Plant Pathology

T.R.E.C. Plant Pathology faculty are all off-campus faculty of the University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology in Gainesville, FL.

Tropical Fruit Diseases

Research in this program is conducted on soil borne and foliar diseases of fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops. Work occurs on a wide range of fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause with the ultimate objective of enabling effective, environmentally benign disease management for south Florida producers. Research includes studying the ecology of the associated pathogens and epidemiology of the diseases that they cause, investigating the genetic and pathogenic diversity, and origins and phylogenies of these pathogens, identifying and developing disease-resistant host germ plasm, identifying and developing cultural and chemical disease control measures, and looking at the influence of abiotic factors on disease development and host physiology, particularly flooding and suboptimal host nutrition.

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Ornamental Plant Pathology

This research program develops information and technologies needed to manage plant diseases affecting south Florida's agricultural industries, especially those that threaten the ornamental, landscape, vegetable, fruit and sugar crops. The research entails investigations into the etiology, epidemiology and control of these diseases. At the present time, development of new papaya varieties with transgenic resistance to Papaya ringspot virus is a major focus of the program.

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Vegetable Plant Pathology

Research in vegetable plant pathology program develops knowledge and technologies for integrated disease management of vegetable crops in south Florida. It includes investigations into etiology, epidemiology, and management of vegetable diseases. Currently, investigations are being conducted on evaluation of biorational agents for control of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, and on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of disease suppression. In addition, efforts are being made to identify and develop disease-resistant host germplasm of vegetable crops important in south Florida, and develop cultural and chemical control measures for integrated disease management. The goal of this program is to develop cost-effective and environmentally sound disease management strategies for vegetable growers in south Florida.

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