Tropical Research And Education Center

Dr. Romina Gazis

Associate Professor - Plant Pathology and Director, Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Dr. Romina Gazis is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Tropical Fruit and Ornamental Crop Plant Pathologist, and Director of the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Clinic at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC). Her integrated research and extension program focuses on improving the health, sustainability, and profitability of tropical and subtropical production systems through advances in plant disease diagnostics, epidemiology, biosecurity, host resistance, and sustainable disease management.

By combining diagnostics, applied research, and stakeholder engagement, her program develops science-based solutions for diseases affecting avocado, mango, dragon fruit, cacao, guava, ornamentals, and other specialty crops important to Florida and tropical agricultural systems worldwide. Major program areas include plant disease diagnostics, emerging and invasive diseases, laurel wilt, integrated disease management, host-pathogen interactions, pesticide evaluation and registration, and disease resilience in specialty crops.

As Director of the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Dr. Gazis leads a comprehensive plant health program that provides diagnostic services, disease surveillance, educational resources, and technical support to growers, Extension professionals, consultants, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders. The clinic also serves as an important platform for identifying emerging disease threats, supporting Florida's plant biosecurity infrastructure, and translating research discoveries into practical management recommendations.

Her laboratory is internationally recognized for its work on tropical plant pathology, plant disease diagnostics, and laurel wilt of avocado. Through national and international collaborations, her program advances scientific knowledge while serving as a training hub for students, postdoctoral researchers, visiting scientists, and agricultural professionals. The overarching mission of the program is to generate and deliver innovative, science-based solutions that strengthen plant health systems, support agricultural sustainability, and enhance the resilience of specialty crop industries in Florida and beyond.

Areas of Interest and Research
- Tropical Fruit Pathology
- Plant Disease Diagnostics and Biosecurity
- Host Resistance and Disease Resilience
- Integrated Disease Management
- Plant Health Extension and Applied Research

Current Projects
- Building Resilience Against Laurel Wilt in Avocado
- Avocado Germplasm Screening for Disease Tolerance
- Sustainable Management of Dragon Fruit Diseases
- Diagnostics and Biosecurity of Tropical Crop Pathogens
- Integrated Disease Management for Tropical Fruit Production Systems

Websites

Avocado Sun Blotch Viroid

Education
- Ph.D. Plant Science. Dept. of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland (UMD).
- M.Sc. Environmental Sciences. Dept. of Environmental Science, Texas Christian University (TCU).
- Lic. Biology. Ricardo Palma University, Lima – Peru.
- B.Sc. Biology. Ricardo Palma University, Lima – Peru.

Publications