1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Last month, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County offered its first ever Dipnets and Donuts: Pond BioBlitz event. It was a great success, with several species spotted in our ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Participants worked in groups and used dipnets to collect freshwater macroinvertebrates. Among the many recorded species were snails, dragonfly nymphs, fishing spiders, water [&#8230;]

Last month, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County offered its first ever Dipnets and Donuts: Pond BioBlitz event. It was a great success, with several species spotted in our ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Participants worked in groups and used dipnets to collect freshwater macroinvertebrates. Among the many recorded species were snails, dragonfly nymphs, fishing spiders, water scorpions, and toe-biters. Attendees even collected some caddisfly larvae, which are bioindicators whose presence indicates good water quality!
Capturing data through citizen science efforts such as these is crucial for monitoring the health of local ecosystems, as well as predicting seasonal trends. It is also a great way for folks to casually contribute biodiversity data. Knowing what lives in an area can help inform future management decisions and promote awareness in our local community.
<figure id="attachment_34375" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34375" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="wp-image-34375 size-large lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Photos from event that show dipnetting, dragonfly nymph, collection bins, ID guide, and identification process" width="1024" height="571" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/1-1-1024x571.png"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34375" class="wp-caption-text">Participants collected and identified macroinvertebrates found in ponds at Twin Lakes Park.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>What&#8217;s a BioBlitz?</h2>
<img decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-34359 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Cartoon bee with binoculars looking out while resting on top of geomarker" width="300" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/beeonthelookout2-300x300.png">A BioBlitz is an event dedicated to capturing as much biodiversity data as possible within a given timeframe. Okay, I may have mentioned biodiversity a few times already without really defining it. So, let&#8217;s start there.
Biodiversity is a measure of the &#8220;variety of life&#8221; in a given ecosystem. It can include different kinds of plants, animals, fungi, and more present in an area. It also takes into account the number of each species. So, the total species count (species richness) and the number of each species (species evenness) are used to help calculate the biodiversity of a sampled spot.
Sometimes, scientists choose to focus on measuring the biodiversity of specific ecosystem or group of related organisms. In the case of our recent event, we looked at the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates that live in the ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Another unusual word &#8211; let&#8217;s break it down!
Macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone (invertebrate) that are visible to the naked eye without needing a special tool like a microscope to see them (macro).
Regardless of the type or number of species you record during a BioBlitz event, know that your contributions matter.
To participate in a BioBlitz, all one needs is a way to record their observations. In the past, this has been pen, paper, and perhaps photographs. Nowadays, we have new technologies and apps, such as iNaturalist, which can help us record several pieces of important information, such as photos, sound, and location, in a standardized way.
<h2>Want to Participate?</h2>
We will have several upcoming opportunities posted to our <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-extension-sarasota-county-422952084">Eventbrite page</a>. Keep an eye out and consider registering for our <a href="https://ufl.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9c7ab609082550df669310bf0&amp;id=7a8927fcd1">Class Blast newsletter</a> for updates delivered directly to your inbox.
Our next themed BioBlitz will be the Bug-Off BioBlitz at Red Bug Slough on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Inspired by the well-loved Animal Crossing series, this event is complete with certificates of participation and special, insect trophies awarded to the top three contributors.
<figure id="attachment_34377" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34377" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-34377 size-large lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Three available insect trophies: a dragonfly, butterfly, and ant" width="1024" height="413" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/2-1-1024x413.png"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34377" class="wp-caption-text">Win one of these spectacular insect trophies at the upcoming <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bug-off-bioblitz-red-bug-slough-registration-951712115557?aff=oddtdtcreator">Bug-Off BioBlitz at Red Bug Slough</a>!</figcaption></figure>
Have fun and make a difference by participating in this important citizen science effort. Register for the event <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bug-off-bioblitz-red-bug-slough-registration-951712115557?aff=oddtdtcreator">here</a>.
<h3>Resources</h3>
<ul>
<li>UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County: <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/2023/02/24/whats-lurking-in-floridas-fresh-water/">What’s Lurking in Florida’s Freshwater?</a> blog</li>
<li><a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/">iNaturalist</a></li>
<li><a href="https://biodiversity.research.ufl.edu/">UF Biodiversity Institute</a></li>
</ul>

Last month, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County offered its first ever Dipnets and Donuts: Pond BioBlitz event. It was a great success, with several species spotted in our ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Participants worked in groups and used dipnets to collect freshwater macroinvertebrates. Among the many recorded species were snails, dragonfly nymphs, fishing spiders, water scorpions, and toe-biters. Attendees even collected some caddisfly larvae, which are bioindicators whose presence indicates good water quality!
Capturing data through citizen science efforts such as these is crucial for monitoring the health of local ecosystems, as well as predicting seasonal trends. It is also a great way for folks to casually contribute biodiversity data. Knowing what lives in an area can help inform future management decisions and promote awareness in our local community.
Participants collected and identified macroinvertebrates found in ponds at Twin Lakes Park.
What’s a BioBlitz?
A BioBlitz is an event dedicated to capturing as much biodiversity data as possible within a given timeframe. Okay, I may have mentioned biodiversity a few times already without really defining it. So, let’s start there.
Biodiversity is a measure of the “variety of life” in a given ecosystem. It can include different kinds of plants, animals, fungi, and more present in an area. It also takes into account the number of each species. So, the total species count (species richness) and the number of each species (species evenness) are used to help calculate the biodiversity of a sampled spot.
Sometimes, scientists choose to focus on measuring the biodiversity of specific ecosystem or group of related organisms. In the case of our recent event, we looked at the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates that live in the ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Another unusual word – let’s break it down!
Macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone (invertebrate) that are visible to the naked eye without needing a special tool like a microscope to see them (macro).
Regardless of the type or number of species you record during a BioBlitz event, know that your contributions matter.
To participate in a BioBlitz, all one needs is a way to record their observations. In the past, this has been pen, paper, and perhaps photographs. Nowadays, we have new technologies and apps, such as iNaturalist, which can help us record several pieces of important information, such as photos, sound, and location, in a standardized way.
Want to Participate?
We will have several upcoming opportunities posted to our Eventbrite page. Keep an eye out and consider registering for our Class Blast newsletter for updates delivered directly to your inbox.
Our next themed BioBlitz will be the Bug-Off BioBlitz at Red Bug Slough on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Inspired by the well-loved Animal Crossing series, this event is complete with certificates of participation and special, insect trophies awarded to the top three contributors.
Win one of these spectacular insect trophies at the upcoming Bug-Off BioBlitz at Red Bug Slough!
Have fun and make a difference by participating in this important citizen science effort. Register for the event here.
Resources
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County: What’s Lurking in Florida’s Freshwater? blog
iNaturalist
UF Biodiversity Institute

Last month, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County offered its first ever Dipnets and Donuts: Pond BioBlitz event. It was a great success, with several species spotted in our ponds at Twin Lakes Park. Participants worked in groups and used dipnets to collect freshwater macroinvertebrates. Among the many recorded species were snails, dragonfly nymphs, fishing spiders, water […]

Putting on the (Bio)Blitz

This Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Hispanic Access Foundation partners invite families to step outdoors and embark on an exciting citizen science adventure. Scientists from the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) have partnered with Cumbre Kids, a podcast tailored for Spanish-speaking [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_47321" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47321" style="width: 391px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47321 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="image - activity sheet for kids to use during a citizen science iNaturalist project" width="391" height="548" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Activity-Sheet-English-blog-copy-214x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47321" class="wp-caption-text">Download the activity bingo card from the link below.</figcaption></figure>
This Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Hispanic Access Foundation partners invite families to step outdoors and embark on an exciting citizen science adventure.
Scientists from the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC)</a> have partnered with <a href="https://www.cumbrekids.org/">Cumbre Kids</a>, a podcast tailored for Spanish-speaking families, to create a special initiative during <a href="https://latinoconservationweek.com/">Latino Conservation Week</a>, Sept. 14  to Sept. 22. This collaboration offers an opportunity for Hispanic families to explore local plants and wildlife while promoting environmental conservation.
“Citizen science is a powerful way for families to connect with nature and contribute to meaningful scientific research. By participating, families can learn about local biodiversity, develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and contribute data that scientists from around the world can use,” said <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/dr-corey-t-callaghan/">Corey Callaghan</a>, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of global ecology.
This initiative, supported by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, is led by the FLREC Global Ecology Research Group and leverages citizen-science data to understand species distribution and engage the public with biodiversity through digital tools.
The partnership has resulted in the creation of a fun and interactive activity sheet that challenges families to explore their local parks and identify and document different species using the iNaturalist app.
The initiative is centered around the iNaturalist project <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/craneo-semana-latina-de-la-conservacion">Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación</a> and a children’s educational podcast in Spanish which aims to engage participants in tracking and documenting local biodiversity. Each episode of the prodcast Cráneo brings fun, child-friendly scientific lessons to Spanish-speaking families and classrooms, produced alongside leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) institutions like the NASA, NOAA, the Frost Science Center Museum, Aquarium &amp; Planetarium in Miami, the Florida Museum of Natural History and many more partners throughout the United States, Spain and Latin America.
To support this effort, the team has produced a special podcast episode. Available in both <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TcxJgfQOmUptWrVsq29Vv?si=489e38048f3e4722&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=b03e35a3a3f641d3">English</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CmX4LbcQJhiACm0lSxrka?si=a1eaae746aad4665&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=816c4434bc2a40f6">Spanish</a>, the episode introduces listeners to key concepts such as environmental conservation, data collection and community science. A corresponding <a href="https://latinoconservationweek.com/resources/kids-resources">blog post</a> provides additional details and instructions for participating in the activity.
Participating in this virtual event is free and easy with these steps:
<ol>
<li>Listen to the Podcast: Check out the Cráneo episode featuring Jessica Godinez, available in <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TcxJgfQOmUptWrVsq29Vv?si=489e38048f3e4722&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=b03e35a3a3f641d3">English</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CmX4LbcQJhiACm0lSxrka?si=a1eaae746aad4665&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=816c4434bc2a40f6">Spanish</a>.</li>
<li>Download the Activity Sheet: Get the <a href="https://bit.ly/3yETt8x">printable bingo card</a> with a list of plants and animals to look for in your local park.</li>
<li>Explore and Document: Visit a nearby park, search for the species listed on the bingo card, and check them off as you find them.</li>
<li>Share Your Observations: Upload photos of the species you find to the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/craneo-semana-latina-de-la-conservacion">&#8220;Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación&#8221; iNaturalist project</a>. Follow the instructions on <a href="https://bit.ly/3yETt8x">how to download to iNaturalist with this link</a>.</li>
</ol>
For more information about the activity, the podcast and Latino Conservation Week, please visit the Cumbre Kids website or contact UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2024/09/12/uf-ifas-y-cumbre-kids-invitan-a-las-familias-hispanas-a-unirse-a-una-divertida-aventura-de-ciencia-ciudadana-del-14-al-22-de-septiembre/">Para accesar a esta información en español, por favor utilice este enlace. </a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Download the activity bingo card from the link below.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Hispanic Access Foundation partners invite families to step outdoors and embark on an exciting citizen science adventure.
Scientists from the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) have partnered with Cumbre Kids, a podcast tailored for Spanish-speaking families, to create a special initiative during Latino Conservation Week, Sept. 14  to Sept. 22. This collaboration offers an opportunity for Hispanic families to explore local plants and wildlife while promoting environmental conservation.
“Citizen science is a powerful way for families to connect with nature and contribute to meaningful scientific research. By participating, families can learn about local biodiversity, develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and contribute data that scientists from around the world can use,” said Corey Callaghan, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of global ecology.
This initiative, supported by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, is led by the FLREC Global Ecology Research Group and leverages citizen-science data to understand species distribution and engage the public with biodiversity through digital tools.
The partnership has resulted in the creation of a fun and interactive activity sheet that challenges families to explore their local parks and identify and document different species using the iNaturalist app.
The initiative is centered around the iNaturalist project Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación and a children’s educational podcast in Spanish which aims to engage participants in tracking and documenting local biodiversity. Each episode of the prodcast Cráneo brings fun, child-friendly scientific lessons to Spanish-speaking families and classrooms, produced alongside leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) institutions like the NASA, NOAA, the Frost Science Center Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium in Miami, the Florida Museum of Natural History and many more partners throughout the United States, Spain and Latin America.
To support this effort, the team has produced a special podcast episode. Available in both English and Spanish, the episode introduces listeners to key concepts such as environmental conservation, data collection and community science. A corresponding blog post provides additional details and instructions for participating in the activity.
Participating in this virtual event is free and easy with these steps:
Listen to the Podcast: Check out the Cráneo episode featuring Jessica Godinez, available in English and Spanish.
Download the Activity Sheet: Get the printable bingo card with a list of plants and animals to look for in your local park.
Explore and Document: Visit a nearby park, search for the species listed on the bingo card, and check them off as you find them.
Share Your Observations: Upload photos of the species you find to the “Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación” iNaturalist project. Follow the instructions on how to download to iNaturalist with this link.
For more information about the activity, the podcast and Latino Conservation Week, please visit the Cumbre Kids website or contact UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Para accesar a esta información en español, por favor utilice este enlace. 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

This Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Hispanic Access Foundation partners invite families to step outdoors and embark on an exciting citizen science adventure. Scientists from the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) have partnered with Cumbre Kids, a podcast tailored for Spanish-speaking […]

UF/IFAS and Cumbre Kids invite Hispanic families to join fun-filled citizen science adventure Sept. 14-22

People with a green thumb for growing tomatoes are giving University of Florida scientists good data to help them find tastier tomatoes. Through a citizen science program, Denise Tieman, a UF/IFAS research associate professor of horticultural sciences and her lab are getting viable data from residential gardeners about which tomato varieties grow and taste best. [&#8230;]

People with a green thumb for growing tomatoes are giving University of Florida scientists good data to help them find tastier tomatoes.
Through a citizen science program, <a href="https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/people/on-campus-faculty/denise-tieman/">Denise Tieman</a>, a UF/IFAS research associate professor of horticultural sciences and her lab are getting viable data from residential gardeners about which tomato varieties grow and taste best.
Tieman and <a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec-facultystaff-directory/jesscia-chitwood-brown/">Jessica Chitwood-Brown</a>, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences, spoke at the Florida Tomato Conference Sept. 5 in Clewiston about breeding efforts at UF/IFAS.
From 2021-23, people in 41 states have told Tieman and her collaborators which tomatoes they want to grow and why.
“This data is very important for our research since we get feedback from different parts of the country,” Tieman said. “Also, people use many different growing conditions: pots, soil, hydroponic, organic etc.”
Right now, Tieman and her lab are offering ‘Improved Garden Gem,’ ‘Improved Garden Treasure,’ ‘Improved Garden Ruby’ and ‘Improved BW hybrid,’ all UF/IFAS cultivars.
“We change the varieties from year to year as we develop new cultivars, but we keep the favorites like Garden Gem,” she said. “We also take special requests, if someone wants an old variety that we aren&#8217;t offering this year.”
<a href="https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/kleelab/new-garden-cultivars/">Click here to find out how you can obtain tomato seeds from the UF/IFAS tomato-breeding lab</a>.
The citizen science program is just one method UF/IFAS researchers use to improve tomato flavor. For 20 years, they have been conducting research to understand the biochemical and genetic bases for good tomato flavor. They are now using the results from this research to breed tastier tomatoes.
“Our latest breeding efforts &#8212; separate from the home-garden varieties &#8212; are to breed better-tasting commercial varieties,” Tieman said. “We have shown that we can breed for better flavor without expensive, time-consuming biochemical analysis or taste panels. We instead utilize simple and inexpensive DNA analysis to determine if the DNA segments we know are important for good flavor are present. We anticipate that the same tools can be used for other tomato breeders to improve the flavor of their tomato varieties.”
<figure id="attachment_47271" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47271" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47271 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Chitwood-Brown_in-greenhouse-courtesy-Alice-Akers_020924-002-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47271" class="wp-caption-text">Jessica Chitwood-Brown in a greenhouse. Courtesy, UF/IFAS.</figcaption></figure>
Chitwood-Brown works in the heart of Florida’s tomato-growing area. As a faculty member at the <a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">Gulf Coast Research and Education Center</a>, she gave growers historical perspective about the UF/IFAS tomato breeding program, which goes back more than 100 years.
Early efforts were aimed at combating diseases that threatened the industry. In January, UF/IFAS hired Chitwood-Brown to help lead tomato-breeding efforts.
Chitwood-Brown earned her Ph.D. from the UF/IFAS in 2020. At the tomato conference, she discussed how she will align the goals of the tomato-breeding program with challenges described by growers.
“By integrating grower feedback throughout the breeding process, the UF/IFAS tomato-breeding program aims to help develop improved tomato cultivars that meet the needs of the Florida tomato industry, while keeping the consumer in mind,” Chitwood-Brown said.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.
&nbsp;

People with a green thumb for growing tomatoes are giving University of Florida scientists good data to help them find tastier tomatoes.
Through a citizen science program, Denise Tieman, a UF/IFAS research associate professor of horticultural sciences and her lab are getting viable data from residential gardeners about which tomato varieties grow and taste best.
Tieman and Jessica Chitwood-Brown, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences, spoke at the Florida Tomato Conference Sept. 5 in Clewiston about breeding efforts at UF/IFAS.
From 2021-23, people in 41 states have told Tieman and her collaborators which tomatoes they want to grow and why.
“This data is very important for our research since we get feedback from different parts of the country,” Tieman said. “Also, people use many different growing conditions: pots, soil, hydroponic, organic etc.”
Right now, Tieman and her lab are offering ‘Improved Garden Gem,’ ‘Improved Garden Treasure,’ ‘Improved Garden Ruby’ and ‘Improved BW hybrid,’ all UF/IFAS cultivars.
“We change the varieties from year to year as we develop new cultivars, but we keep the favorites like Garden Gem,” she said. “We also take special requests, if someone wants an old variety that we aren’t offering this year.”
Click here to find out how you can obtain tomato seeds from the UF/IFAS tomato-breeding lab.
The citizen science program is just one method UF/IFAS researchers use to improve tomato flavor. For 20 years, they have been conducting research to understand the biochemical and genetic bases for good tomato flavor. They are now using the results from this research to breed tastier tomatoes.
“Our latest breeding efforts — separate from the home-garden varieties — are to breed better-tasting commercial varieties,” Tieman said. “We have shown that we can breed for better flavor without expensive, time-consuming biochemical analysis or taste panels. We instead utilize simple and inexpensive DNA analysis to determine if the DNA segments we know are important for good flavor are present. We anticipate that the same tools can be used for other tomato breeders to improve the flavor of their tomato varieties.”
Jessica Chitwood-Brown in a greenhouse. Courtesy, UF/IFAS.
Chitwood-Brown works in the heart of Florida’s tomato-growing area. As a faculty member at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, she gave growers historical perspective about the UF/IFAS tomato breeding program, which goes back more than 100 years.
Early efforts were aimed at combating diseases that threatened the industry. In January, UF/IFAS hired Chitwood-Brown to help lead tomato-breeding efforts.
Chitwood-Brown earned her Ph.D. from the UF/IFAS in 2020. At the tomato conference, she discussed how she will align the goals of the tomato-breeding program with challenges described by growers.
“By integrating grower feedback throughout the breeding process, the UF/IFAS tomato-breeding program aims to help develop improved tomato cultivars that meet the needs of the Florida tomato industry, while keeping the consumer in mind,” Chitwood-Brown said.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

People with a green thumb for growing tomatoes are giving University of Florida scientists good data to help them find tastier tomatoes. Through a citizen science program, Denise Tieman, a UF/IFAS research associate professor of horticultural sciences and her lab are getting viable data from residential gardeners about which tomato varieties grow and taste best. […]

Citizen scientists help UF researchers find best-tasting tomatoes

Research

Investigación

Sciences

Ciencias

Civic Engagement

Compromiso cívico

Involved Citizens

In an ongoing quest to bridge the information gap between the scientific community and Florida's citizenry, LAKEWATCH has assembled this series of information circulars that provide a basic introduction to the terminology and concepts used in today's water management arena.

Beginner's Guide to Water Management series

Voluntary public participation in the scientific process, addressing real-world problems in ways that may include formulating research questions, conducting scientific experiments, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, making new discoveries, developing technologies and applications, for solving complex problems.

Citizen Science

director, Florida LAKEWATCH, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, UF/IFAS School of Forest Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL <a href="https://vivo.ufl.edu/display/n48634">VIVO profile</a>

Hoyer, Mark V

Hostetler, Mark E.

Callaghan, Corey

Browse AskIFAS Terms

Activities

Actividades

1928-thumbnail

Research is a process of systematic inquiry that entails collection of data; documentation of critical information; and analysis and interpretation of that data/information, in accordance with suitable methodologies set by specific professional fields and academic disciplines. (<a href="https://www.hampshire.edu/what-research">source</a>)

The terms used for Ask IFAS organization are selected with consideration of the terminology used in UF/IFAS publications and programs, as well as the terms recommended by the U.S. National Agricultural Library Thesaurus (NALT) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's AGROVOC thesaurus.&nbsp;

Citizen Science

Publications

BioBlitzes: Citizen Science for Biodiversity in Florida

Florida Bird Monitoring Program

Florida Monitoring Program: Point Count Method to Survey Birds

Florida Monitoring Program: Transect Method for Surveying Birds

Herping Adventures: A Guide to Exploring and Documenting Reptiles and Amphibians with iNaturalist

Lessons Learned from Evaluations of Citizen Science Programs

Magnificent Moths: A Guide to Begin “Mothing” and Contributing Your Observations to iNaturalist

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Putting on the (Bio)Blitz

UF/IFAS and Cumbre Kids invite Hispanic families to join fun-filled citizen science adventure Sept. 14-22

Citizen scientists help UF researchers find best-tasting tomatoes

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