Dr. Cheryl Dalid
Research Assistant Scientist
Dr. Cheryl Dalid is a Research Assistant Scientist in the UF/IFAS Strawberry Breeding and Genetics program at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.
As a faculty member, she plays a key role in developing improved strawberry cultivars for Florida and other U.S. and international production regions. Her work integrates genomic data, DNA markers, field and disease evaluations, and germplasm knowledge to support cross design, selection decisions, and cultivar development.
Dr. Dalid’s research focuses on strawberry genetics and digital phenotyping, including non-destructive, ground-based and UAV-based imaging approaches to improve breeding efficiency and genetic gain. She has contributed to the invention and release of multiple UF strawberry cultivars, including red- and white-fruited varieties.
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Research
Dr. Cheryl Dalid’s research focuses on strawberry genetics and the application of advanced, data-driven technologies to improve breeding efficiency, trait discovery, and genetic gain. Her work integrates quantitative genetics, genomics, and high-throughput phenotyping to address complex traits relevant to cultivar development and production environments.
A central theme of her research is strawberry phenomics, where she studied non-destructive approaches for quantifying above-ground vegetative biomass, a trait traditionally difficult to assess due to destructive sampling requirements. By combining ground-based and UAV-based high-resolution imaging with genetic data, her work has advanced biomass measurement, growth modeling, and the genetic analysis of plant architecture in strawberry breeding populations.
Dr. Dalid’s research also encompasses quantitative trait analysis, including QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic prediction, to identify genetic loci controlling key traits and to enable accurate prediction of complex traits using genomic selection tools. Her findings have demonstrated strong genetic control of growth-related traits and their value in applied breeding programs.
Current and emerging research interests include the integration of digital phenotyping into the genetic analysis of fruit color, as well as the use of multispectral UAV imaging to evaluate strawberry stress responses under field conditions. In parallel, she develops and implements digital data-management and tracking systems including QR code–based platforms and custom applications to improve data integrity, traceability, and decision-making within large-scale breeding programs.
Collectively, Dr. Dalid’s research aims to bridge fundamental genetics with applied breeding by translating complex data streams into practical tools that enhance cultivar development and support the sustainability and competitiveness of the strawberry industry.
Contact
Rm. 186
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
14625 CR 672
Wimauma, FL 33598
813-419-6614
cdalid@ufl.edu
Dr. Cheryl Dalid – Curriculum Vitae
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Education
Education:
- Ph.D. Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, concentration in Plant Breeding, The University of Tennessee Knoxville, 2018
- M.S. Genetics, minor in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 2011
- B.S. Biology, major in Genetics, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 2004
- Publications