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The Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida is a team of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to improving fruit and vegetable production for the benefit of farmers and consumers. Florida’s climatic diversity and the facilities at UF provide opportunities for research with temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical crops on a nearly year-round basis. We conduct cutting-edge research in plant breeding & genetics, plant and environmental physiology, fruit & vegetable production, postharvest physiology, biochemistry, and other disciplines. We offer high-quality education and training for undergraduate and graduate students to equip them with the skills needed to be successful in satisfying, high-paying careers. Our diverse faculty is located throughout the state, integrating our research/teaching/extension programs to provide practical experience for our students, technical support for our farmers, relevance for our horticulture industry, and a pipeline to bring leading research from our labs to you.

 
 
Agriculture

Full steam ahead: Warm vapor and a low-dose herbicide control harmful citrus weed

Weeds have the potential to reduce Florida’s citrus crop by up to 30% annually. They compete with citrus trees for resources like water, light and nutrients, which can significantly reduce yield and fruit quality. Goat weed, a native perennial, is found throughout the Southeast, from Texas, Read More

UF/IFAS

Successful science: Mesh now covers about 1 million citrus trees in Florida, keeping Asian citrus psyllids at bay

As recently as five years ago, Florida citrus growers did not routinely put protective covers on their trees as part of their grove management. Now, the mesh covers at least 1 million trees on about 17,000 acres, mostly thanks to successful experimentation by a University of Florida scientist. Individual Protective Covers (IPCs) keep Asian citrus psyllids off trees. Psyllids are pin-sized insects that inject citrus leaves with a bacterium that Read More