Water Quality Day - March 29th, 2008

You are invited to join State Rep. Bryan Nelson, SeaWorld, St. Johns River Water Mgmt. District, the Friends Of Lake Apopka, and Friends of The Wekiva River, to a Waterwise Day on Saturday, March 29th, 2008, from 10am-5pm at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center and Magnolia Park, located at 2725 Binion Rd., Apopka, Fl., 32703. 

www.waterqualityday.com.  

RSVP’s welcomed:  Bryan.Nelson@myfloridahouse.gov

Honey Bee College comes to MREC

For any who are interested in honey bees there will be a honey bee college at our facility March 13 - 16.  Check out the home page below for registation information.  You must be registered to participate and it is limited to the first 150 registrants.

Commercial Plant Diagnostic Clinic results now on-line

If you want to see photographs of what has been coming into the commercial plant clinic and what the diagnoses were, or if you want to check on the status of your own sample, go to:

http://cfextension.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/plant_clinic/index.shtml.

Samples are identified by number from the submission form and include the plant species provided on the form.

Termite Training Center Holds First Class

 

Norm Smith writes in the CPCO Advantage (Certified Pest Control Operators Associaton of Florida) magazine a review of MREC's new Orkin Termite Training Facility (TTF).

..."This is a great program. It lifts attendees out of their 'comfort zones' by exposing them to situations and treatment options they haven't encountered before. Everyone left with something new to help them practice the art of termite treatment and control; I know I did, even after 36 years in the business!"...

 

On Monday October 9th, 2007, MREC researchers J. Chen and Jake Henny traveled to Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Balm, FL to attend a meeting of the University of Florida Ornamental Plant Breeders Group. The group toured Zhanao Deng’s field trials of Caladiums, Gerberas and Lantana. Members of the group discussed current individual research projects. Then they spent time planning for the next independent Plant Breeders Group meeting that is scheduled for 2008.

 

 

Robert Stamps, Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Extension Cut Foliage Specialist, was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Specialist Award by the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents at the annual meeting of the Extension Professional Association of Florida. Dr. Stamps was cited for tirelessly providing leadership and expertise to the cut foliage and ornamental crops industries.

* Click here to see the Orlando Sentinal's acknowledgement of the Outstanding Specialist award.

Photo: Larry Arrington (left), University of Florida Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, presenting the FACAA Outstanding Specialist Award for 2007 to Robert Stamps

 

UF/IFAS/MREC Announces a Nursery Training Course:
"Tissue Culture – From the Lab to the Greenhouse”

This is the second course in our Nursery Worker Training Series.

- Who should take the course: Nursery workers and managers who utilize micropropagation techniques in their operations or who grow plants started via tissue culture. Anyone interested in learning more about the micropropagation of plants.

- When: This workshop will meet from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Wednesdays for 6 consecutive weeks;
September 19 – October 24, 2007

- Where: Mid-Florida Research & Education Center
  2725 S. Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703

- Cost: $100

- To register, call Diane Mealo at 407-884-2034 X129.

- Download and print out the registration form (.PDF)

- Download printable brochure here (.PDF)

 

Seenivasan Natarajan, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Robert Stamps' program, attended the annual meeting of the American Society of Horticultural Sciences in Scottsdale , Arizona in July.  He delivered a presentation describing phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater using hydroponically grown ferns.  His presentation describing the research is posted here.

 

 

At the 2007 meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science in Scottsdale, Arizona, Professor Robert Stamps won a 1 st place in the Ornamental Category and a 2 nd place in the Flower Category in the 2007 Open Photography Contest sponsored by Pi Alpha Xi (PAX) the Honor Society for Horticulture.  Since one of the goals of the contest is to provide funding for the PAX scholarship program, Stamps returned the prize money to the Society.  More information about the PAX and the contest can be found at http://www.pax.okstate.edu.

 

 

At the annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science in Phoenix, Az in July, Richard Beeson was awarded the honor of publishing the best research paper related to ornamental plants in 2006. The paper, "Relationship of Plant Growth and Actual Evapotranspiration to Irrigation Frequency Based on Managed Allowed Deficits for Container Nursery Stock", lays the foundation for maximum deficit irrigation levels for 3 species of woody ornamentals that still produce commercially acceptable quality. The results also indicate that plant size is tightly linked specific amounts of evapotranspiration. In short, plants have to transpire minimum volumes of water to achieve marketable size, somewhat independent of production time. This research was supported by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. For further information or to receive a pdf copy, please contact Beeson at rcbeeson@ufl.edu

 

 

David Norman recently initiated studies with Ute Achenbach from Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungstorschung, Germany. Achenbach will conduct research on bacterial wilt of ornamentals. Ute has experience in molecular genetics including cytogenetics and molecular marker work. During her PhD she worked on mapping DNA sequences associated with nematode resistance in potato. As a post doctoral associate her research experience will be a benefit to MREC.

 

 

Ten new hybrids of Philippine Violet ( Barlaria cristata ) developed by Jake Henny were trail grown nationally in co-operation with Proven Winners, Inc. These new MREC varieties, selected for their novel colors, were evaluated under growing conditions in the northeast, Midwest and western U.S. Growers were pleased with the hybrids' bright flower colors in shades of white, pink and purple and also gave high marks for the compact growth habits. Preliminary results suggest the new varieties tended to bloom late, missing the profitable, early-spring selling season. Some of the hybrids retained bracts, lowering consumer aesthetic appeal. Further research and breeding will focus on earlier season blooming and developing lines that shed bracts and sepals after flowering.

 

 

Transgenic plants from shoot apical meristems of Vitis vinifera L. "Thompson Seedless" via Agrobacterium -mediated transformation.  Authors: Manjul Dutt, Zhijian T. Li, Sadanand A. Dhekney and Dennis J. Gray.

In press at the scientific journal "Plant Cell Reports", the Grape Biotechnology Laboratory at MREC is reporting a new way to genetically engineer grapevine with genes for crop improvement.  Previously, the laboratory had developed methods for grape genetic engineering using cell culture - now the process has been simplified so that shoot tips can be used as recipient tissue for the genes.

Please visit www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/grapes/genetics for more information about the grape biotechnology lab.

 

 

Professor Dennis Gray attended the annual meeting of the American Society of Horticultural Sciences in Scottsdale Arizona in July.  He delivered a presentation describing new field sites at the MREC and the University of the Virgin Islands designed to test genetically modified grapes for disease resistance.  His presentation describing the research is posted at: http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/grapes/genetics/

 

In May 2007, Phase 3 water restrictions were imposed on parts of South Florida. This follows near imposition of similar restrictions for Central Florida in 2001 and 1998. Like hurricanes, the time to plan for water restrictions is before they occur, especially in terms of infrastructure. The MREC web site offering research-based information was substantially revised in May to include research conducted since the last threatening drought of 2001. While there are options to pick from when faced with immediate reductions in water supply, the best solutions are long term changes in infrastructure and irrigation management. While the housing boom has slowed, permits are still being issued for water withdraws. As more demands are being placed on a finite source of cheap water, smaller fluctuations in rain fall will trigger increased water restrictions quicker in the future. The updated web site now includes some information for greenhouse production and recent research on daily water use of sweet viburnum and Japanese ligustrum in #3 containers.

Check it out at: http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/rcb/Drought/default.htm

John Haydu returned in mid-February from a one year Sabbatical in New Zealand (NZ) and Australia. In NZ, John worked with the NZ Sports Turf Industry based in Palmerston North, located in the southern part of the north island.  While there he conducted a study that examined current and future labor skill needs of the sports turf industry. In Australia he worked with the School of Land & Food Resources at the University of Melbourne where he conducted a national study of the Australian turfgrass industry.

Current Research Projects

Since returning, John is engaged in several different research projects, two for Florida, one from his sabbatical in Australia. The Wage & Benefits study will be the first such study ever conducted for Florida's landscape service industry. As the title suggests, it will document wages and benefits paid to employees in the landscape service industry.

The second study examines Florida's sod production industry. Conducted every 3-4 years, this will represent the fifth such study since his arrival in late 1988. The study provides details on the size of the sod industry in terms of acres grown, harvested and sold, total value of the industry, types of grasses grown, prices received, market channels used, and industry problems.

The third study is in the final stages and is being conducted with Dr. David Aldous of the University of Melbourne in the southern state of Victoria. This is a first of its kind national study documenting the size, scope and structure of the Australian turfgrass industry.

Horticulture expert Wayne Mackay, a professor and administrator with Texas A&M University, has been named director of the Mid-Florida REC in Apopka. He starts work at the new position July 1.

"I'm excited about coming to Florida and the opportunities it presents," Mackay said. "I'm going to work hard with the faculty and staff to create a shared vision for the center."

See full story...

 

The College of Pharmacy has had a very busy Spring semester. Below are some excerpts of what we have been up to:

Coating Ceremony

The First Professional Class attended their Coating Ceremony on Saturday, April 7th. During this ceremony, first year students were given their white coats as they walked across stage to symbolize their successful completion of the first year. The event has held at the Phillips Performing Arts Center in Gainesville , FL.

UF/IFAS/MREC Announces a Nursery Training Course:

"Insect & Mite Management in Greenhouses"

This is the first course in our Nursery Worker Training Series.

- Instructor: Lance Osborne

- When: 8-week program from Feb. 7-Mar. 28, 2007
   Wednesdays, 3-5pm

- Where: Mid-Florida Research & Education Center
   2725 S. Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703

- Cost: $100 for entire 8-week program

- To register: call Diane Mealo at 407-884-2034 X129.

- Download and print out the registration form (.PDF)

- Download printable brochure here (.PDF)

Texas winemakers find success in award-winning wine made from UF'S hardy grape

--- Along with dusty boots, cattle and big pickup trucks, try this Texas icon on for size: a dry, fruity white wine with a striking bouquet.

A University of Florida-created grape, introduced in 1987 as suitable for growing in the Southeast, is catching on big with Lone Star State winemakers.

The grape that makes Blanc du Bois wine is made from a hybrid developed by researchers with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, who wanted to create a variety that would work as a table grape and a wine production grape.

The wine has won international awards, including double gold medals in 1998, 2001 and 2002.

UF developmental biology professor Dennis Gray said the grape's success in Texas is no mystery. READ MORE...

Orange County Master Gardener Satellite Plant Clinic

On Tuesday, July 11, the Orange County Master Gardener Satellite Plant Clinic will open on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. - noon at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 Binion Road (north of Magnolia Park). Residents may bring their residential horticulture questions, plant and turf samples and soil samples for evaluation by a University of Florida trained Master Gardener volunteer. For more information call 407-836-7573.

UF / IFAS - MREC Apopka Campus - Summer 2006 Schedule

The UF/IFAS - MREC Apopka Campus Summer 2006 Schedule released.
Every semester, distance education courses credited through the University of Florida's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, are offered at our Apopka campus.  Current programs offer B.S. and M.S. degree opportunities in Environmental Horticulture. Courses may be taken for personal or professional development.  Register now for courses offered through CALS for summer 2006.  Class Dates: Summer A: May 15 - June 23, 2006 - and - Summer C: May 15 - August 11, 2006. Non-degree applications and audit forms must be submitted by May 5th, 2006.  Please refer to the following link for course descriptions and offerings. For further information please contact Diane Mealo at (407) 884-2034 ext. 129 or via email at dwm@ufl.edu

View our course listing:
http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Teaching/Apopka-Courses-Spring-2006.pdf

Non-degree applications should be submitted on-line at http://www.cals.ufl.edu/distance/nondegree.html   by May 5th, 2006. 

Plan Ahead for Summer Camp...
For rising 6th, 7th, & 8th graders
Explore, discover, and experience what plants, insects, and our natural resources have to offer.
When: June 26 - 30, 2006 from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

For more information please visit: http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/camp06/

The spring semester is now underway and there are a lot of events planned at the College of Pharmacy. The 4th Annual Student Organization Annual Retreat (S.O.A.R.) was held at the St. Petersburg campus January 13-January 15, 2006. Students from all four College of Pharmacy campuses (Jacksonville , Gainesville , Orlando & St. Petersburg) came together to develop their leadership skills through workshops and planning sessions. Student Organizations also had the opportunity to work together on many aspects including cross-campus event planning, student organization membership recruiting, student involvement and professional development.

The December, 2005 publication of Chronica Horticulturae features the work of Jianjun Chen, Richard J. Henny, and Dennis B. McConnell. The article "The World Foliage Plant Industry" emphasizes the true economic value of the foliage plant industry worldwide. The article also places a spotlight on the extensive resources that Florida and UF-IFAS have to offer the industry through our research, extension, and the great service FNGLA provides through their Tropical Plant Industry Exposition.

- Chronica Horticulturae, a publication of the International Society for Horticultural Science, volume 45, number 4, page 9-15 in December, 2005.