Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
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).
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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).
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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.
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Lab Team
Lab Phone Number: 813-419-6606 Staff Member Contact Information Prashant Bhandari, Grad Student prashantbhandari@ufl.edu Gurleen Kaur, Grad Student gurleenkaur@ufl.edu Claudia Jose, OPS claudia.josejose@ufl.edu Man Bo Lee, PostDoc manbolee@ufl.edu Ji Yeon Park, OPS jpark5@ufl.edu Doosan Shin, Grad Student dshin1@ufl.edu
Contact
Rm. # 168
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
14625 CR 672
Wimauma, FL 33598
813-419-6607
tonggeonlee@ufl.edu
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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
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Professional Service and Awards
