Dr. Tong Geon Lee

Assistant Professor of Horticulture

Dr. Tong Geon Lee's program focuses on the study of tomato genetics and on its application in solving challenging problems in tomato production.

His research activities have particularly close link to genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, genome sequencing, high performance computing and molecular biology.  He combines these techniques to understand more about tomato traits and genetics.

Dr. Lee works together with other departments and centers on/off campus in a number of collaborative projects (e.g. University of Florida's Tomato Breeding Program; Florida Tomato Committee).

• Research

  Dr. Tong Geon Lee's program focuses on the study of tomato genetics and on its application in solving challenging problems in tomato production.

  His research activities have particularly close link to genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, genome sequencing, high performance computing and molecular biology.  He combines these techniques to understand more about tomato traits and genetics.

  Dr. Lee works together with other departments and centers on/off campus in a number of collaborative projects (e.g. University of Florida's Tomato Breeding Program; Florida Tomato Committee).

• Extension

  Florida is the nation's largest producer of fresh tomatoes. Florida produces virtually all the fresh-market, field-grown tomatoes in the U.S. from Oct. through Jun. each year, and accounts for about 50% of all fresh tomatoes produced domestically. Nonetheless, a significant improvement in horticultural performance is still necessary, especially given predicted shifts in climate, outbreaks of pathogens, limited performances associated with soil fumigation practices and new challenges from national/international producers. Since the release of whole genome sequence of model plants such as rice, sequencing technologies and accompanying bioinformatics and computing tools have brought the genomics revolution to model plants' research. Thus, genomics and its accompanying technologies will enhance tomato productivity, stress resistance, and marketable quality.

  Program objectives

  1) to deploy genomics tools to improve Florida tomatoes;

  2) to broaden growers and the general public's perspective by considering scientific knowledge and acceptability, with the aim of improving marketability for Florida tomatoes. Specially, this objective mainly shares current genomics-based information and technology that may accommodate mechanized harvest in fresh-market tomatoes in Florida.

   

• Lab Team

  Lab Phone Number: 813-419-6606
  Staff Member	Contact Information
  Prashant Bhandari, Grad Student	prashantbhandari@ufl.edu
  Claudia Jose, OPS	claudia.josejose@ufl.edu
  Brown, Katherine OPS	k.brown2@ufl.edu
  Kim, Juhee	juhee.kim@ufl.edu

Contact

Rm. # 168
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
14625 CR 672
Wimauma, FL  33598
813-419-6607
tonggeonlee@ufl.edu

https://tonggeonlee.org/

• Education

  Education:

  • Ph.D. Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2010
  • M.S. Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2005
  • B.S. in Agriculture, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2003
• Publications
  • Extension Publications
  • Research Publications
• Professional Service and Awards