1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

University of Florida scientists have identified the root causes threatening the health and productivity of some of Florida&#8217;s most beloved tropical fruits: dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit. The reveal: New species of the microscopic roundworms known as nematodes that live in the soil and feed on the roots marks a major step in creating [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_47171" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47171" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="size-medium wp-image-47171 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="228" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Galls-on-the-roots-of-guava-caused-by-root-knot-nematode-horizontal-300x228.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47171" class="wp-caption-text">Galls are abnormal growths that occur on roots, leaves, twigs or flowers of plants and trees. In this case the parasite causing the damage is a root-knot nematode on a guava tree.</figcaption></figure>
University of Florida scientists have identified the root causes threatening the health and productivity of some of Florida&#8217;s most beloved tropical fruits: dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit.
The reveal: New species of the microscopic roundworms known as nematodes that live in the soil and feed on the roots marks a major step in creating control methods to safeguard the high-value crops in the Sunshine State’s agricultural landscape, said <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/dr-abolfazl-hajihassani/">Abolfazl Hajihassani</a>, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center</a>.
“We found by surveying nurseries and farms that more than 95% of the growers were unaware they had this problem and were attributing yellowing of leaves, stunted trees and even loss of crops to water and nutrient deficiencies,” he said. “The findings are the missing puzzle pieces we needed that will have significant implications for agricultural practices and the sustainability of tropical fruit production in the state.
Hajihassani, who joined UF/IFAS in 2022, dedicates his efforts to enhancing soil health by investigating and managing parasitic nematodes affecting South Florida crops like tropical fruits, vegetables, sugarcane and turfgrass. His lab leverages cutting-edge molecular techniques and DNA analysis to identify new and existing nematodes to develop innovative and effective control methods.
<figure id="attachment_47173" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47173" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-47173 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="129" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Root-knot-nematode-300x129.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47173" class="wp-caption-text">A specimen of a root-knot nematode. Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like organisms that live in soil, under water, or in the tissue of the plants or animals that they parasitize.</figcaption></figure>
Passion fruit, dragon fruit and guava have much more in common than serving as ingredients and staples for dishes, desserts and salads worldwide. They are nutrient rich with popular antioxidants that serve as important economic crops for the Sunshine State.
<a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FE1036">Guava</a> is a highly profitable crop with Miami-Dade County serving as a primary production hub in the United States. <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS303">Dragon fruit</a>, an emerging crop in South Florida, is a heart-healthy superfood, <a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2344729/nutrients">low in calories and fueled with plenty of fiber and antioxidants</a>. <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1467">Passion fruit</a> is a tropical favorite in home landscapes that is commercially grown primarily in Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
In a series of investigations, Hajihassani and his team conducted surveys and molecular identification tests across nurseries and orchards in South Florida, unmasking the source of nematodes attacking the roots.
In July, Hajihassani identified and recorded the first documented case of the root-knot nematode <a href="https://bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ndr2.12297">Meloidogyne enterolobii</a> as a significant threat to dragon fruit orchards in Homestead. Scientists detected the nematode, known for causing substantial crop losses in tropical fruit orchards worldwide, in two orchards displaying signs of leaf yellowing, stunted growth, wilting and root galls.
“This discovery highlights the urgent need for awareness as we begin development of management strategies to protect the emerging dragon fruit industry in Florida from potential yield losses and economic damage,” he said.
<figure id="attachment_47177" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47177" style="width: 332px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-47177" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Guava-tree-infected-with-M.-enterolobii-275x300.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="362" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47177" class="wp-caption-text">Hajihassani’s team sampled 15 guava orchards in Homestead and uncovered a widespread presence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii across 80% of the sampled orchards. New control methods are being devised. Photo courtesy Abolfazl Hagihassani.</figcaption></figure>
Between <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13314-023-00506-1#:~:text=Fifteen%20guava%20orchards%20in%20Homestead,to%20white%20and%20pink%20guava.">July 2022 and March 2023</a>, Hajihassani’s team sampled 15 guava orchards in Homestead and uncovered a widespread presence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii across 80% of the sampled orchards.
With no current control measures in place, this research is a crucial step in protecting Florida&#8217;s guava industry from further losses.
Passion fruit, also an emerging tropical crop in Florida, faces a significant threat from another species of root-knot nematode known as <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13314-023-00493-3">Meloidogyne incognita</a>. This pest hampers fruit production. In April 2022, a severe infestation was identified in a passion fruit orchard in Levy County among a variety known as <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1406">possum purple</a>.
Research indicated these nematodes significantly reduced plant health and productivity. With no commercial non-fumigant nematicides available and limited understanding of biological controls, developing integrated pest management strategies is the next step to safeguarding dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit cultivation regionally.
“We are conducting screenings to identify resistance in guava and passion fruit cultivars and genotypes against Meloidogyne enterolobii,” he said. “Also, efforts are underway to discover indigenous microbial agents for the biological control of this nematode.”
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By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</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>
 
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>.

Galls are abnormal growths that occur on roots, leaves, twigs or flowers of plants and trees. In this case the parasite causing the damage is a root-knot nematode on a guava tree.
University of Florida scientists have identified the root causes threatening the health and productivity of some of Florida’s most beloved tropical fruits: dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit.
The reveal: New species of the microscopic roundworms known as nematodes that live in the soil and feed on the roots marks a major step in creating control methods to safeguard the high-value crops in the Sunshine State’s agricultural landscape, said Abolfazl Hajihassani, an assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
“We found by surveying nurseries and farms that more than 95% of the growers were unaware they had this problem and were attributing yellowing of leaves, stunted trees and even loss of crops to water and nutrient deficiencies,” he said. “The findings are the missing puzzle pieces we needed that will have significant implications for agricultural practices and the sustainability of tropical fruit production in the state.
Hajihassani, who joined UF/IFAS in 2022, dedicates his efforts to enhancing soil health by investigating and managing parasitic nematodes affecting South Florida crops like tropical fruits, vegetables, sugarcane and turfgrass. His lab leverages cutting-edge molecular techniques and DNA analysis to identify new and existing nematodes to develop innovative and effective control methods.
A specimen of a root-knot nematode. Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like organisms that live in soil, under water, or in the tissue of the plants or animals that they parasitize.
Passion fruit, dragon fruit and guava have much more in common than serving as ingredients and staples for dishes, desserts and salads worldwide. They are nutrient rich with popular antioxidants that serve as important economic crops for the Sunshine State.
Guava is a highly profitable crop with Miami-Dade County serving as a primary production hub in the United States. Dragon fruit, an emerging crop in South Florida, is a heart-healthy superfood, low in calories and fueled with plenty of fiber and antioxidants. Passion fruit is a tropical favorite in home landscapes that is commercially grown primarily in Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
In a series of investigations, Hajihassani and his team conducted surveys and molecular identification tests across nurseries and orchards in South Florida, unmasking the source of nematodes attacking the roots.
In July, Hajihassani identified and recorded the first documented case of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii as a significant threat to dragon fruit orchards in Homestead. Scientists detected the nematode, known for causing substantial crop losses in tropical fruit orchards worldwide, in two orchards displaying signs of leaf yellowing, stunted growth, wilting and root galls.
“This discovery highlights the urgent need for awareness as we begin development of management strategies to protect the emerging dragon fruit industry in Florida from potential yield losses and economic damage,” he said.
Hajihassani’s team sampled 15 guava orchards in Homestead and uncovered a widespread presence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii across 80% of the sampled orchards. New control methods are being devised. Photo courtesy Abolfazl Hagihassani.
Between July 2022 and March 2023, Hajihassani’s team sampled 15 guava orchards in Homestead and uncovered a widespread presence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii across 80% of the sampled orchards.
With no current control measures in place, this research is a crucial step in protecting Florida’s guava industry from further losses.
Passion fruit, also an emerging tropical crop in Florida, faces a significant threat from another species of root-knot nematode known as Meloidogyne incognita. This pest hampers fruit production. In April 2022, a severe infestation was identified in a passion fruit orchard in Levy County among a variety known as possum purple.
Research indicated these nematodes significantly reduced plant health and productivity. With no commercial non-fumigant nematicides available and limited understanding of biological controls, developing integrated pest management strategies is the next step to safeguarding dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit cultivation regionally.
“We are conducting screenings to identify resistance in guava and passion fruit cultivars and genotypes against Meloidogyne enterolobii,” he said. “Also, efforts are underway to discover indigenous microbial agents for the biological control of this nematode.”
 
 
 
 
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
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.

University of Florida scientists have identified the root causes threatening the health and productivity of some of Florida’s most beloved tropical fruits: dragon fruit, guava and passion fruit. The reveal: New species of the microscopic roundworms known as nematodes that live in the soil and feed on the roots marks a major step in creating […]

UF/IFAS scientists uncover root causes threatening guava, passion fruit and dragon fruit in South Florida

Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide, and they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield. “The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said University [&#8230;]

<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2620402/">Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide</a>, and <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Tomato-(Solanum-lycopersicum)-and-root-knot-spp.)-%E2%80%93-Seid-Fininsa/0e2dd6450545b63a174bb522aa8b20eb53befb3d">they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield</a>. 
“The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/people-directory/peter-digennaro/">University of Florida scientist Peter DiGennaro</a>.
<figure id="attachment_30183" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30183" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-30183 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="191" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2022/08/Nematodes_Tomatoes_Peter-DiGennnaro_082422-300x191.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30183" class="wp-caption-text">Peter DiGennaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology and nematology, will work with researchers at North Carolina State University to manage the impacts of parasitic nematodes on tomatoes.</figcaption></figure>
DiGennaro has been awarded $2.3 million to get to the root of the problem. He and two colleagues from North Carolina State University have been awarded $1.8 million from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> and $500,000 from the <a href="https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative-afri">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> to conduct the research.
With the grants, researchers will study how the genome – all of the genetic material – in tomato plants alters the behavior of the plant and pathogens during those increasingly warm evenings.
Over the years, plants have adapted well to a consistent global temperature difference between day and night. In the past few decades, however, this difference has begun to shrink.
“Increasing nighttime temperatures, even as little as 4 degrees, have been connected to reduced yield, biomass and grain quality as well as disease severity,” said DiGennaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/">entomology and nematology</a>.
As it stands, growers are limited how they can control nematodes, DiGennaro said. They can apply nematicides or pesticides or grow tomatoes that resist underground wormlike creatures.
The research will help develop new ways to grow crops that are more resilient to nematode damage and increasing temperatures.
“We also see broader impacts in the future as an outcome of this research. We can identify types of tomato plants that are more resilient to warmer climates. We also want to elucidate the molecular biology behind the nematodes’ response to tomato plants under warmer nighttime temperatures,” DiGennaro said.
The new research will reach beyond identifying relevant genes in tomato plants.
“Understanding the nematode and the plant paves the way towards targeting the parasite directly. We are more interested in the plant genes than the nematode genes,” DiGennaro said. “We want to know how plants, through their genes, control their responses to nematodes and higher temperatures.”
DiGennaro will conduct the research with Dahlia Nielsen, an associate professor of biological sciences and Colleen Doherty, an associate professor of molecular and structural biochemistry, both at <a href="https://cals.ncsu.edu/">N.C. State</a>.
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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>

Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide, and they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield. 
“The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said University of Florida scientist Peter DiGennaro.
Peter DiGennaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology and nematology, will work with researchers at North Carolina State University to manage the impacts of parasitic nematodes on tomatoes.
DiGennaro has been awarded $2.3 million to get to the root of the problem. He and two colleagues from North Carolina State University have been awarded $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation and $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct the research.
With the grants, researchers will study how the genome – all of the genetic material – in tomato plants alters the behavior of the plant and pathogens during those increasingly warm evenings.
Over the years, plants have adapted well to a consistent global temperature difference between day and night. In the past few decades, however, this difference has begun to shrink.
“Increasing nighttime temperatures, even as little as 4 degrees, have been connected to reduced yield, biomass and grain quality as well as disease severity,” said DiGennaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology and nematology.
As it stands, growers are limited how they can control nematodes, DiGennaro said. They can apply nematicides or pesticides or grow tomatoes that resist underground wormlike creatures.
The research will help develop new ways to grow crops that are more resilient to nematode damage and increasing temperatures.
“We also see broader impacts in the future as an outcome of this research. We can identify types of tomato plants that are more resilient to warmer climates. We also want to elucidate the molecular biology behind the nematodes’ response to tomato plants under warmer nighttime temperatures,” DiGennaro said.
The new research will reach beyond identifying relevant genes in tomato plants.
“Understanding the nematode and the plant paves the way towards targeting the parasite directly. We are more interested in the plant genes than the nematode genes,” DiGennaro said. “We want to know how plants, through their genes, control their responses to nematodes and higher temperatures.”
DiGennaro will conduct the research with Dahlia Nielsen, an associate professor of biological sciences and Colleen Doherty, an associate professor of molecular and structural biochemistry, both at N.C. State.
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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

Parasitic nematodes are responsible for about $125 billion in annual crop loss worldwide, and they can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their tomato yield. “The situation with nematodes is exacerbated by an emerging concern in agriculture: the effect of warming nighttime temperatures. This unprecedented trend is causing critical challenges to crops,” said University […]

UF-led research to help cope with parasitic nematodes, which cause $125B in crop losses worldwide

Soil health is an important aspect to strawberry and tomato production. Farmers often apply a type of pesticide called fumigants to the soil months before planting to manage soil health. Fumigants reduce harmful diseases such as Fusarium wilt, pests such as root-knot nematodes and weeds that compete for water and nutrients. While these fumigants are [&#8230;]

Soil health is an important aspect to strawberry and tomato production. Farmers often apply a type of pesticide called fumigants to the soil months before planting to manage soil health.
Fumigants reduce harmful diseases such as Fusarium wilt, pests such as root-knot nematodes and weeds that compete for water and nutrients. While these fumigants are not present in the soils once the crops are planted, their effects on soil diseases, pests and weeds help sustain production.
But how does all that happen? There’s so much underground. A <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS664">teaspoon of soil can contain more than 4 billion microbial organisms</a>, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes.
University of Florida soil microbiologist Sarah Strauss has received an $850,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to study how fumigation impacts the soil microbiome. Armed with such data, farmers can manage soil health more efficiently.
<figure id="attachment_27551" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27551" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-27551 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2022/03/Soil-Microbiome_Sarah-Strauss-in-lab_032122-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27551" class="wp-caption-text">Sarah Strauss, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of soil and water sciences at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, working in a research laboratory. Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS photography.</figcaption></figure>
“We know that fumigants are pretty good at reducing the ‘bad’ soil microbes – the ones that cause diseases,” said Strauss, an assistant professor of soil and water sciences at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.
“We don’t really know what happens to all the other microbes in the soil when these fumigants are applied,” Strauss said. “But since the fumigants hurt the pathogens – the ‘bad microbes’ &#8212; they might hurt the other microbes. These other microbes include ones that could be helpful for plants.”
For example, soil bacteria and fungi help nitrogen cycle through soil and prevent soil-borne diseases from infecting plants. Soil fumigants also seem to impact weed germination, but scientists don’t know much about how fumigants impact weed populations over multiple growing seasons.
“We want to try and figure out if the ‘good’ soil microbes are still around after fumigation and are helping this process &#8212; or not,” said Strauss. “We need to better understand what’s happening in the soil before we can try and optimize or improve these fumigation practices.”
The more data Strauss and her colleagues can pass along to farmers about soil fumigation, the better the odds producers will grow more tomatoes and strawberries.
Strauss will get help on this research project from Nathan Boyd, a professor of horticultural sciences; Gary Vallad, a professor of plant pathology and Mary Lusk, an assistant professor of soil and water sciences – of whom work at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC).
They’ll conduct their research at GCREC and at commercial tomato and strawberry farms, most likely in Hillsborough County, the home of many Florida strawberry farms.
Throughout Florida, <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2020/07/22/scientists-to-study-crippling-tomato-disease-to-lay-groundwork-for-prevention/">fresh market tomatoes generate about $400 million a year</a>, while <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2021/03/04/uv-system-means-lights-out-for-strawberry-pathogen/">strawberries, bring in about $300 million</a>.
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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>
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Soil health is an important aspect to strawberry and tomato production. Farmers often apply a type of pesticide called fumigants to the soil months before planting to manage soil health.
Fumigants reduce harmful diseases such as Fusarium wilt, pests such as root-knot nematodes and weeds that compete for water and nutrients. While these fumigants are not present in the soils once the crops are planted, their effects on soil diseases, pests and weeds help sustain production.
But how does all that happen? There’s so much underground. A teaspoon of soil can contain more than 4 billion microbial organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes.
University of Florida soil microbiologist Sarah Strauss has received an $850,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to study how fumigation impacts the soil microbiome. Armed with such data, farmers can manage soil health more efficiently.
Sarah Strauss, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of soil and water sciences at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, working in a research laboratory. Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS photography.
“We know that fumigants are pretty good at reducing the ‘bad’ soil microbes – the ones that cause diseases,” said Strauss, an assistant professor of soil and water sciences at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.
“We don’t really know what happens to all the other microbes in the soil when these fumigants are applied,” Strauss said. “But since the fumigants hurt the pathogens – the ‘bad microbes’ — they might hurt the other microbes. These other microbes include ones that could be helpful for plants.”
For example, soil bacteria and fungi help nitrogen cycle through soil and prevent soil-borne diseases from infecting plants. Soil fumigants also seem to impact weed germination, but scientists don’t know much about how fumigants impact weed populations over multiple growing seasons.
“We want to try and figure out if the ‘good’ soil microbes are still around after fumigation and are helping this process — or not,” said Strauss. “We need to better understand what’s happening in the soil before we can try and optimize or improve these fumigation practices.”
The more data Strauss and her colleagues can pass along to farmers about soil fumigation, the better the odds producers will grow more tomatoes and strawberries.
Strauss will get help on this research project from Nathan Boyd, a professor of horticultural sciences; Gary Vallad, a professor of plant pathology and Mary Lusk, an assistant professor of soil and water sciences – of whom work at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC).
They’ll conduct their research at GCREC and at commercial tomato and strawberry farms, most likely in Hillsborough County, the home of many Florida strawberry farms.
Throughout Florida, fresh market tomatoes generate about $400 million a year, while strawberries, bring in about $300 million.
 
-30-
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

Soil health is an important aspect to strawberry and tomato production. Farmers often apply a type of pesticide called fumigants to the soil months before planting to manage soil health. Fumigants reduce harmful diseases such as Fusarium wilt, pests such as root-knot nematodes and weeds that compete for water and nutrients. While these fumigants are […]

UF scientists receive grant to study fumigation impacts on soil health

Soil Organisms

Organismos del suelo

Soil-dwelling beetles and grubs

Plant parasitic Nematodes

Root-knot Nematodes

Crow, William T

Browse AskIFAS Terms

Organisms

Organismos

Features

Soil Sciences

Complex mixture of inorganic minerals (i.e., mostly clay, silt, and sand), decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms.

Root-knot Nematodes

Publications

Cover Crops for Managing Root-Knot Nematodes

Grass Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne graminis Whitehead, 1968 (Nematode: Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae)

Guava Root-Knot Nematode or Pacara Earpod Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (Yang and Eisenback, 1983) (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Rhabditida: Tylenchina: Tylenchomorpha: Tylenchoidea: Meloidogynidae)

Meloidogyne hapla, the Northern Root-Knot Nematode, in Florida Strawberries and Associated Double-Cropped Vegetables

Nematode Resistance: A Useful Tool for Root-Knot Nematode (RKN) Management in Tomato

Peach Root-knot Nematode

Rice Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne graminicola (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae: Meloidogyne)

Root-Knot Nematode Management in Caladium

Texas Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne haplanaria Eisenback et al. 2003 (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Chromadoria: Rhabditida: Rhabditina: Tylenchomorpha: Meloidogynidae)

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