Dr. Vallad's Laboratory
Overview
The Vegetable pathology lab research and extension program focuses on the diagnosis and management of bacterial and fungal diseases common to vegetable and ornamental production with an emphasis on the development and implementation of bio-based disease management strategies.
The lab’s research utilizes traditional and contemporary approaches to study:
- Pathogen biology
- Disease epidemiology
- Plant-pathogen interactions
- Soil microbiome interactions
What we do
Our lab focuses on bacterial and fungal pathogens affecting a variety of Florida crops including tomatoes, squash, watermelon, and cabbage.
Pathogens we focus on include:
- Target spot
- Bacterial spot
- Anthracnose
- Fusarium Wilt
- Southern Blight
- Alternaria
- Gummy Stem Blight
- Downy Mildew
- Powdery Mildew
Impact
Florida's fresh market tomato production is ranked first in the country.
Florida's climate is favorable for the development of many bacterial and fungal pathogens which impacts plants and marketable yield.
Our current research allows us to test the efficacy of fungicides and bactericides programs, which benefit growers with disease management.
Lab Accomplishments
Awarded $5.9 million TomSPOT- Coordinated Agriculture Project (2022)
Contact
Dr. Gary Vallad
Rm. 126
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
14625 CR 672
Wimauma, FL 33598
813-419-6577
gvallad@ufl.edu
Current Lab Members
- Marissa Causeway, Biological Scientist II
- Scott Hughes, Ag Assistant III
- Yesenia Rodriguez, OPS
- Jasmine Tabares, OPS
- Renzo Ramirez, PhD
- Jingya Yang, PhD
- Garrett Giles, PhD
- Roshni Panwala, PhD
- Andrea Suazo Tejada, MSc
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MS Students' Work
Links coming soon!
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PhD Students' Work
Links coming soon!
- Dr. Vallad's Work