Bruce Schaffer

Title - Professor

Department - Horticultural Sciences

Specialty - Environmental physiology of tropical plants

Telephone - 305-246-7001 Ext. 316

Suncom - 478-7001 Ext. 316

E-mail - bas56@ufl.edu

Web site

Education

  • Ph.D., 1985: Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA -- Horticulture (Plant Physiology)
  • M.S., 1981: Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO -- Forest Biology
  • B.S., 1978: Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO -- Entomology (Zoology, 2nd Major)

Employment

  • Professor (1994 to present), University of Florida, Tropical Research & Education Center (TREC), Homestead, FL
  • Associate Center Director (2002 to 2006), University of Florida, TREC, Homestead, FL
  • Associate Professor (1990 to 1994), University of Florida, TREC, Homestead, FL
  • Assistant Professor (1985 to 1990), University of Florida, TREC, Homestead, FL
  • Post Doctoral Associate (1985), University of Heidelberg, Heidleberg, Germany

Assignment

  • 95% Research
  • 5% Teaching

Areas of Expertise

  • Environmental stress physiology, carbon assimilation, plant water relations, sustainable agriculture

Active Projects

  • Effects of Flooding on Physiology and Growth of of Tropical Fruit Trees
  • Effect of Diaprepes Root Weevil on Physiology and Growth of Ornamental Plants (with Dr. Catharine Mannion, UF-TREC)
  • Improving Water Quality at the Watershed Level by Targeting High Return Stakeholders (with Dr. Kati Migliaccio (P.I.), Dr. Jonathan Crane, Dr. Yuncong Li and Dr. Gilly Evans, UF-TREC )
  • Soil Moisture Based Irrigation of Papayas (with Drs. Kati Migliaccio and Jonathan Crane, UF-TREC, Fred Davies, UF, Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, Rafa Muñoz-Carpena, UF, Dept. of Ag. and Bio. Engineering)
  • Preventing Iron Deficiency in Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Calcareous Soils with Foliar-applied Weak Acids (with Drs. Y. Li, J.H. Crane and Gilly Evans, UF-TREC)
  • Breaking into the Light: Recovery Steps for Endangered Jacquemontia reclinata and Amorpha herbacea var. crenulata in South Florida (with Joyce Maschinski (P.I.), Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden).

Awards & Recognitions

  • University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship
  • Chi Sigma Xi, National Nat. Resources Honor Society
  • Gamma Sigma Delta, International Honor Society of Agricultural Sciences
  • Phi Sigma, National Biological Sciences Honor Society
  • Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society of North America
  • Research Associate, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Selected Publications

Books and Proceedings Edited (selected)

  • Whiley, A.W., B. Schaffer and B.N. Wolstenholme (eds.). 2002. Avocado: Botany Production and Uses. CAB International Inc., London. 416 pp.
  • Schaffer, B. and P.C. Andersen (eds.). 1994. Handbook of Environmental Physiology of Fruit Crops, Volume II. Subtropical and Tropical Crops. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida. 310 pp.
  • Schaffer, B. and P.C. Andersen (eds.). 1994. Handbook of Environmental Physiology of Fruit Crops, Volume I. Temperature Crops. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida. 358 pp.
  • Schaffer, B. (ed). 1993. Proceedings of the Fourth International Mango Symposium. Acta Horticulturae 341. 549 pp.

Book Chapters (selected)

  • Schaffer, B., L. Urban, P. Lu and A.W. Whiley. 2009.  Ecophysiology. pp. 170-209. In: The Mango: Botany, Production and Uses, 2nd Edition. R.E. Litz (ed.). CAB International Press, Wallingford, U.K. 
  • Schaffer, B. and A.W. Whiley. 2002. Environmental physiology of avocado. In: Avocado: Botany, Production and Uses. A.W. Whiley, B. Schaffer and B.N. Wolstenholme (eds.). CAB International Press, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 135-160.
  • Whiley, A.W. and B. Schaffer. 1997. Stress physiology. In: Litz RE ed., The Mango: Botany, Production and Uses. CAB International Press, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 147-173.
  • Schaffer, B., A.W. Whiley and J.H. Crane. 1994. Mango. In: CRC Handbook of Environmental Physiology of Fruit Crops, Volume II, Subtropical and Tropical Crops. B. Schaffer and P.C. Andersen (eds.). CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 165-197.
  • Whiley, A.W. and B. Schaffer. 1994. Avocado. In: Handbook of Environmental Physiology of Fruit Crops, Volume II. Subtropical and Tropical. B. Schaffer and P.C. Andersen (eds.). CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 3-35.
  • Schaffer, B., P.C. Andersen and R.C. Ploetz. 1992. Responses of fruit crops to flooding. Horticultural Reviews 13:257-313

Refereed Journal Articles (selected)

  • Mielke, M.S. and B. Schaffer. 2009.  Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment indexes of Eugenia uniflora L. in response to changes in light intensity and soil flooding. Tree Physiology (in press).
  • B. Schaffer, J.H. Crane, C. Li, Y.C. Li and E.A. Evans. 2009. Re-greening of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) leaves with foliar applications of iron sulfate and weak acids. Journal of Plant Nutrition (in press).
  • Mielke, M.S. and B. Schaffer. 2009. Photosynthetic and growth responses of Eugenia uniflora L. seedlings to soil flooding and light intensity. Environmental and Experimental Botany (in press).
  • Nickum, M.T, J.H. Crane, B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2009.  Reponses of mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) trees to continuous and cyclical flooding in calcareous soil. Scientia Horticulturae (in press).
  • White, P, T. Potter, D. Bosch, H. Joo, B. Schaffer, and R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2009. Reduction in metolachlor and degradate concentrations in shallow groundwater through cover crop use. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57:9658-9667.
  • Martin, C., C.M. Mannion and B. Schaffer.  2009. Effects of herbivory by Diaprepes abbreviates (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae on Four Woody Ornamental Plant Species. Journal of Economic Entomology 102:1141-1150.
  • Gil, P.M. L. Gurovich, B. Schaffer, N. García and R. Iturriaga. 2009. Electrical signaling, stomatal conductance, ABA and Ethylene content in avocado trees in response to root hypoxia. Plant Signaling and Behavior 4(2):100-108.
  • Migliaccio, K.W., B. Schaffer, Y.C. Li, E. Evans, J.H. Crane, and R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2008. Assessing benefits of irrigation and nutrient management practices on a southeast Florida royal palm (Roystonea elata) field nursery. Irrigation Science 27:57-66.
  • Gil, P.M., L. Gurovich, B. Schaffer, J. Alcayaga, S. Rey  and R. Iturriaga. 2008. Root to leaf electrical signaling in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) in response to light and soil water content. Journal of Plant Physiology 165:1070-1078.
  • Muñoz-Carpena, R., A. Ritter, D.D. Bosch, B. Schaffer and T.L. Potter. 2008.  Summer cover crop impacts on soil percolation  and nitrogen leaching from a winter corn field. Agricultural Water Management 95/6:633-644.
  • Potter, T.L., D.D. Bosch, H. Joo, B. Schaffer, R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2007. Summer cover crops reduce atrazine leaching to shallow groundwater in southern Florida.  Journal of Environmental Quality 36:1235-1240.
  • Muñoz-Carpena, R., A. Ritter, D.D. Bosch, B. Schaffer and T.L. Potter.  2007.  Effects of hydrological variables and agricultural land use on variability of shallow ground water concentration in South Florida.  Hydrological Processes 21:2464-2473.
  • Al-Yahyai, R., B. Schaffer, F.S. Davies and R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2006. Characterization of soil-water retention of a very gravelly loam soil varied with determination method. Soil Science 171: 85-93.
  • Diaz, A., C.M. Mannion and B. Schaffer. 2006. Effect of root feeding by Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae on leaf gas exchange and growth of three ornamental tree species. Journal of Economic Entomology 99:811-821.
  • B. Schaffer, F.S. Davies and J.H. Crane. 2006. Responses of subtropical and tropical fruit trees to flooding in calcareous soil. HortScience 41:549-555.
  • Greaver, T., L.d.S.L. Sternberg, B. Schaffer and T. Moreno. 2005. An empirical method of measuring CO2 recycling by isotopic enrichment of respired CO2. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 128:67-79.
  • Harman-Fetcho, J.A., C.J. Hapeman, L.L. McConnell, T.L. Potter, C.P. Rice, A. Sadeghi, R.D. Smith, K. Bialek, K. Sefton, B. Schaffer and R. Curry. 2005. Agricultural pesticides in south Florida canals and Biscayne Bay. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 53:6040-6048.
  • Ojeda, M.G., B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2004. Flooding, root temperature, physiology, and growth of two Annona species. Tree Physiology 24:1019-1025.
  • Ojeda, M.G., B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2004. Soil temperature, physiology, and growth of containerized Annona species. Scientia Horticulturae 102:243-255.
  • Ojeda, M.G., B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2004. Root and leaf ferric chelate reductase activity in pond apple and soursop. Journal of Plant Nutrition 27(8):1-13.
  • Ojeda, M.G., B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2003. Ferric chelate reductase activity in roots of two Annona species as affected by iron nutrition. HortScience 38:1104-1107.
  • Janos, D.P., M. Schroeder, B. Schaffer and J.H. Crane. 2001. Arbuscular mycorrhizas stimulate the growth of air-layered Litchi chinensis Sonn. trees. Plant and Soil 233:85-94
  • Nuñez-Elisea, R., B. Schaffer, J.B. Fisher, A.M. Colls and J.H. Crane. 2000. Influence of flooding on net CO2 assimilation, growth and stem anatomy of Annona species. Annals of Botany 84:771-780.
  • Witjaksono, B. Schaffer, A.M. Colls, R.E. Litz and P.A Moon. 1999. Avocado shoot culture, plantlet development and net CO2 assimilation in an ambient and CO2 enriched environment. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant 35:238-244.
  • Schaffer, B., A.W. Whiley and C. Searle. 1999. Atmospheric CO2 enrichment, root restriction, photosynthesis and dry matter partitioning in subtropical and tropical fruit crops. HortScience 34:1033-1037.
  • Whiley, A.W., C. Searle, B. Schaffer and B. N. Wolstenholme. 1999. Cool orchard temperatures or growing trees in containers can inhibit leaf gas exchange of avocado and mango. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 124:46-51.
  • Schaffer, B. 1998. Flooding responses and water-use efficiency of subtropical and tropical fruit trees in an environmentally-sensitive wetland. Annals of Botany 81:475-481.
  • Schaffer, B., A.W. Whiley, C. Searle and R.J. Nissen. 1997. Leaf gas exchange, mineral element concentration and dry matter partitioning in mango (Mangifera indica L.) as influenced by elevated atmospheric CO2 and root restriction. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 122:849-855.
  • Schaffer, B., J.E. Peña, A.M. Colls and A. Hunsberger. 1997. Citrus Leafminer (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in lime: Assessment of leaf damage and effects on photosynthesis. Crop Protection 16:337-343.
  • Schaffer, B., C. Searle, A.W. Whiley and R.J. Nissen. 1996. Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on photosynthetic efficiency of banana (Musa sp.). Physiologia Plantarum 97:685-693.
  • Marler, T.E., B. Schaffer and J.H. Crane. 1994. Developmental light environment affects growth, morphology, and leaf physiology of young carambola trees. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 119:711-718.
  • Larson, K. D., B. Schaffer and F. S. Davies. 1993. Floodwater oxygen content, lenticel hypertrophy, and ethylene evolution from mango trees. Journal of Experimental Botany 44:665-671.
  • Whiley, A. W., B. Schaffer and S. P. Lara. 1992. Carbon dioxide exchange of developing avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruit. Tree Physiology 11:85-94.
  • Larson, K. D., B. Schaffer, F. S. Davies and C.A. Sanchez. 1992. Flooding, mineral nutrition and net gas exchange of mango trees. Scientia Horticulturae 52:112-124.
  • Larson, K. D., F. S. Davies and B. Schaffer. 1991. Floodwater temperature and stem lenticel hypertrophy of Mangifera indica L. American Journal Botany 78:1397-1403
  • Schaffer, B. and L. J. Mason. 1990. Effects of scale insect herbivory and shading on net gas exchange and growth of a subtropical tree species(Guaicum sanctum L.). Oecologia 84:468-473.

Proceedings and Technical Reports (selected)

  • Schaffer, B. 2006. Effect of oxygen deficit in the soil on the physiology and productivity of avocado. Proc. Seminario de manejo del riego y suelo en el cultivo del palto. Quillota, Chile. Schaffer, B. 2006. Effect of oxygen deficit in the soil on the physiology and productivity of avocado. Proc. Seminario de manejo del riego y suelo en el cultivo del palto. Quillota, Chile. [View pdf].
  • Al-Yahyai, R., F.S. Davies, B. Schaffer, and J.H. Crane. 2005. Effect of soil water depletion on growth, yield, and fruit quality of carambola in gravelly loam soil. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 118:237-241.
  • Diaz, A., C.M. Mannion and B. Schaffer. 2005. Effect of adult Diaprepes weevil feeding on leaf gas exchange and growth of select ornamental plants. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 118:310-313.
  • Ojeda, M.G., B. Schaffer and F.S. Davies. 2004. Iron nutrition, flooding and growth of pond apple (Annona glabra L.). Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 117:210-215.
  • Crane, J.H. and B. Schaffer. 2004. Increased exposure to cool ambient temperatures increased yield of 'Mauritius' lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in Homestead Florida. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 117:206-208.
  • Schaffer, B. and A. W. Whiley. 2003. Environmental regulation of photosynthesis - A mini-review. Proceedings of the Fifth World Avocado Congress, Volume 1, pp. 335-342. Malaga, Spain.
  • Schaffer, B. 2000. The effects of root restriction and atmospheric CO2 enrichment on photosynthesis and growth of tropical fruit crops. Memorias VII Congreso Nacional de Frutales, Universidad Nacional Experimental del Tachira, San Cristobal, Venezuela p. 89-94.
  • George, H.L., J. H.Crane, F.S. Davies and B. Schaffer. 2000. Effects of polyethylene and organic mulch on gas exchange and soil and leaf nutrient levels of 'Arkin' carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) in Florida. Proceedings of the InterAmerican Society for Horticultural Sciences 44:64-71.
  • George, H.L., J.H. Crane, B. Schaffer, Y. Li and F.S. Davies. 2000. Effects of polyethylene and organic mulch on flowering, percent fruit set, and fruit production of 'Arkin' carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) in Florida. Proceedings of the InterAmerican Society for Horticultural Sciences 44:72-77.
  • George, H.L., J.H. Crane, F.S. Davies and B. Schaffer. 2000. Effects of plastic and organic mulches on soil temperatures, growth and yields of 'Arkin' carambola (Averhoa carambola L.) in south Florida. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 113:5-11.