Exciting research underway in our lab with visiting scientist Dr. Fabiano Perina from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA)! Here, Fabiano is using the Nanopore MinION sequencer as part of his work to develop rapid, third-generation sequencing diagnostics for Meloidogyne enterolobii. This emerging plant-parasitic nematode causes widespread damage to crops globally. This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing innovative molecular tools for accurate diagnostics and sustainable control strategies in plant disease management.
Commercially grown white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are highly susceptible to bacterial blotch, a disease caused by Pseudomonas species. Estimated yield losses range from 10-25%, significantly impacting mushroom quality and marketability.
To tackle this issue, our lab are actively investigating bacterial blotch pathogens and microbiome interactions in healthy and diseased mushrooms. As part of an USDA research, our team lead my the Ph.D. student Samemerika are visiting mushroom farms across the Southern U.S. to collect samples and engage with growers to better understand the distribution and impact of these pathogens.
We gathered this Summer 2024 for a farewell to Victor after he spent 9 months as a visiting scholar from Brazil in our lab. We will miss you, Victor.
From left to right: Mukesh, Jessica, Victor, Samuel, Josie, Toi.
Toi presented at the Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day 2024 on exploring the ecological ramifications of antibiotic intervention in Citrus reticulata through its effects on rhizosphere bacterial communities and metabolites.
Roshni Sawlani presented a poster at the Plant Science Symposium 2024 (left) and at the Spring CUR Symposium (right) on the impact of Meloidogyne enterolobii and soil types on tomato plant chlorophyll content.
Josie presented at the Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day 2023 on the impact of successive soil cultivation on Meloidogyne enterolobii infection and on soil bacterial assemblages [open access link]
Toi processing citrus root samples for antibiotic analysis
Hiago and Josie collecting soil samples from an organic tomato field at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
From left to right: Josie, Roshni, Toi, and Malia getting ready to assess the damage caused by plant parasitic nematodes in tomato plants
Naomi Greenberg (top left) & Ellen Fleming (bottom right) presenting their research at the 2022 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Asif (left) & Samantha (right) getting ready to quantify samples with nematodes under the microscope.
Samuel at Citra, FL, sampling & Ellen working on serial dilutions in the lab