Environmental Physiology of Subtropical & Tropical Crops
Personnel
Projects
- Flood Tolerance of Tropical Fruit Trees
- Effect of Diaprepes Root Weevil on Physiology and Growth of Ornamental Plants
- Determination of Atmospheric Loadings of Agrochemicals to the South Florida Environment
- Soil Moisture Based Irrigation of Papayas (Link goes to Hydrology Projects page)
- Improving water quality at the watershed level by targeting high return stakeholders (Link goes to Hydrology Projects page)
- Preventing Iron Deficiency in Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Calcareous Soils with Foliar-applied Weak Acids
Flood Tolerance of Tropical Fruit Trees
| Investigator | Bruce Schaffer, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Co-Investigator | Jonathan H. Crane, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Collaborator (Ph.D. Candidate) | Pilar M. Gil, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile and Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), La Cruz, Chile |
| Ph.D. Candidate | Mark Nickum, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Senior Biologist | Chunfang (Daisy) Li, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Biologist | Michael Gutierrez, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
Funding and Support for the Project
United States Department of Agriculture
Objectives
To determine anatomical, physiological and morphological features related to flood tolerance of tropical fruit trees and to identify tropical fruit trees that tolerate prolonged and/or cyclic waterlogging. The overall objective is to identify and select tropical fruit tree species and cultivars that will be adapted to elevated water tables. Current focus is on mamey sapote and avocado.
Effect of Diaprepes Root Weevil on Physiology and Growth of Ornamental Plants
| Investigator | Catharine Mannion, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center Bruce Schaffer, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
Funding and Support for the Project
United States Department of Agriculture
Graduate Student
Cliff Martin, University of Florida, Department of Entomology
Objectives
To examine the effects of larval root feeding and adult foliar feeding by Diaprepes root weevil and flooding on carbon assimilation and growth of ornamental plants. This should assist in determining damage thresholds for this pest on ornamental plants and possible predisposition of plants to insect damage as a result of root submergence.
Determination of Atmospheric Loadings of Agrochemicals to the South Florida Environment
| Investigator | Cathleen Hapeman , USDA-ARS, Environmental Quality Lab, Beltsville , MD |
| Cooperators | Tom Potter, Southeast Watershed Research Lab, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA Laura McConnell and Clifford Rice , USDA-ARS Environmental Quality Lab, Beltsville Bruce Schaffer, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center Richard Curry, Biscayne National Park , Homestead, FL |
Funding and Support for the Project
United States Department of Agriculture
Biological Technician
S. Michael Gutierrez, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center
Objectives
To determine atmospheric loadings and model atmospheric movement of agrichemicals to the natural areas in south Florida.
Role of UF-TREC
To collect rain water and air samples and send them to the USDA-ARS Environmental Chemistry Labs in Beltsville, MD and Tifton, GA for chemical analysis
Preventing Iron Deficiency in Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Calcareous Soils with Foliar-applied Weak Acids
| Investigator | Bruce Schaffer, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Co-Investigator | Yuncong Li, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center Jonathan H. Crane, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center Edward "Gilly" Evans, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| Sr. BiologistS | Chunfang "Daisy" Li, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center Wanda Montas, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
Funding and Support for the Project
United States Department of Agriculture
Objectives
To evaluate foliar applications of weak acids as cost-effective alternatives to the current standard practice of applying very expensive chelated iron to calcareous soil to prevent iron deficiency in tropical and subtropical fruit trees species.
Breaking into the Light: Recovery steps for endangered Jacquemontia reclinata and Amorpha herbacea var. crenulata in South Florida
| Principal Investigator | Joyce Maschinksi, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden |
| Collaborators | Jack Fisher, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden K. (Jay) Jayachandran, Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University John Pascarella, Department of Biology, Valdosta State University Bruce Schaffer, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center |
Funding and Support for the Project
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Objectives
To prevent the extinction of endangered Amorpha and Jacquemontia plant species. Our role in the project is to relate physiological and growth responses and survival of Amorpha herbacea var. crenulata to soil water content at different depths in the soil profile in a pine rockland habitat.