Dr. Peres's Laboratory
Overview
Conducting basic and applied research on important diseases affecting strawberry production in Florida to develop a better understanding of the etiology of the diseases and the environmental factors affecting their development, and to provide more effective disease control recommendations.
What we do
Our research program focuses on better understanding strawberry disease etiology and the environmental factors affecting their development as well as to develop effective and sustainable disease control methods that will help reduce fungicide applications and lower grower costs.
In addition to that, we also work directly with the strawberry and the ornamental breeders on developing cultivars with some level of disease resistance.
- Pesticide efficiency study
- Cultivar screening
- Alternative methods of plant pathogen control (Ultraviolet light, heat treatment)
- Spray technology
- Plant disease biology
- Plant disease etiology
Impact
Florida is an important producer of major and specialty crops such as citrus, tomatoes, watermelons, and strawberries. The climate in Florida is not only ideal for agriculture but it also facilitates the appearance of plant pathogens.
We aim to better understand plant pathogens and the environmental factors affecting their development as well as to develop effective and sustainable disease control methods.
Lab Accomplishments
- Strawberry Advisory System (StAS): a web-based decision support tool for timing fungicide applications to control Anthracnose Fruit Rot and Botrytis Fruit rot of strawberry.
- Explored the potential use of Ultraviolet (UV) light to suppress Powdery Mildew of strawberry.
- Researched thermotherapy (steam) as a method of control common strawberry pathogens.
- Development of specific and cost effective molecular diagnostic assays to detect strawberry pathogens.
- In collaboration with the Strawberry Breeding Program at GCREC we have effectively evaluated over 100 varieties for susceptibility to pathogens affecting strawberry plants.
Contact
Dr. Natalia Peres
Rm. 161
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
14625 County Road 672
Wimauma, FL 33598
813-419-6602
nperes@ufl.edu
Current Lab Members
- Marcus Marin – Assistant Scientist
- Teresa Seijo, MS – Biological Scientist III
- Carolina Rebello, MS – Biological Scientist II
- Lorna Carter - Lab Technician I
- Robert Martin – Agricultue Assistant III
- Adrian Zuniga – Post doc
- Galvin Alonzo - PhD student
- Lis Natali Porto – PhD student
- Andrea Gonzalez - OPS
- Sven Sierra - OPS
- Yvette Buddemeier - OPS
- Caitlin Sollazzo – Intern
- Gabriel Koch - Intern
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MS Students' Work
Links coming soon!
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PhD Students' Work
Links coming soon!
- Dr. Peres's Work