lost to the environment through leaching and other processes. Scientists have developed fertilizers coated with porous materials that release nutrients to crops slowly, but the coatings for these products are often prohibitively expensive. To address the problem, Yuncong Li, a UF/IFAS professor with TREC in Homestead, is working with colleagues to evaluate “smart fertilizers” coated with low-cost substances such as recycled polystyrene foam. Initial results show that these fertilizer pellets are effective and affordable, particularly when manufactured in larger sizes that have a smaller ratio of surface area to volume.

IMPATIENS DOWNY MILDEWFor years, the flowering shrub Impatiens walleriana was Florida’s best-selling annual bedding plant, and for good reason — it’s beautiful, inexpensive, shade-tolerant and hardy. But in 2011, an outbreak of downy mildew disease devastated outdoor plantings of impatiens throughout the state. Scientists aren’t sure what caused the outbreak, but Aaron Palmateer, a UF/IFAS associate professor with TREC in Homestead, is focused on helping homeowners and landscaping professionals cope with the disease by developing integrated management strategies and identifying resistant impatiens varieties. Palmateer is evaluating biological control products to determine if any are effective, inexpensive and environmentally friendly; he says the biggest challenge is protecting impatiens in the landscape at low cost.

TROPICAL CROPS





LAUREL WILTIn 2012, the invasive fungal disease laurel wilt was detected in Miami-Dade County avocado groves. At the time, researchers believed the pathogen responsible for the disease, Raffaelea lauricola, was only transmitted by its well-known vector, the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle. However, a UF/IFAS research team including entomologist Daniel Carrillo, an assistant professor with TREC in Homestead, seldom found redbay ambrosia beetles in the affected groves. The scientists discovered that some native ambrosia beetles also harbored the pathogen, having apparently acquired it when they bred in infected redbay or swampbay trees. Experiments showed that some of the native species can also vector laurel wilt to avocado trees. These findings led growers to fund monitoring and increase management efforts aimed at native ambrosia beetles.

ORCHID CRYOPRESERVATIONCryopreservation is a process involving storage of biological materials at extremely low temperatures. Wagner Vendrame, a professor with TREC in Homestead, has optimized the use of this technology with orchids, to protect seeds and other tissues. His recent research focuses on chemicals called cryoprotectants, which are added to plant tissues before freezing to improve the odds that preserved material will be usable after thawing. Vendrame reports that an organic compound called phloroglucinol has performed well as a cryoprotectant, and he’s communicated his findings to industry personnel who routinely freeze large amounts of orchid biological material. Other researchers who previously worked at TREC also are using these techniques to preserve endangered Brazilian orchids.

SMART IRRIGATION APPSWith Florida expected to suffer freshwater shortages more frequently in the future, conservation will be a key component of water management strategies. To help agricultural producers and homeowners in Florida and Georgia use water wisely, a team of UF/IFAS and University of Georgia faculty members have developed a suite of irrigation applications for smart phones and other mobile devices. Apps for citrus, strawberry, cotton and turfgrass are available; results show the turf app can cut water use by 30 to 40 percent, said Kati Migliaccio, a UF/IFAS associate professor with TREC in Homestead. New apps for avocado, tomato, squash and other crops are in development, and the team plans to expand coverage to other Southeastern states.

Kevin Folta Chair & Professor Horticultural Sciences 352-392-1928 [email protected]

K. Ramesh Reddy Chair & Graduate Research Professor Soil and Water Science 352-294-3154 [email protected]

Dorota Haman Chair & Professor Agricultural and Biological Engineering 352-392-1864 [email protected]

Rosemary Loria Chair & Professor Plant Pathology 352-392-3631 [email protected]

Heather McAuslaneInterim Chair & ProfessorEntomology and [email protected]

Sandra Wilson Interim Chair & Professor Environmental Horticulture 352-392-1831 [email protected]

Christine WaddillCenter Director & ProfessorTropical Research and Education [email protected]

UNIT LEADERS

Helping Crops Survive FloodingBruce SchafferProfessorHorticultural SciencesTropical Research and Education [email protected]

Smart FertilizersYuncong LiProfessorSoil and Water ScienceTropical Research and Education [email protected]

Impatiens Downy MildewAaron PalmateerAssociate ProfessorPlant PathologyTropical Research and Education [email protected]

Laurel WiltDaniel CarrilloResearch Assistant ProfessorEntomology and NematologyTropical Research and Education Center305-246-7001 [email protected]

Orchid CryopreservationWagner VendrameProfessorEnvironmental HorticultureTropical Research and Education [email protected]

Smart Irrigation AppsKati MigliaccioAssociate ProfessorAgricultural and Biological EngineeringTropical Research and Education [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS


Ongoing Research


As a peninsula, Florida is home to a broader range of wildlife than many U.S. states of comparable land mass. Approximately 800 species of terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates naturally occur here, including species commonly found throughout the Southeastern U.S., animals found in Caribbean island nations, and species unique to Florida.

The mission of the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation is to foster education and scholarship that promotes better understanding, management and conservation of Florida’s animals and wildlife found elsewhere in the nation and the world. About one-third of the department’s research programs have an international focus, much of it addressing wildlife issues in tropical and subtropical regions.

Historically, the department has put particular emphasis on species that are iconic, rare, cryptic or dwindling in numbers, to preserve our planet’s natural history for future generations. These efforts are especially important in Florida because state policymakers are continually faced with decisions on land use, water allocation, development, environmental protection and other factors that impact not only human health and economic prosperity, but also the continued well-being of the animals that share our state with human residents.

FOX SQUIRRELSThe fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, is widely distributed throughout North America, but Florida specimens are typically larger than their northern counterparts and are found in a wider variety of color patterns. These distinctions have led wildlife biologists to conclude that Florida is home to four fox squirrel subspecies, two of which are imperiled. Robert McCleery, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, wants to determine how distinct Florida’s fox squirrels are. He is testing tissue samples from road-killed fox squirrels collected around the state to determine whether all four subspecies are genetically distinct from one another. He is also using remote-control cameras and citizen-science initiatives to learn how we can better conserve fox squirrels in Florida.

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMSOne challenge that wildlife biologists face is the need to obtain accurate population data for a species within a specific geographic area. For 15 years, Franklin Percival has pioneered a technology addressing that challenge — unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) using small, hand-launched planes. Outfitted with specially equipped cameras, these aircraft fly slowly at low altitudes, gathering detailed images of targeted wildlife species and their habitats. Percival, a courtesy associate professor with the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, has conducted numerous studies with colleagues, providing insights on improved aircraft design, instrumentation, power supplies and other performance-related matters. Developments on the horizon include the use of UAS to track individual animals outfitted with radio transmitters.

FLORIDA BONNETED BATFew of Florida’s 13 resident bat species are well understood by scientists; perhaps the least known is the Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus, which is also the state’s most endangered bat species and the largest, with a 21-inch wingspan. Holly Ober, a UF/IFAS associate professor at the North Florida REC in Quincy, along with graduate students and colleagues from state agencies, is investigating the mammal’s natural history and hopes to guide management efforts to preserve it. Due to the bat’s obscurity, researchers are still pursuing fundamental information such as its preferred habitat and natural range. Thus far it’s believed the species prefers roosting in longleaf pine cavities and is found in small populations scattered across southern Florida. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

WILDLIFE





BEACH MOUSEThe Perdido Key beach mouse, Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis, is an endangered subspecies of oldfield mouse that inhabits coastal dunes and is found only in a small geographic range near the Florida-Alabama border. For the past two decades, UF researchers have investigated the rodent’s abundance, distribution and living habits to determine how its survival may be impacted by development and storm activity. Previous research results have led to enhanced sand dune protection on federal lands to ensure sufficient beach mouse habitat, and these results recently helped attract funding for a new study on the possible impact of a road-widening project on Perdido Key, said James Austin, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

EVERGLADE SNAIL KITEThe Everglade snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis, is critically endangered in the U.S., but populations of the bird have increased recently, apparently because an invasive pest is providing a new food supply. Snail kites normally feed upon a native snail, but UF/IFAS research suggests the bird has begun consuming the exotic island apple snail, Pomacea maculata, which can grow to the size of a tennis ball, said Robert Fletcher, an associate professor with the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Studies indicate that snail kites have greater reproductive success when nesting in wetlands colonized by the invasive snail, perhaps due to greater food availability. This research has led to changes in state water-management and weed-control efforts to protect the kite.

WADING BIRDSFlorida’s Everglades provide nesting habitat to wading birds including storks, herons and ibises, and active wading bird nests are an excellent indicator of the Everglades ecosystem’s overall health, says Peter Frederick, a research professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. The birds can nest in other wetlands throughout the Southeastern U.S., and select the Everglades only if water levels, prey abundance and other factors are favorable. Frederick and colleagues at Florida Atlantic University, Audubon Florida and Florida International University developed models that predict wading bird nesting locations and nesting numbers based on past and present water conditions. This work gives greater certainty to the scientific basis for Everglades restoration, and has helped retain government support for the effort.

Eric HellgrenChair & ProfessorWildlife Ecology and Conservation352-846-0643 • [email protected]

Nick ComerfordCenter Director & ProfessorNorth Florida Research and Education Center850-875-7100 • [email protected]

UNIT LEADERS

Fox SquirrelsRobert McCleeryAssistant ProfessorWildlife Ecology and [email protected]

Unmanned Aircraft SystemsFranklin PercivalCourtesy Associate Professor Wildlife Ecology and Conservation352- [email protected]

Florida Bonneted BatHolly OberAssociate ProfessorWildlife Ecology and ConservationNorth Florida Research and Education [email protected]

Beach MouseJames AustinAssociate ProfessorWildlife Ecology and [email protected]

Everglade Snail KiteRobert FletcherAssociate ProfessorWildlife Ecology and [email protected]

Wading BirdsPeter FrederickResearch ProfessorWildlife Ecology and [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS


Ongoing Research


Considering Florida’s long, diverse history, it’s no surprise that the University of Florida’s research program in agricultural and natural resources has always included an international component.

For example, several of the state’s best-known commodities, including citrus, beef cattle and sugarcane, arrived centuries ago from other parts of the world, and our researchers have worked for decades to optimize their production in Florida. Similarly, many of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station’s first studies focused on determining whether crops from foreign lands could be grown here profitably.

However, prior to the mid-1960s, few UF agricultural research projects took place in other countries; that changed with the founding of the Center for Tropical Agriculture and the Office for International Programs in Agriculture, which began by addressing food security issues with UF/IFAS expertise.

Today, the world is more interconnected than ever before. Research projects organized by UF/IFAS Global and individual scientists seek to identify promising crop varieties, access new markets for Florida products, understand pests and pathogens that may one day reach our shores, and engage scholars from other nations to promote economic and political stability abroad.

REDUCING METHANE PRODUCTIONMany ranchers give their cattle commercial feed additives to curtail methane gas production during the digestive process. Methane gas represents a loss of energy that could otherwise support faster growth, and, as a greenhouse gas, methane contributes to global warming. Supplementing feed with certain plants may also reduce methane production, says Adegbola Adesogan, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences. Adesogan is working with a visiting Fulbright Scholar from Nigeria to test more than 500 tropical plant species to determine their potential for this purpose. Several plants show great promise, performing better than commercial additives. The study results may enable ranchers to save money and reduce their environmental footprint.

HEAT-TOLERANT RICERice is one of Tanzania’s most important crops, but farmers in this African nation need heat-tolerant varieties to meet demand, particularly if annual temperatures continue to rise in the future. Newton Kilasi, a faculty member with Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania, is researching the issue as part of his doctoral program in the UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences. Under the guidance of his primary faculty advisor, Bala Rathinasabapathi, a professor with the department, Kilasi is analyzing genes from a heat-tolerant rice variety grown in the Philippines. If he can determine which genes control the trait, researchers may one day transfer heat-tolerance genes to high-yield rice varieties grown in Tanzania. The research may also guide efforts to improve heat tolerance in other crops.

DECOY SPIDERSSpiders are known for constructing intricate webs, but a Peruvian orb weaver goes a step further, decorating its home with spider-shaped sculptures made from bits of debris. Lary Reeves, a doctoral student with the UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology, researches the species with his major advisor, Akito Kawahara, an assistant professor with the Florida Museum of Natural History, and other experts. The sculptures are much larger than the spiders that build them — possibly to ward off flying insects that prey on small spiders. The team is testing this hypothesis through a series of experiments that may also help explain why other spider species create unusual structures in their webs, such as highly visible patterns made from silk.

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT





AGRICULTURAL MODELINGForty years ago, Jim Jones was one of the few university professors developing computer models for agricultural production. Today, modeling is widely used to predict weather impacts on crops, assess input needs and forecast yields. Jones, an emeritus distinguished professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is a co-principal investigator in the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project, or AgMIP. This global effort compares results from different models, focusing primarily on climate variability and climate change, and evaluates management strategies to ensure production of the world’s major staple crops. AgMIP has influenced agricultural policy decisions in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, and changed how agricultural scientists collaborate across disciplines.

MANGO POSTHARVEST HANDLINGDramatic increases in U.S. mango sales are partly the result of UF/IFAS research, says Jeff Brecht, a professor with the Department of Horticultural Sciences. In 2007, the National Mango Board funded a UF-led multi-institution study on postharvest handling of mangoes bound for U.S. markets from Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. Brecht and his colleagues evaluated various methods used for harvesting, cooling, sanitizing, packing, shipping and other handling practices, determining which methods were best for protecting fruit quality and reducing losses. The team then developed a best-practices manual in English, Spanish and Portuguese that’s used industrywide. The mango board reports that domestic mango sales have climbed 300 to 400 percent since the manual was published in 2010.

PEANUT PRODUCTIONPeanuts are a staple crop in Guyana’s Rupununi region, but in the 1990s, drought and lack of modern agronomic practices kept yields low. In 2007, Greg MacDonald, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, developed a multi-institution research project in Guyana to evaluate peanut varieties and methods for weed, disease and insect management. The coalition then developed recommendations that increased the region’s peanut production from 300,000 pounds to 1 million pounds in one year. In addition, the researchers helped growers implement the use of farm machinery, proper harvesting, and storage technologies to increase yields further. Consequently, the group partnered with local governments to initiate school feeding programs for more than 4,000 students and launch a marketing program for locally produced peanut butter.

Walter BowenDirectorUF/IFAS [email protected]

Geoffrey DahlChair & ProfessorAnimal Sciences352-392-1981 [email protected]

Kevin FoltaChair & ProfessorHorticultural Sciences352-392-1928 [email protected]

Robert GilbertChair & ProfessorAgronomy352-392-1811 [email protected]

Dorota HamanChair & ProfessorAgricultural and Biological [email protected]

Heather McAuslaneInterim Chair & ProfessorEntomology and Nematology352-273-3901 [email protected]

DIRECTOR UNIT LEADERS

Reducing Methane ProductionAdegbola AdesoganProfessorAnimal [email protected]

Heat-Tolerant RiceBala RathinasabapathiProfessor Horticultural [email protected]

Decoy SpidersAkito KawaharaAssistant ProfessorFlorida Museum of Natural [email protected]

Agricultural ModelingJim JonesEmeritus Distinguished ProfessorAgricultural and Biological [email protected]

Mango Postharvest HandlingJeff BrechtProfessorHorticultural [email protected]

Peanut ProductionGreg [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS

mailto:[email protected]













Ongoing Research

Water covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface, but more than 96 percent of it is salt water that cannot be used for drinking or irrigation; only 1.3 percent is surface water, the main source for human use.

Florida is not only surrounded on three sides by 825 miles of sandy coastline — more than any other state in the contiguous United States — it also has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs on Earth, with more than 700 named springs bubbling up in the state’s interior from the Floridan aquifer. In addition, the Florida Everglades is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world — there is nothing else like this River of Grass.

Florida has 29 major watersheds, each defined by rivers, streams, springs, lakes, canals, wetlands, bays and other water features. The state’s water travels to the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay or the Atlantic Ocean and is vulnerable to pollutants from stormwater runoff, faulty septic systems, wastewater and industrial discharges and other sources.

UF/IFAS is the state’s leading institution in water research, conservation and education, and is at the forefront of studying and protecting our water systems.

FOREST DROUGHT SIMULATIONSTrees need water to grow, and the threat of climate change means they might have to get along with less rainfall in the future. To determine how drought could impact planted pine, Tim Martin, a professor with the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, leads a team that conducts studies on simulated drought by placing large wood and plastic troughs between rows of trees to catch rainfall. Their results will be used to update climate-sensitive growth models for planted pine, which covers about 20 million acres in the Southeastern U.S. The research, conducted in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Virginia, helps illustrate that drought conditions can have varying effects on the same tree species, depending on the overall habitat.

ASSESSING WATER AVAILABILITYIn the past, scientists have estimated urban water supplies by assessing rainfall and surface water contained in rivers; they’ve concluded that up to 47 percent of major U.S. cities are vulnerable to water shortages. Jim Jawitz, a professor with the UF/IFAS Soil and Water Science Department, reasoned that it made more sense to assess supplies by examining all possible sources that contribute to an urban watershed, including lakes, reservoirs and subterranean aquifers. Using this approach, Jawitz and his research team found that only 17 percent of 225 U.S. metropolitan areas are vulnerable to water shortages. His recent work applies the same approach to water supply issues in Africa and South America, where Jawitz hopes to establish standard methods for assessing water availability.

PROTECTING FLORIDA SPRINGSAuthor Marjory Stoneman Douglas famously called Florida’s springs “bowls of liquid light.” To preserve these natural wonders, the St. Johns River Water Management District launched a Springs Protection Initiative in late 2012 that combines science, projects, planning and regulatory programs to reduce nitrate loading and protect spring flows; the agency soon reached out to UF’s Water Institute faculty. K. Ramesh Reddy, a graduate research professor and chair of the UF/IFAS Soil and Water Science Department, and numerous UF colleagues are now investigating the function, water flow and water quality of several Florida springs. The collaborative work will help advance the scientific foundation leading to more effective management of water resources and stronger protection for springs, groundwater and surface water resources.

WATER





COMPENSATION FOR CONSERVATIONFor decades, scientists have been working to reduce nutrient levels in South Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. UF/IFAS’ Mark Clark helped develop a new approach — paying area ranchers to use their properties as dispersed water storage systems. Under this arrangement, ranchers rehydrate wetlands and create impoundments on their properties, which reduces runoff to Lake Okeechobee, improves surface water quality and provides wildlife habitat. Clark, an associate professor with the Soil and Water Science Department, said the pilot program was a model for environmental services payment programs nationwide; its success led the South Florida Water Management District to begin offering conservation contracts to ranchers on a steady basis. In 2011, the district announced plans to invest $7 million in conservation contracts over the next decade.

IRRIGATION CONTROLLER SUCCESSAbout half of Florida’s publicly supplied water is used for landscape irrigation, and if one image symbolizes our state’s need to conserve, it’s an automated lawn sprinkler watering during a thunderstorm. That scenario bothered Michael Dukes enough that he found a way to stop it. Dukes, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, conducted years of research on sprinkler systems and determined that by using shut-off devices to prevent irrigation during periods of adequate soil moisture, homeowners could cut their lawn irrigation by 50 percent or more. As a result of this research, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that became law in 2009, requiring all newly installed or maintained in-ground sprinkler systems to be equipped with automatic shut-off devices.

ALGAE-EATING SNAILSNorth Florida has one of the world’s highest concentrations of freshwater springs, but today many of them suffer from excessive algae growth. Scientists often place the blame on the consequences of human activity, particularly nitrate, a compound associated with fertilizer runoff. However, a UF/IFAS research team that includes Matthew Cohen, an associate professor with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, found that another factor may be in play — decreased populations of algae-eating snails in the genus Elimia, sometimes called “the little janitor of the springs.” The team assessed populations in 11 springs and found that the springs with fewer snails tended to have more algae. Officials with two state water management districts have indicated they’ll increase monitoring efforts related to Elimia to investigate the correlation further.

Dorota HamanChair & ProfessorAgricultural and Biological Engineering352-392-1864 • [email protected]

K. Ramesh ReddyChair & Graduate Research ProfessorSoil and Water Science352-294-3154 • [email protected]


UNIT LEADERS

Forest Drought SimulationsTim MartinProfessorForest Resources and [email protected]

Assessing Water AvailabilityJim JawitzProfessorSoil and Water [email protected]

Protecting Florida’s SpringsK. Ramesh ReddyChair and Graduate Research ProfessorSoil and Water [email protected]

Compensation for ConservationMark ClarkAssociate ProfessorSoil and Water [email protected]

Irrigation Controller SuccessMichael DukesProfessorAgricultural and Biological [email protected]

Algae-Eating SnailsMatthew CohenAssociate ProfessorForest Resources and [email protected]

RESEARCHER CONTACTS









Documents

ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONbranding.ifas.ufl.edu/.../ResearchDiscoveriesR2.pdf · testament to its importance to Florida’s economy. CONSUMER PREFERENCES ... harvesting