Nicholas S. Dufault

0000-0002-6173-2593

Cotton Cultural Practices and Fertility Management

David Wright, I. Small, and Nick Dufault

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

Peanut Production Guide: Management and Cultural Practices for Peanuts

Sudeep S. Sidhu, Sudeep S. Sidhu, David L. Wright, Barry Tillman, Nicholas S. Dufault, Ian M. Small, Isaac L. Esquivel, Zane J. Grabau, Hardeep Singh, Emma Matcham, Emma Matcham, Ednaldo A. Borgato, Jay Capasso, Shivendra Kumar, yEthan Carter

This publication discusses the current management and cultural practices for peanut production. This article is intended to share the latest information about peanut production and management with farmers, crop consultants, and Extension agents. Written by S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

Chapter 1. Commercial Vegetable Production in Florida

Xavier Martini, Nicholas S. Dufault, Ramdas Kanissery, yXiaoying Li

Chapter 1 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 6. Cole Crop Production

Lincoln Zotarelli, Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Evelyn V. "Prissy" Fletcher, Qingren Wang, yDe-Fen Mou

Chapter 6 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 7. Cucurbit Production

Craig Frey, Nathan S. Boyd, Qingren Wang, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, Anna Mészáros, Nicholas S. Dufault, Pamela D. Roberts, yXavier Martini

Chapter 7 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 17. Sweet Corn Production

Katia Viana Xavier, Ramdas Kanissery, Craig Frey, Anna Mészáros, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, yJulien M. Beuzelin

Chapter 17 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida, 2026–2027 edition

Xavier Martini, Nicholas S. Dufault, Ramdas Kanissery, yXiaoying Li

See here for the full downloadable PDF of the 2026–2027 Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida, as well as front-matter information and links to each chapter.

Chapter 9. Leafy Vegetable Production

Germán V. Sandoya, Ramdas Kanissery, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Anna Mészáros, Julien M. Beuzelin, Katia Viana Xavier, yDennis C. Odero

Chapter 9 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 10. Minor Vegetable Crop Production

Dakshina R. Seal, Qingren Wang, Ramdas Kanissery, Anna Mészáros, Crystal A. Snodgrass, Julien M. Beuzelin, Johan Desaeger, Nicholas S. Dufault, Katia Viana Xavier, yShouan Zhang

Chapter 10 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 4. Integrated Pest Management

Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, Nathan S. Boyd, yMathews Paret

Chapter 4 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Watermelon

Wael Elwakil, Nicholas S. Dufault, Joshua Freeman, Mark A. Mossler, yJoshua H. Freeman

Florida is the only U.S. supplier of watermelons from December to April. Florida watermelons are harvested throughout the year, although the vast majority of production is harvested from May to July. This fact sheet profiles Florida watermelon crop production and pest management practices.

Management of Gummy Stem Blight (Black Rot) on Cucurbits in Florida

Mathews L. Paret, Nicholas S. Dufault, Mason Newark, and Joshua H. Freeman

Gummy stem blight (GSB) is a major disease of many cucurbits, including watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, muskmelon, and other melons. The disease is also known as black rot due to its characteristic appearance on infected fruits. Learn the symptoms, causal agent and disease spread, and fungicides labeled for use in Florida.

Diseases of Bitter Melon in South Florida

Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, Qingren Wang, Guodong Liu, and Gene McAvoy

Powdery Mildew on Watermelon in Florida

Pamela D. Roberts, Mathews Paret, and Nicholas Dufault

This document discusses the symptoms and management of powdery mildew, a problematic fungal disease, on watermelon in Florida.

Field Guide to Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Diseases

Kevin Korus, Wael Elwakil, Nicholas Dufault, and Zachary Eldred

Industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa that contains < 0.3% THC and can be legally grown with permits in Florida. The plant may be grown for flower, grain, or fiber production. Other than the lower THC levels, hemp is the same plant botanically as marijuana. Because this plant has long been on the Schedule 1 controlled substance list in the U.S. (United States), knowledge of pests and diseases is limited, and labelled control measures are almost non-existent. This publication provides information and general management recommendations for hemp diseases found in Florida. Management options are currently limited as there is a lack of resistant varieties and other management strategies for industrial hemp production.

UF AgriGator Spray Program: Watermelon

Nicholas S. Dufault, Mathews Paret, Kiersten R. Fullem, Pamela D. Roberts, Gary Vallad, ySusannah Da Silva

This guide is intended as a resource for Extension agents and growers and contains information about common oomycete, fungal, and bacterial disease issues in watermelon production. It contains management considerations, information on commonly encountered diseases, and a suggested seasonal spray schedule tailored to specific disease concerns. This publication has been created using data from pesticide efficacy trials and input from experts in watermelon production.

Identification and Management of Foliar Diseases Associated with Sweet Corn in Florida

Vitor Silva de Moura, Anna Mészáros, Nicholas S. Dufault, Marcio F. R. Resende, yKatia Viana Xavier

Sweet corn is a high-value crop for the fresh market. This publication is intended for Florida sweet corn growers, crop consultants, and Extension professionals to support accurate identification and effective management of foliar diseases caused by fungal pathogens. These diseases consistently threaten market quality, requiring an integrated management approach. Host resistance involves selecting hybrids that resist the diseases most likely to occur in a given season. Cultural practices reduce inoculum and make conditions less favorable for disease. Fungicide applications use multi-site protectants and site-specific products. Fungicides are most effective before disease is observed, when timed to coincide with crop growth stages, and during periods of high disease risk. Pathogen pressure, corn susceptibility, and weather conditions vary across Florida’s production regions, so regular scouting, accurate disease identification, and timely decisions are essential.

Management of Alternaria Leaf Blight of Carrot for Florida Conventional and Organic Producers

Chun-Hsiang (Sean) Wang, Mason J. Newark, Nicholas S. Dufault, Jeffrey A. Rollins, Fanny B. Iriarte, Robert Hochmuth, Danielle Treadwell, yMathews Paret

Alternaria leaf blight is a persistent and economically damaging foliar disease of cultivated carrot in Florida, capable of causing disease severity up to 95% and leading to significant yield loss through defoliation and mechanical harvest failure. This publication provides commercial carrot producers, county Extension faculty, crop consultants, and other agricultural professionals with current information on the disease. Integrated management strategies are detailed, including cultural controls, certified seed selection, and specific fungicide programs tailored for both conventional and USDA-certified organic production systems. Emphasis is placed on proper disease diagnosis and fungicide resistance management to assist producers in making effective management decisions.

Disease Control for Snap Beans in Florida

Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, Mathews Paret, Pamela Roberts, Guodong Liu, and Qingren Wang

This publication suggests a sequential disease control program for snap beans in Florida. Postharvest disease problems are addressed only to the extent that they are affected by field practices. The application of the following sequential control program should minimize yield losses for the majority of plantings.