Gulf Coast REC

Steve A. Johnson and Monica E. McGarrity

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID.

Zhanao Deng ySandra B. Wilson

'Bloomify™ Red’ and ‘Bloomify™ Rose’ are two new infertile Lantana camara cultivars that have been developed as alternative to the invasive forms of this species, a Category I invasive species in Florida.

Zhanao Deng

Caladiums are valued in landscapes and containers for their colorful and variable-shaped leaves. Two types of caladium cultivars exist in commercial production: fancy- and lance-leaved. ‘Florida Sweetheart’ is the most popular lance-leaved commercial cultivar of all colors. It produces wide lance leaves with a rosy color and relatively large tubers. ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ is the most popular red, lance-leaved commercial cultivar among caladium growers, greenhouse growers, and nurseries. It has excellent sunburn tolerance. Both cultivars were introduced by the University of Florida (UF) caladium breeding program.

Vance M. Whitaker, Natalia A. Peres, and Shinsuke Agehara

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Plant Systems

Vance Whitaker, Natalia A. Peres, and Shinsuke Agehara

Zhanao Deng and Brent K. Harbaugh

Zhanao Deng

Many lance-leaved cultivars often produce small tubers, making it difficult for growers to produce tubers profitably. ‘Sizzle’ and ‘Passionista’ are two new lance-leaved caladium cultivars with improved tuber yield potential. The availability of ‘Sizzle’ and ‘Passionista’ may expand the color palette for caladium plants desired by greenhouse growers, nurseries, and gardeners. This fact sheet discusses the cultivars' tuber yield potential, container trials, landscape performance, growing recommendations, and availability.

Zhanao Deng, Natalia A. Peres, yJohan Desaeger

‘Lava Glow’ is a new and novel caladium cultivar that produces bright red to red-purple heart-shaped leaves with strong sunburn tolerance and is resistant to leaf spot diseases. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department is prepared for growers who are interested in growing caladium as a horticultural crop and for greenhouse or nursery growers who are interested in producing potted caladium plants. Written by Zhanao Deng, Natalia A. Peres, and Johan Desaeger.

Steve A. Johnson y Monica E. McGarrity. Traducido por Alejandra Areingdale, Miguel Acevedo y Juan Manuel Campos Krauer

En el sudeste de los Estados Unidos habitan alrededor de 50 especies de serpientes (seis de las cuales son venenosas) que viven en los estados costeros del Atlántico y el Golfo, desde Luisiana hasta Carolina del Norte. Estas serpientes utilizan una variedad de hábitats desde tierras altas hasta humedales, y tienen un gran impacto en la ecología de la región. Son depredadores, pero también presas y forman conexiones importantes en las redes tróficas.

Alicia Papanek, Catherine G. Campbell, Hannah Eason, John Diaz y Valeria Caicedo Zapata

Esta publicación está dirigida a residentes urbanos, estudiantes, miembros de la comunidad, agentes de Extensión y funcionarios del gobierno local que estén interesados en desarrollar, apoyar o involucrarse en la agricultura urbana. Se discute la definición de agricultura urbana, las características comunes, los tipos de alimentos producidos, los métodos de producción más utilizados y los objetivos de los distintos tipos de operaciones. Al final del documento se enumeran recursos adicionales de apoyo sobre la agricultura urbana y técnicas de jardinería para cultivadores principiantes y experimentados.

David J. Schuster, Hugh A. Smith, and Philip A. Stansly

By Yi Li, Yetian Cai, Weizhe Weng, Johan Desaeger, and Zhengfei Guan

The economic performance of pest management practices is a critical factor when farmers make adoption decisions. Partial budget analysis is a widely used tool to evaluate the financial effects of different management practices in agricultural production. It provides an economic rationale for selecting the optimal treatment by evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the treatment. This publication explains how to employ partial budget analysis using a real-world example. It provides a step-by-step guide examining the costs and benefits of two different approaches, fumigation and nematicides, to manage nematodes on Florida's tomato farms.

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, J. Jaime Arana-Coronado, and Melvin Garcia-Nazariega

A. Malek Hammami, Kuan-Ming Huang, Zhengfei Guan

Driven by its healthy and nutritious attributes, the US avocado market has experienced tremendous growth over the past two decades. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of US avocado production and trade. The US avocado market, marked by the decline of already limited US domestic production, is increasingly reliant on imports, especially those from Mexico. This overview aims to inform industry stakeholders and policymakers of the current state of the industry and offer insights into its sustainability.

Feng Wu and Zhengfei Guan

Blueberries are a healthy source of antioxidants and vitamins. Global demand and production have been increasing rapidly over the last decade. This publication provides an overview of the Mexican blueberry industry in terms of production, price, trade, and cultural practices. It also sheds light on factors that have contributed to the fast growth of the blueberry industry in Mexico.   

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Alicia Whidden

Trina Biswas, Zhengfei Guan, and Feng Wu

Natalia A. Peres yLeandro G. Cordova

Angular Leaf Spot (ALS) is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae Kennedy & King, a pathogen highly specific to wild and cultivated strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne (Legard et al. 2003). ALS is an important disease on winter strawberry production worldwide. In the U.S., it ranks 6th in economic importance after gray mold (Botrytis cinerea L.), verticillium wilt (Verticillium alboatrum Reinke & Berth), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis L.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.), and pythium root rot (Pythium spp.) (Sorensen et al. 1997). The rapid spread of ALS is influenced by the increasing rate of interchange of plant material.

J. C. Mertely, Bruna B. Forcelini, yNatalia A. Peres

Anthracnose fruit rot, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum, is an important disease for strawberry production worldwide. Other species of Colletotrichum, such as C. fragarie and C. gloeosporioides, are less frequently involved in fruit rot. Although fruit rot is the most important symptom caused by C. acutatum, the fungus can also attack other parts of the plant including the crown, leaves, petioles, and roots.

Sriyanka Lahiri

This publication is aimed at growers, Extension agents, industry partners, and the general public who have an interest in integrated pest management (IPM) tools used by growers in general and strawberry growers in particular. The purpose is to establish a baseline of adopted IPM practices by the strawberry industry in Florida so that changes in behavior can be tracked in future. To document the current pest management practices, an in-person survey of 24 strawberry growers in Hillsborough Co., FL was conducted (IRB# 201902072) during the field season of 2019-2020. The survey showed that 70% of strawberry growers spray their crop more than 5 times in a season with an insecticide/miticide. But strawberry growers have developed an awareness of IPM tools available to them and are already using these tools such as releasing biological control agents for mite management, cover cropping, and considering planting banker (flowering) crops in designated spaces in and around their fields.

Alicia Papanek, Catherine G. Campbell, Hannah Eason, John Diaz y Valeria Caicedo Zapata

Esta publicación proporciona una visión general de los beneficios de la producción urbana de alimentos, junto con los posibles desafíos que pueden limitar el éxito de estas operaciones. Este documento está dirigido a miembros de la comunidad, desarrolladores de tierras urbanas, organizaciones comunitarias, agentes de Extensión, funcionarios del gobierno local, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y agricultores urbanos. Los lectores pueden usar este documento para examinar cómo los proyectos e iniciativas de agricultura urbana podrían integrarse mejor en sus comunidades, y para tomar conciencia de los peligros comunes asociados al desarrollo y mantenimiento de los esfuerzos de la agricultura urbana.

Nathan S. Boyd and Ravneet K Sandhu

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems

Shawn Steed, Chris Marble, Nathan S. Boyd, Andrew W. MacRae, yKiran Fnu

Shaun M. Sharpe, Nathan S. Boyd, Chris Marble, and Shawn Steed

Shawn Steed, Chris Marble, yNathan S. Boyd

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Debalina Saha, Chris Marble, Nathan Boyd, and Shawn Steed

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Management for Commercial audience(s). Published by Plant Systems

André B. Gama, Douglas A. Phillips, Vinícius A. Cerbaro, Philip F. Harmon, Clyde Fraisse, yNatalia A. Peres

The weather conditions favoring Blueberry anthracnose fruit rot disease incidence and development can be difficult to predict, and it can significantly impact yield under conducive weather patterns. For that reason, the authors of this new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department developed and validated a web-based disease alert system for blueberry AFR, the Blueberry Advisory System (BAS), to help blueberry growers in Florida identify weather conditions favorable for the disease and improve disease management. Written by André B. Gama, Douglas A. Phillips, Vinícius A. Cerbaro, Phillip F. Harmon, Clyde W. Fraisse, and Natalia A. Peres.

J. C. Mertely, Michelle S. Oliveira, yNatalia A. Peres

Botrytis fruit rot (BFR), also known as gray mold, is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea and is one of the most important diseases of strawberry in Florida and worldwide. This 4-page document describes the symptoms and management of BFR among strawberry plants.

Sydney Park Brown

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Homeowner audience(s).

Zhanao Deng, Natalia A. Peres, and Johan Desaeger

Caladium is an ornamental aroid valued for its variably shaped bright foliage. Two new lance-leaved cultivars, ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘Crimson Skye’, were released in 2020 by the UF/IFAS caladium breeding program to meet the need for more lance-leaved cultivars. This article is prepared for growers who are interested in growing caladium as a horticultural crop and for greenhouse or nursery growers who are interested in producing potted caladium plants.

Zhanao Deng yBrent Harbaugh

Douglas A. Phillips, Jeffrey G. Williamson, Philip F. Harmon, Oscar E. Liburd, Peter J. Dittmar, yRachel E. Mallinger

Southern highbush blueberries (SHB) are commercially grown throughout Florida in both deciduous and evergreen systems. This calendar addresses the monthly general management requirements for Florida commercial blueberry growers in conventional (nonorganic) systems and should be used in coordination with other Ask IFAS publications.

Sydney Park-Brown yTiare Saracino

Apply horticultural oils in January. Plant caladium bulbs in March. Watch for thrips, scale, and mites in May. Plant palms in June and July. Calibrate your sprinklers in September. This calendar tells what to plant and what to do in your central Florida garden in each month of the year.

Natalia A. Peres, Juliana Baggio, yJ. C. Mertely

Charcoal rot is caused by Macrophomina phaseolina and has become more prevalent in Florida strawberry fields since methyl bromide was phased out. This 4-page publication describes the symptoms, development, and control of charcoal rot in strawberry fields.

Zhanao Deng

Cherry Tart™ is an attractive lance-leaved caladium variety with a novel combination of leaf characteristics (including bright red color, slightly undulate leaf margins, and a broadly cordate leaf shape) (Figures 1 and 2; Deng and Harbaugh 2011). It was released in April 2011 by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. In replicated field and greenhouse trials, tuber yield and pot plant quality were comparable or superior to 'Florida Red Ruffles' and 'Florida Sweetheart', currently the most popular red lance-leaved commercial variety and the most popular lance-leaved variety, respectively (Bell et al. 1998; Deng et al. 2008). Cherry Tart™ is well suited for producing pot plants and hanging baskets. Tuber de-eyeing produces fuller plants in small or medium containers (4–6 inches), but this practice is not required. Cherry Tart™ produces large numbers of bright red leaves and performs well in sunny and shady landscapes.

Oscar E. Liburd, Babu R. Panthi, and Douglas A. Phillips

Gagandeep Kaur and Sriyanka Lahiri

This publication provides current management practices for chilli thrips in both conventional and organic strawberries as a guide for Extension agents and growers.

Shinsuke Agehara, Syuan-You Lin, and Zhanao Deng

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by Plant Systems

Natalia A. Peres, Michelle S. Oliveira, ySteven J. MacKenzie

Describes this serious disease of strawberries in warm production region, its causal agent and symptoms, disease development and spread, and control. Includes a table of products labeled for control of colletotrichum crown rot.

Chastity Perry, Hugh A. Smith, Zhanao Deng, ySriyanka Lahiri

Blackberry and pomegranate are growing in importance as alternative crops in Florida. In the past decade, blackberry production in Florida increased from 64 acres in 2007 to 173 acres in 2017.  The many health benefits acquired from these fruits make them good alternative options for growers in Florida to diversify their operations by planting some new and less traditional crops, providing them a niche in the Florida agriculture market. The intended audience of this publication includes blackberry and pomegranate growers in Florida as well as Extension agents providing expert recommendations to both these industries. The purpose of this publication is to share information derived from a one-year field survey on commonly encountered pests.

Michelle S. Oliveira yNatalia A. Peres

This publication describes symptoms of most common strawberry diseases in Florida and summarizes the efficacy of fungicides labeled for management of such diseases.

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, yMelvin Garcia-Nazariega

Strawberry is a labor-intensive crop that requires a significant amount of labor. In Florida, labor is the largest cost item in the strawberry production budget, accounting for almost 40% of total production costs (Guan, Wu, and Whidden 2017). The objective of this study is to compare labor costs between Florida and Mexican strawberry industries.

Zhengfei Guan yJuhyan Oh

Shinsuke Agehara, Aleyda Acosta-Rangel, Zhanao Deng, John E. Rechcigl, ySimon Bollin
Traducido por Mariel Gallardo

Basándonos en nuestra experiencia con nuestro campo de lúpulo, preparamos este artículo con el objetivo de proporcionar pautas y consideraciones para construir el sistema de tutorado y establecer un campo de lúpulo en Florida.

Shaun M. Sharpe and Nathan S. Boyd

Kaitlyn Vondracek, Tie Liu and Seonghee Lee

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems

Sadikshya Sharma, Kaitlyn Vondracek, Heqiang Huo, Tie Liu and Seonghee Lee

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Citizen awareness of food systems and the environment

Ali Sarkhosh, Fariborz Habibi, Steven A. Sargent, and Jeffrey K. Brecht

Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) is a valuable temperate fruit from the Rosaceae family, which also includes many other commercially important fruits such as apples and pears, apricots, cherries and plums, and blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Peaches are known for being a rich source of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and vitamins, as well as possessing a high antioxidant activity, all of which are associated with various health benefits. Furthermore, consumers greatly value high-quality peaches due to their exceptional nutritional value and enjoyable sensory attributes. This publication aims to familiarize growers, Extension agents and specialists, and the public with insight into drying methods of peach fruit, including freeze-drying and dehydration, that can extend shelf life of this commodity for year-round enjoyment.

Katia V. Xavier, Achala N. KC, yGary Vallad

Pomegranate production is becoming increasingly popular in the Southeast. Florida’s humid subtropical to tropical climate is favorable for not only pomegranate tree establishment, but also several diseases. This publication describes the various diseases affecting pomegranate in Florida and provides some management recommendations.

Stephen H. Brown, Chris Marble, yStephen F. Enloe

Two-leaf nightshade, Solanum diphyllum, is a member of the Solanaceae or potato family. The common garden tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants also belong to the Solanaceae family. The genus Solanum is associated with plants known as nightshades.

Hugh Smith, Adam Dale, Julien Beuzelin y Hector Portillo. Traducido por Isabel Bohorquez y Hector Portillo.

Esta publicación está diseñada para ayudar a los agentes de Extensión de UF/IFAS y al público a entender los modos de acción y el manejo de resistencia de los insecticidas, en lo que respecta a su uso en hortalizas, cultivos extensivos, césped y plantas ornamentales.

Alexander Schaller, Zhanao Deng, Gary E. Vallad, and John M. Chater

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has primarily been cultivated at home in Florida and other southeastern states. Over the past 15 years, growers, nurseries, researchers, and Extension agents have explored the potential of pomegranate as an alternative fruit crop. Early field trials revealed that pomegranates are highly susceptible to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causing severe anthracnose fruit rot and premature fruit drop. The development and use of disease-resistant cultivars are considered some of the best methods to manage this disease. This publication presents our findings from evaluating 35 pomegranate cultivars under natural disease pressure in central Florida and by artificial inoculation. The susceptibility of such pomegranate cultivars varied widely, with six exhibiting resistance to anthracnose fruit rot. More comprehensive research is warranted to further develop anthracnose-resistant cultivars and to enhance our understanding of disease resistance in this crop.

Shinsuke Agehara yGeorge Hochmuth

Strawberry is an important crop in Florida, produced as an annual crop on plastic-mulched beds with drip irrigation. The main production area is in west-central Florida, including Hillsborough, Polk, and Manatee counties. Fertilizer is becoming a more significant portion of strawberry production costs, hence, proper fertilizer management is important for minimizing production costs and maximizing yield and fruit quality, while minimizing potential negative impacts on the environment caused by leaching or runoff of excess fertilizer nutrients. This guide summarizes the recent history of strawberry fertilization research and presents the updated research-based fertilizer management recommendations for strawberry production in Florida.

Douglas A. Phillips, Norma C. Flor, yPhilip F. Harmon

Southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars are commercially grown throughout much of Florida in both deciduous and evergreen production systems. Growers in deciduous production should strive to keep leaves healthy through flower bud differentiation in fall to ensure optimum yield potential. In evergreen production, it is critical to maintain the prior year’s foliage through winter months to support early fruit production the following season. In both systems, leaves can be damaged by many factors, such as environmental conditions, chemical applications, insects, and diseases. This publication includes basic information to assist growers in determining 1) the likely cause (fungal, viral, algal, or bacterial) of leaf symptoms, 2) when specific leaf spots are likely to occur, 3) characteristic symptoms of common leaf problems, and 4) some of the available management options.

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Vance Whitaker

Zhengfei Guan, Feng Wu, and Alicia Whidden

Shawn Steed, Wael Elwakil, Marissa Cassaway, yGary Vallad

Viburnum sp. is an important woody ornamental crop for nursery growers in Florida. Around 2014, growers indicated that common labeled fungicides targeting downy mildew failed to provide acceptable levels of disease management. Through a research grant from the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, UF/IFAS researchers and UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County agents conducted studies to determine fungicide efficacy of oomycete fungicides to help nursery professionals produce and maintain a healthy viburnum crop. Written by Shawn Steed, Wael Elwakil, Marissa Cassaway, and Gary Vallad, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture, December 2025.

Feng Wu, Ariel Soto-Caro, and Zhengfei Guan

The Mexican government has various subsidy programs under its National Development Plan. This publication focuses on The Program of Agri-Food Productivity and Competitiveness, one of the major agricultural subsidy programs administered by the Ministry of Agriculture that subsidize economic activities in the agri-food supply chain. The publication describes the structure of the program and the subsidy rules and amounts.

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Gary Vallad

The study described in this 6-page fact sheet written by Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Gary Vallad and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department provides a description of pomegranate production practices and preliminary cost estimates to inform investment and production decisions when growers look to diversify and grow pomegranate as a niche crop.

Megan E. Kinsman, Amarat Simonne, Carlene A. Chase, Geoffrey Meru, Steven Sargent, yAndrew J. MacIntosh

This publication highlights best harvest, handling, and storage practices to serve growers interested in producing calabaza based on a review of preexisting and pertinent literature. This guidance also draws upon published information on closely related winter squash varieties, like butternut squash, due to the limited available literature on calabaza. The intended audiences of this publication are growers interested in incorporating calabaza into their rotation of crops, Extension agents charged with guiding growers on the harvesting and handling of calabaza crops, and anyone who is interested in ethnic vegetable production.

Namrata Dutt yDaeun Choi

This article provides an introductory overview of how computers analyze images using artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision. To illustrate the concepts, the publication uses mushrooms as an example case for object detection. Although mushroom detection is used for demonstration, the goal of this article is to help readers understand how AI-based image analysis supports broader agricultural and environmental applications. Written by Namrata Dutt and Daeun Choi, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, December 2025.

Mary G. Lusk

The purpose of this guide is to provide tips for how to check, maintain, and use your septic system in the days leading up to a hurricane and immediately after any associated flooding. This guide is intended for residents who have a residential septic system connected to their home. Written by Mary G. Lusk, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, October 2024.

Lovely Adhikary, Sriyanka Lahiri, Nathan S. Boyd, yJohan Desaeger

This publication aims to provide information on how to differentiate damage caused by chilli thrips, spider mites, foliar nematodes, and phytotoxicity due to herbicide application on strawberry plants. The symptomology of these pests and the effects of phytotoxicity from herbicides can look similar, especially when microscopic pests are involved. Correctly identifying the cause behind each damage symptom is essential. The intended audience of this article is strawberry growers, crop scouts, Extension agents, and industry personnel working on improved production and management of strawberries.

Michael G. Andreu, Erin M. Givens, and Melissa H. Friedman

Mary G. Lusk

Several of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping(TM) (FFL) principles provide guidance on how to reduce the amount of nutrients applied to and mobilized from urban landscapes to water resources. Principle # 7: Recycle Yard Waste and Principle # 9: Protect the Waterfront are two examples from this program that can be important steps towards protecting Florida’s water. The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on specific actions that you can take to help reduce nutrient inputs to our water, with a focus on the FFL Principles  # 7 and # 9. This publication is intended primarily for urban residents who manage their own landscapes and may also be used by landscaping professionals, homeowner’s associations, and municipal decision makers.

Andrew K. Koeser, Gitta Hasing, Michael G. Andreu, and Melissa H. Friedman

A dichotomous key is a tool used to help identify an unknown organism. This fact sheet features a key of leaf characteristics for ten common broadleaf trees in the Tampa Bay Area. Accurately navigating this series of paired, either-or choices about leaf characteristics will lead the reader to identify the correct tree from the group of ten.

Mary G. Lusk

The purpose of this publication is to provide step-by-step guidance on how to find soil data about a given parcel of land in the Web Soil Survey. This publication can be used by residents, growers, gardeners, construction personnel, landscape managers, septic system installers and inspectors, and many others. Written by Mary G. Lusk, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, February 2025.

Douglas A. Phillips, Jeffrey G. Williamson, yPhilip F. Harmon

This publication discusses the types of hurricane damage that can be incurred in blueberry production operations, the impacts of these damages, preparations to make before the storm arrives, and suggestions on best management practices in the aftermath of a storm.

Zhengfei Guan, Dong Hee Suh, Hayk Khachatryan, and Feng Wu

Cheol-Min Yoo, Cheryl Dalid, Catalina Moyer, Vance M. Whitaker, ySeonghee Lee

Somaclonal variation is a breeding method utilizing natural genetic variation induced by a tissue culture process instead of by hybridization. This offers an alternative to mutation breeding for the introduction of new genetic variations in existing strawberry varieties. The main purpose of this new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is to share the potential of this technique with plant breeders in the public and private industries. The secondary purpose is to educate the industry and the public on the scientific background of somaclonal variation. Written by Cheol-Min Yoo, Cheryl Dalid, Catalina Moyer, Vance Whitaker, and Seonghee Lee.

Anthony Halcyon, Mary G. Lusk, yMarco Schiavon

This guide is meant to inform homeowners and landscape personnel about common mistakes to avoid and the importance of using appropriate watering procedures when irrigating turfgrass to further promote the vitality of lawns. Written by Anthony Halcyon, Mary G. Lusk, and Marco Schiavon, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, September 2025.

Tim Momol, Amanda Strayer-Scherer, Ying-Yu Liao, Peter Abrahamian, Sujan Timilsina, Mathews Paret, Jeffrey B. Jones, yGary Vallad

Bacterial spot is one of the most detrimental diseases of tomato and is especially severe in the southeast United States when weather conditions (high temperature, high humidity, and rain) become conducive for disease development. This publication presents updated information about the causal pathogen and management of bacterial spot on tomato in Florida.

Drew C. McLean, Andrew Koeser, Robert J. Northrop, yGitta Hasing
Otros contactos: Ryan Klein

Zhengfei Guan, Feng Wu, and Steven Sargent

Trina Biswas, Feng Wu, and Zhengfei Guan

Sydney Park Brown

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Juliana Baggio, J. C. Mertely, yNatalia A. Peres

Several different fungi and one bacterium cause leaf spot diseases of strawberry. Symptoms caused by these pathogens are often similar, leading to confusion and misdiagnosis of the disease. This publication focuses on helping growers, crop consultants, and Extension agents with the diagnosis and identification of the most common strawberry leaf spot diseases found in Florida.

Nathan S. Boyd and Ravneet Sandhu

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Hugh Smith and Bruno Rossitto De Marchi

Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, the sweetpotato or silverleaf whitefly, transmits tomato yellow leaf curl virus, which significantly impacts production of tomato in Florida. This publication provides information on managing Bemisia tabaci and tomato yellow leaf curl virus to growers, UF/IFAS Extension agents, and other crop protection professionals. The publication describes and explains management strategies including the prompt destruction of harvested fields, the use of metalized plastic mulches and tolerant tomato varieties, and treatment of crops with insecticides and biopesticides for the control of Bemisia tabaci.

Hugh A. Smith

This publication discusses optimal placement of diamide insecticides in the context of season-long insecticide rotations for management of pests of tomato. It describes the treatment interval approach to managing insecticide resistance.

Hugh Smith and Shinsuke Agehara

This publication is designed to provide information on managing spider mites on hops grown in Florida to hops growers, UF/IFAS Extension agents, and other crop protection professionals. Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) (Cannabinaceae), a new crop for Florida, has been studied at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) since 2016. A fall and spring crop have been cultivated each year, providing opportunity to observe pests and evaluate pest management strategies over several seasons. Spider mites (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) have been a consistent pest of hops at GCREC each season. Information on chemical and biological control is provided.

Oscar E. Liburd, Arden R. Lambert, yDouglas A. Phillips

Since its first detection in 2009, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is common in all of Florida’s fruit-producing counties. Surveys indicate that SWD are active year-round in Florida’s warm climate, with peak activity from April to May when the blueberry harvest is highest. Although this is a significant pest of blueberries in Florida, with good cultural practices, proper monitoring, and appropriate pesticide applications it can be successfully managed. This publication is intended to be used as a resource for Florida blueberry growers to successfully identify and manage SWD.

J. Desaeger

Homan Regmi yJohan Desaeger

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Johan Desaeger

Zhanao Deng and Natalia A. Peres

Caladiums are ornamental aroids valued for their vibrant and morphologically diverse foliage. Grower surveys indicated that they planted more acres of lance-leaved cultivars in recent decades to accommodate rising consumer demand. The caladium breeding program at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center has been developing new lance-leaved cultivars that can produce attractive, robust plants with many bright, colorful leaves and improved tuber yield potential. The program has recently released two new lance-leaved cultivars. ‘Dots Delight’ is well suited for use in sunny landscapes, having excellent tolerance to sunburn and strong resistance to the leaf spot disease. Though they may need one to two additional weeks to produce potted plants, tuber yield potential is intermediate to high. ‘Wonderland’ is well suited for potted plant production in sunny or shady landscapes or gardens and has showed good leaf color display, sunburn tolerance, and leaf health.

T. T. Watson and J. A. Desaeger

Non-fumigant nematicides are formulated as liquids or granules that are moved through the soil by water. This 4-page fact sheet written by T. T. Watson and J. A. Desaeger and published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department is a major revision. It was first published in 1999 and most recently revised in April 2019. The fact sheet lists and describes chemical and biological non-fumigant nematicides and provides some information about how these products work against nematode pests.

Sydney Park-Brown yLarry Williams

Give cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery in February. In April, monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids on tender new growth. Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. In September, plant cool-season vegetable crops, such as radish, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce. This 10-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your north Florida garden year-round.

Gurpal S. Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza

Juliana Baggio yNatalia A. Peres

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Santhi Daggubati, Xu Wang, Xue Zhou, Shubham Singh, yJessica Chitwood-Brown

Manual quantification of specialty crop traits, such as flowers and fruits, is often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inconsistent, limiting scalability and precision. We present PhenoSnap, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered web application that provides an intuitive and efficient interface for automated specialty crop trait extraction from images. PhenoSnap bridges the gap between advanced computer vision technologies and practical agricultural applications by eliminating the need for programming expertise. This ready-to-use solution can enable growers, breeders, and Extension faculty to accelerate field work and enhance decision-making related to strawberry and tomato yield estimation for breeding selections and strawberry runner management. Written by Santhi Daggubati, Xu Wang, Xue Zhou, Shubham Singh, and Jessica Chitwood-Brown, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, June 2026.

Natalia A. Peres, Marcus Marin, and Juliana S. Baggio

Phytophthora crown rot, caused mainly by Phytophthora cactorum, is an important disease in Florida strawberry fields.

Hung X. Bui and Johan A. Desaeger

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are one of the main soilborne pathogens in Florida and cause considerable damage to many vegetables. Asian vegetables are important specialty crops in Florida, but no information is available on their hosts status to plant-parasitic nematodes, in particular to Meloidogyne spp. Therefore, we conducted a survey to learn what Asian vegetables are grown in Florida, the plant-parasitic nematodes associated with these crops, and the damage these nematodes could potentially cause to Asian vegetables.

Natalia A. Peres yJ. C. Mertely

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Yilin Zhuang y Mary Lusk. Traducido por Andrea Albertin.

Este documento está dirigido a los residentes de Florida que dependen de pozos privados para su suministro de agua potable. El propósito educar a los propietarios de pozos sobre los riesgos de contaminación bacteriana, particularmente después de eventos de inundación, y proporcionar una guía detallada para realizar una cloración de choque efectiva. La cloración de choque es un método crucial para desinfectar pozos contaminados y asegurar la potabilidad del agua. Además, se ofrecen recomendaciones sobre el uso correcto de cloro, la importancia de pruebas de laboratorio post-desinfección, y consideraciones sobre la posible necesidad de sistemas de desinfección continuos en casos de contaminación persistente. 

Shinsuke Agehara, Mariel Gallardo, Aleyda Acosta-Rangel, Zhanao Deng, Jack Rechcigl, Tianyuan Luo, y Qi Qiu; traducido por Mariel Gallardo

Este artículo describe las prácticas de manejo del cultivo y horas de mano de obra necesarios para la producción de lúpulo a pequeña escala en Florida con el objetivo de ayudar a los productores a tomar decisiones de inversión y de manejo de campo. This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department was written by Shinsuke Agehara, Mariel Gallardo, Aleyda Acosta-Rangel, Zhanao Deng, Jack Rechcigl, Tianyuan Luo, and Qi Qiu, and translated by Mariel Gallardo.

Lovely Adhikary ySriyanka Lahiri

This publication aims to benefit growers and Extension agents by increasing awareness of a fungus-feeding mite, Tarsonemus confusus, commonly found in strawberry fields. Tarsonemus confusus may be misidentified as other pest mites. In fact, without help from an expert mite taxonomist, incorrect species identification can be a major concern. Although this mite species typically does not achieve pest status on most crops, an incorrect pest identification may lead to unnecessary application of miticides, triggering a secondary pest outbreak.

Yilin Zhuang and Mary Lusk

Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Kuan-Ming Huang

Mexico is a market power in the US produce market. Protected agriculture accelerated the rapid growth and transformation of the Mexican produce industry. This publication provides a comprehensive overview and in-depth analysis of protected agriculture in Mexico to help understand this fast-growing sector and the driving forces behind its expansion.

Shinsuke Agehara, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Bielinski M. Santos