Ornamental Plant Pathology
Ornamental plant production in Florida is an economically-important industry. Miami-Dade County leads the state in production of nursery and landscape plants with total sales reaching $2 billion and an employment impact of approximately 41,000 jobs.
The ornamental industry's demand for high plant quality combined with a location and climate favorable for plant pathogens makes plant pathology a top priority. The Palmateer lab focuses on diagnosing diseases and disorders affecting ornamental plants. Areas of interest include developing new diagnostic techniques, characterizing plant pathogens, and implementing effective management strategies for ornamental plant producers.
