Wael Elwakil
0000-0003-3218-330X

County agent

Extension agent III, commercial fruit & vegetable production, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Seffner, FL

Blogs.IFAS profile

Publications

Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Watermelon

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

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.

Trichogramma Wasps Trichogramma spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Wael Elwakil, Ethan Doherty, and Adam Dale

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

A Review of Strawberry Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

Tara Wade, Kelvin Amon, Zhengfei Guan, and Wael Elwakil

This publication provides information on conventional fresh strawberry acreage, volume, and pricing for California and Florida from 2010 through 2022. It is one of a series of EDIS publications that illustrate trends in Florida’s five most economically important specialty crops, excluding citrus: strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, and sweet corn. The information in this publication will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. It serves as a single location where valuable information about the specialty crop market and production trends can be found.

Foliar Leaf Spots of Viburnum during Nursery Production in Florida: Research and Fungicide Efficacies

Shawn Steed, Wael Elwakil, Marissa Cassaway, and Gary 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.

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.

Selected UAV Options for Agricultural Imaging and Mapping Applications under Florida’s UAS Regulations

Liyike Ji, Xu Wang, and Wael Elwakil

Florida governmental agencies must utilize drones only from approved manufacturers meeting the appropriate risk assessment requirements. This report provides a brief review of Florida’s UAS regulations and presents compliant drone equipment, focusing on imaging and mapping applications. It aims to assist agricultural professionals in selecting a UAV that best meets their operational needs. Written by Liyike Ji, Xu Wang, and Wael Elwakil, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, November 2025.

Wael Elwakil 0000-0003-3218-330X