Citrus Leavesis the monthly newsletter foremployees and friends of CREC.Citrus Leaves welcomes yourcontributions, suggestions andcorrections. Editor, MonicaLewandowski; E-mailmmlew@crec.ifas.ufl.edu; Ext.1233. Photography and graphics,Gretchen Baut and Dr. SamunderSingh; Production andDistribution: Word Processing,Barbara Thompson, Supervisor;Kathy Snyder, Karla Flynn andLinda Murphy; Customer Service,Kathy Witherington and NancyBurke.

Citrus LeavesVolume 23, No. 2UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center - News and Information

In This Issue

WWW.CREC.IFAS.UFL.EDUDr. Harold W. Browning, Center Director

UF/IFAS Citrus Research & Education Center700 Experiment Station RoadLake Alfred, FL 33850-2299

Tel. (863) 956-1151Fax (863) 956-4631

FLORIDAIFAS

UNIVERSITY OF

February - March 2005

Some good news! We have receivedacceptance letters from two faculty candidateswho were interviewed late in 2004 for positionshere at the Center. Dr. Reza Ehsani, AssistantProfessor of Agricultural and BiologicalEngineering, has accepted the position ofAssistant Professor of Agriculture andBiological Engineering at CREC, and will focuson programs associated with precisionagriculture and citrus harvesting systems. Dr.Ehsani and his wife will be moving to Florida inApril. Our second faculty position, AssistantProfessor of Food Processing Engineering, wasaccepted by Dr. Jose Reyes, currentlycompleting post-doctoral studies atWashington State University. Dr. Reyes will bejoining the CREC faculty in March of this year.We are very happy with the outcome of thesetwo searches, and special thanks are given toDr. Bill Miller and the search and screencommittee for the precision ag/harvestingposition, and to Dr. Renée Goodrich and thesearch and screen committee for the FoodProcessing Engineering position. Otheractivities around the Center include the reviewand updating of our Center organizational chart,and first steps towards making some changesas indicated in our strategic planning effortsover the past year or so. With other impendingstaff and faculty changes, we are working toinvest personnel resources in the best way tosupport the programs of the Center.

Thanks to UF President Machen, USPS and

From the Director

University ofFlorida PresidentBernard Machenmet with agricultureindustry leaders atCREC on Feb. 4.President Machen andthe IFAS administra-tion have beentraveling to IFAScenters. More photoson page 2.

See From the Director, page 4

Pam Russ, CREC’s librarian and websitemanager, is retiring on March 31.

Pam started her CREC librarian career in 1966,managing what is now the largest agriculturalcollection in central Florida with over 15,000volumes. Pam has also maintained a sizablecollection of historical documents andphotographs. Over the years, she has adeptlyguided the library through changes incomputerization. In the 1990s, she created awebsite for CREC and since then has overseenits development and growth as webmaster.

Pam was suprised by a small group of friendsand collagues at a luncheon on Jan. 21, followedby a centerwide cake reception. Dr. Gene

Pam Russ To Retire

See Pam Russ to Retire, page 4

Pam Russ with her husband, Ralph.

Because of an unusually heavyschedule in February, this issue ispublished as a Feb.-March issue.Citrus Leaves will return to amonthly format in April.

- Monica

Dr. ClaytonMcCoy,Professor ofEntomology,is retiring inMay after 33years. CRECfaculty andstaff areinvited to aluncheon in his honor at CREC on April 29.Details will be distributed shortly.

Pam Russ to Retire ........................... 1From the Director .............................. 1President Machen ............................. 1Dr. McCoy to Retire ........................... 1

Presidential Visit ............................... 2Other UF News ................................ 2

Flowering Info, Disease Hotline ....... 3Lee, McKown Honored .................... 3Dr. Li, Dr. Fayad; Plant Path Friends . 3

Phone Tabs are Sticking Up .............. 4More on Pam Russ ........................... 4

Meet . . . Lorraine, Meredith andJessica in the Business Office ........ 5IFAS Communications workshop ..... 5

Florida Weed Science SocietyMeeting Highlights ............................. 6

Dr. Eddie Uekermann, Collison BrentuCRE Foundation ................................ 7Upcoming Seminars at CREC ........... 7FSHS Annual Meeting June 5-7 ........ 7

Student Outreach andAccomplishments ............................. 8

News Around CRECWelcome, Farewell ........................... 9Publications Submitted .................... 10

Calendars, March and April ....... 11-12

Librarian and Webmaster BeganCREC Career in 1966

2Presidential VisitLeft photo, l to r: UF Senior Vice-President Jimmy Cheek, UF President BernardMachen, Florida House Representative Marty Bowen and CREC Center DirectorHarold Browning at a reception with nearly 30 members of the Florida’s agindustry at CREC on Feb. 4. President Machen, whose area of expertise isdentistry, told the audience “I am a newly converted ag person,” and pointed toa need for the Florida legislature to support of Florida agriculture. He encouragedthose in the audience to “make sure that we’re answering ag’s needs.”Representative Bowen is a Haines City resident and citrus grower whose district(65) includes part of Polk County.

Also in attendance from IFAS: Executive Assistant Vice-President Dr. Joe Joyce,IFAS Dean for Research Dr. Richard Jones, IFAS Dean for Extension Dr. LarryArrington, interim IFAS Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dr.Wayne Smith, and Assistant Vice-President of Marketing and CommunicationsDon Poucher.

Left: President Machen’s scheduleallowed for a quick visit with Dr. JudeGrosser in his laboratory to learn aboutresearch on citrus genetic improvement.

Above: Bert Harris, left, greetsRepresentative Bowen (right). Harris is aformer state representative and a member of theCitrus Research and Education Foundationboard. Also pictured: Mary Hartney from theFlorida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association(second from left) and Sr. Vice President Cheek.

Above left, Shawn Crocker, managerof field operations for Cargill JuiceNorth America, Inc. and president ofthe Hillsborough County FarmBureau, chats with President Machen.Crocker formerly worked in Dr.Grosser’s lab at CREC.

Above: books, publications, photographs andother examples of UF/IFAS and CREC’s workwere on display.Below: the reception table was adorned with agold alligator sitting atop a globe, symbolic ofPresident Machen’s theme, “A Passion forExcellence.” Flower arrangements, created byShelby Graham, were set in oranges,completing the colorful display.

Left: AndyLavigne, topexecutive atFlorida CitrusMutual, servedas emcee forthe reception.

Other UF News: A search is underway for the Dean forResearch and the Dean for the College ofAgricultural and Life Sciences, a positioncurrently held by Dr. Richard Jones, who isplanning to retire. There is also a searchfor a new Dean for the College ofAgricultural and Life Sciences, a positionformerly held by Dr. Jimmy Cheek, who hasassumed his new role as Senior VicePresident of Agriculture and Natural

Resources. Dr. Larry R. Arrington, Dean forExtension, will chair the Dean for Researchsearch committee, and Dr. Joe DiPietro, Deanof the College of Veterinary Medicine, willchair the Dean for the College of Agriculturaland Life Sciences search committee.

The UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research andEducation Center, formerly located inBradenton, is moving to their new facility inBaum. CREC will manage 50 acres of citrus

for research at the Baum site. Their newcontact information is 14625 CR 672,Wimauma, FL 33598, tel. (813) 634-0000;Suncom line 514-6890. Programs at the GulfCoast REC address ornamentals, vegetablesand strawberries. To view a photo of thenew facility, visit gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu.

Florida Museum of Natural History Butterflyimage gallery online:www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflygallery

Dr. Hong Li (left), a postdoctoral researcherwho worked with Dr. Jim Syvertsen, presented aseminar, “Spatial association of soil characteristics,flooding and Diaprepes root weevil adults andenvironmental control of larval survival,” at CRECon Jan. 27. The seminar covered her research onthe analysis of soil characteristics and possiblecorrelations with Diaprepes root weevil populationsin citrus groves. Dr. Li has accepted a facultyposition in soil management at China Agricultural

University in Beijing.

Flowering Info Online:Gene Albrigo posts information andadvisories on citrus flowering: visitcrec.ifas.ufl.edu and click on the “flowerbud induction advisories” link in thelower right hand corner.

Toll-Free Florida CitrusDisease Hotline1-866-365-3017 As we enter the flowering season,Florida citrus growers should be on thealert for outbreaks of postbloom fruit drop(PFD), scab, and Alternaria brown spot.Growers can call a toll-free hotlinesponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection(1-866-365-3017) for the latest diseasereports. Dr. L.W. “Pete” Timmer, Extensionplant pathologist at CREC, providescurrent information on recent outbreaks,the status of the bloom and other relevantnews on the hotline. Information on PFD and other foliarfungal diseases is available on Timmer’scitrus pathology website(www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/timmer), includinghis PFD-Fungicide Application DecisionSystem (PFD-FAD) and the Alter-Ratermodel for scheduling fungicideapplications for Alternaria brown spot.

Orie Lee, Bobby McKown Inductedinto Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

Florida citrus grower Orie Lee, whohas contributed greatly to UF/IFAS andUSDA research as a grower cooperator,and former Florida Citrus Mutualexecutive Bobby McKown wereinducted into the Florida Citrus Hall ofFame at the annual Government DayLuncheon on Feb. 21 in Winter Haven.

Lee, a St. Cloud native, has workedwith Dr. Bill Castle, Dr. Jude Grosser andseveral UF/IFAS and USDA researcherson rootstock and variety trials,providing the land, tree care andresources to collect yield and other data.Lee is widely regarded by scientists forhis intelligence and keen powers ofobservation.

Lee’s daughter, Laurie Lee Hill, readhis acceptance speech at the luncheon,recounting how some of the experimentson his property were developed. Morerecently, he was involved in UF/IFAStrials with new early-season varietiesEarly Gold, Itaborai, Ruby and Westin,and the mid-season variety, Vernia, aswell as numerous USDA trials.

McKown was the executive vicepresident and CEO of Florida CitrusMutual from 1979-1998. He was

3

instrumental intrade negotiationsto preserve tariffson citrus imports,and led the citrusindustry throughthe devastatingfreezes in the 1980s,securing state andfederal assistancefor citrus growers.McKown was alsoa founding memberof the CitrusResearch andE d u c a t i o nFoundation atCREC.

The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame recognizesindividuals who have made majorcontributions to the Florida citrus industry.Hall of Fame inductees from CREC includeDr. Arthur F. Camp and Dr. Herman J. Reitz(CREC’s first two center directors), Dr. W.L.“Tommy” Thompson, C.D. Atkins, Dr. EdwinL. Moore, Dr. Ivan Stewart, Dr. Robert Koo,Dr. William Grierson, Dr. James Griffiths, Dr.Ivan Stewart, Dr. John Attaway and Dr.Mohamed Ismail.

Dr. Amer Fayad,formerly apostdoctoralscientist in Dr. RonBrlansky’slaboratory, returnedto his native countryof Lebanon toaccept a facultyposition at NotreDame University inBeirut. Dr. Fayad began his new job in February,and was slated to teach courses in general biology,microbiology and plant physiology.

Above: Dr. Li (second from left) chatswith Dr. Madhugiri Rao (far left), Dr. Young Choi(second from right) and Huang Shu at a farewellreception for Dr. Li that was held on Jan. 27 in Dr.Syvertsen’s laboratory.

Plant Path and Friends meet Fridays from 11 am - 12 noonin the BHG Teaching Lab. Students, postdoctoral scientistsand visitors are encouraged to present informal seminars(topics not limited to plant pathology). Seminars this year: Feb. 11, Dr. Elisabeth Knapp (postdoctoral scientist withDr. Dennis Lewandowski) presented a seminar, “DefectiveRNAs of Tobacco Mosaic Virus: replication, movement andconstruction of derivatives that express foreign genes.”

Feb. 25, Dr. Mohammed Afunian (above, sr. biological scientist with Dr. DennisLewandowski) )presented a discussion of his Ph.D research, “Molecular approachesto improving disease resistance in apples and pears.” March 4, “Sorting out the viruses infecting hibiscus in Florida,” by Dr. Dennis J.Lewandowski.

4Excuse me, is your phone tabsticking up? We’re talking about thatsmall piece of plastic on Cisco phones,where you rest the earpiece. If you have awall-mounted phone, the tab should besticking out, because it holds the handsetin place. If your phone is mounted on yourdesk, however, this tab should be gentlypushed down. Otherwise, you may

encounter problems “hanging up the phone.” Is this important? Well, besidesthe hangup problem (your phone could be “off line” unless you mount it carefully),it seems that CREC users are breaking the tabs off a number of these $260 phones.So . . . if your phone sits on your desk, tabs down, please.

TEAMS merit increases were established andawarded in January. Despite the lack of a raiseapproved by the Legislature for 2004-05, PresidentMachen designed a plan for this year that called foran average of 1.5% merit increase for eligibleemployees in USPS and TEAMS. During January,supervisors were asked for information necessaryto rank all eligible employees at CREC, resulting in amerit raise across our unit that ranged from 0.5% to4% in a few cases. Thanks to all who assisted in thiseffort to reward the employees of CREC, andcongratulations to the staff on their excellent supportof the Center and its programs.

The new faculty accountability system came onlinein February. This new system promises to provide avery useful system for capturing Research, Teachingand Extension program activities andaccomplishments, and also is expected to be veryversatile in producing reports for use in highlightingprogram and unit accomplishments. Much of thisfirst quarter of 2005 will be dedicated to completingthe reporting and conducting faculty evaluationmeetings.

Numerous educational activities are scheduled forthe Center this month, and I encourage you toparticipate in the training, seminars and othereducational activities that are offered here.

Harold Browning, Center Director

From the Director . . .from p. 1

Albrigo, who organized the luncheon,kept details of the luncheon so secretthat even some of the attendees wereunaware of the nature of the event. Pamhad previously expressed a desire for noretirement fete, but Dr. Albrigo and othersfelt it fitting to honor Pam’s service toCREC, the citrus industry and librarycommunity for nearly 40 years.

The library includes books,magazines, journals, reports, brochures,newsletters and other documents relatedto the citrus and ag industries. Thecollection includes collections of the

Proceedings of theFlorida StateHorticultural Society( 1 8 8 8 - p r e s e n t ) ,Florida Entomologist(1917-present) andcollections of agriculture magazines.Pam has also developed a searchabledatabase of over 23,930 popular andtechnical articles on citrus. In additionto assisting library visitors, Pam alsoresponds to numerous requests forinformation by phone or e-mail.

Pam has also been active in thecenter’s public relations activitiesthroughout its history.

CREC’s library was established by

Pam Russ to Retire . . .from p. 1

Left: Center Director Dr. HaroldBrowning presented Pam Russwith a plaque honoring her nearly40 years of service to CREC at asurprise luncheon and cakereception on Jan. 21.

Right:GeneAlbrigo(center)withRalph andPam Russ.

Lowerright:VivianGregory(left), whoworks inthelibrary, and Electron Microscopy Laboratory manager DiannAchor (standing left) pose with Pam.

the center’s first director, Dr.Arthur Camp, in 1947. Dr. JimGriffiths, then a faculty memberat CREC, chaired the firstlibrary committee. EuniceWiederhold Moore, Dr. EdMoore’s wife, was thelibrarian. Before theconstruction of the Ben HillGriffin, Jr. Citrus Hall, thelibrary was located in Building24, where CREC’s BusinessOffice is currently located.

Pam says that one thing has remainunchanged over the years – the center’sdedication to maintaining a world class libraryfor Florida’s citrus industry.

Stop by the library sometime this monthto say “Thank you” and “Happy Retirement”to Pam.

And, in case you’re wondering, searchcommittees have been established to hire aprofessional staff librarian and a websitemanager.

Photos by Gretchen Baut

Lorraine Jones (left photo, standing left)joined the Business Office last summer, whereher primary responsibility is accountspayable. She also processes some credit cardcharges. Her initial weeks at CREC were spentlearning UF’s new Peoplesoft system forbusiness functions. Lorraine came to Florida by way ofEdmonton, Alberta, Thunder Bay andHamilton, Ontario. She worked forInternational Harvester Co. of Canada forseveral years and eventually decided that “ Ihad served my time in the Great White North.”After vacationing in Florida for the winter of

1982 and 1983, Lorraine decided to move to Kissimmee in1984, and eventually moved to Polk County in 1989. Prior toCREC, she worked for McLane Suneast, Scotty’s Corp.Office andSnavely Forest Products. Lorraine’s family includes her “wonderful husband” Jerry,stepdaughter Jera, son-in-law Craig and granddaughter Sara.Lorraine’s free time is spent on her motorcycle, which she callsher favorite toy. Family vacations are “always” taken on theirHonda Goldwing motorcycle, and their travelogue includes tripsto Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Missouri and New York, and severalexcursions to the Blue Ridge Parkway. She also enjoys relativelyquieter activities such as sewing and reading.

“I enjoy working at CREC and have met several wonderfulpeople here,” says Lorraine.

UF/IFAS Marketing andCommunications presented a workshopat CREC on Feb. 25. The workshop providedtraining towards improvingcommunications and relations with CREC’svarious audiences. The importance ofidentifying UF/IFAS as the provider ofinformation and services to Florida’s citizenswas emphasized by the UF/IFAS marketingand communications team. Ultimately, thisvalue must be conveyed to ourlegislators and decision-makers thatfund UF/IFAS programs.

Presenters from UF/IFAS Marketingand Communications were Don Poucher, LizFelter and Linda Evans. Evans provided a train-ing session on electronic newsletters. Rod Hemphill, public relations director for theFlorida Farm Bureau representing the Ag Instituteof Florida, offered advice and tips on working withthe media, followed by a training exercise onconducting interviews. Workshop participantswere divided into groups Each group then selecteda spokesperson to discuss topics of their choicein a simulated interview setting. Special thanksto Renee Goodrich, Richard Buker, Ron Muraro(pictured lower panel, left), Jude Grosser and Bob Braddock for agreeing to go “oncamera,” and to Gretchen Baut for her audio-visual expertise and camera work.

Dr. Jude Grosser takes histurn speaking to the media.

Above, left to right: Dr. Masoud Salyani, JackSmoot, Liz Felter and Dr. Mickey Parish carry ona lively conversation.

Above: Dr. Renee Goodrich (left) speaks to Rod Hemphill(center) in a mock news interview as Gretchen Baut video-tapes the action.

Meredith Pretzie (lower photo) is a sr.fiscal assistant in the Business Office whoworks on SHARE accounts, purchaserequisitions and chargebacks forvarious services. SHARE, SpecialHelp for Agricultural Research andEducation, is part of the University ofFlorida Foundation. Prior to CREC,she spent seven years in the financedepartment at the Lockheed MartinCorp.

Meredith proudly writes, “I amoriginally from ATLANTA, GA.!!!” andher hobbies are “horses, horses andhorses!!” She has four horses andrides “whenever I get a spare tenminutes.”

Meet . . . Lorraine Jones, Meredith Pretzie and Jessica Rini in the Business OfficeJessica Rini (right photo, standing right)works part-time in the Business Office,assisting with filing and photocopying ofcredit card purchases and a myraid of otheroffice needs. Jessica, a native of Streesboro,Ohio, was also lured to the Sunshine Sateafter spending winters in Florida. She plansto attend Polk Community College and pursuea career as a registered nurse. Jessica enjoyshiking, the outdoors and reading.

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Photos by Gretchen Baut

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The 50th annual meeting of the Florida WeedScience Society (FWSS) was held at CREC onFeb. 22-23. Over 70 people attended themeeting, which included contributed talks andspecial presentations on the history of weedscience. Photos by Dr. Samunder Singh andDr. Monica Lewandowski; audio-visual for themeeting provided by Gretchen Baut. Florida Weed Science Society website:www.floridaweedsciencesociety.com. Above left: Outgoing president James Shine, Jr. (left) from the Sugar Cane Growers

Cooperative, handed over the president’s gavel to Dr. Megh Singh, CRECProfessor of Horticulture. Upper right: Joe Orsenigo was presented witha Lifetime Achievement in Weed Science award. Other awards went toClaire Erickson was honored as Outstanding Weed Scientist (Dr. Singhreceived this award in 2004). Tyler Koschnick, a UF student in the Centerfor Aquatic and Invasive Plants, received a graduate student award for hispresentation, “Characteristics of diquat resistance in duckweed (Landotiapunctata),” by Koschnick and W.T. Haller.

The two-day meeting included the society’s annual awardsbanquet on Feb. 22 at CREC (above left). To commemeratethe 50th anniversary of the meeting, the society attemptedto contact all past presidents, which includes retired CRECfaculty member Dr. Dave Tucker, and invited them to thebanquet.Second from left: Gary Test at the FWSS banquet,handling key responsibilities at the beverage table. Garyalso helped keep the ice chests full during the meeting.

Left to right: John Taylor (Syngenta Crop Protection), Barbara Thompsonand Jane Wilson at the meeting registration desk. Linda Murphy andKathy Witherington provided assistance with banquet arrangements,refreshments and decorations.

Far left: Dr. SteveFutch moderatedthe meeting onFeb. 23 andpresented,

“Herbicide application techonology for effective citrus grove floorvegetation management.” Above right: Dr. Samunder Singh presented,“Effect of basil on some citrus weeds: Competition or allelopathy?” bySingh and Dr. Megh Singh.

Above left: Dr. Joe Noling presented, “Role of weed hostsin population enhancement of sting and root-knot nema-tode,” by Noling and J.P. Gilreath. Above right: Dr. RichardBuker coordinated local arrangements and the CREC tour.He presented, “The relationship between weed competitionand citrus fruit development: A time of removal study.”

Florida Weed Science Society50th Annual MeetingHighlights

The FWSS meeting attendeestoured CREC facilities. Far left,the group toured the packing-house and pilot plant and

viewed a variable rate chemical applicator with Dr. Bill Miller. Near left: Dr. Fred Gmitter providedinformation on the citus plant improvement program.. Right, Dr. Jackie Burns, along with Dr. YuanRongcai and Dr. Luis Pozo, provided information about abscission agents to aid mechanicalharvesting for citrus. Drs. Jim Syvertsen, Samunder Singh, Richard Buker and Monica Lewandowskiserved as guides for the tour that was organized by Dr. Buker.

7Dr. Eddie Ueckermann (rightphoto, standing right), spent a veryproductive month at CREC working withDr. Carl Childers on the taxonomicidentification of predacious mites. “Ithink we worked through 20,000 slides,”said Dr. Uekermann, an acarologist fromthe Agricultural Research Council PlantProtection Research Institute inPretoria, South Africa whose area ofexpertise is predatory and predaciousmites. These mites are predators ofcertain mite pests and are of interest forbiological control applications. Dr.Ueckermann previously visited CRECin 2001.

Collison Brentu (below right), a graduate studentat the University of Ghana in Accra, returned to hishome after spending six months at CREC, workingwith Dr. Pete Timmer. Collison currently is workingon Phaeramularia leaf and fruit spot for his thesis.He worked on various projects on fungal diseasesof citrus to learn methods of manipulating fungi andcontrolling diseases of citrus.

Left: Dr. HaroldBrowning, Dr. Pete Timmer, Troy Gainey and others led a CREC grovetour for the Citrus Research and Education Foundation. The CREFoundation supports CREC activities and iis involved in the managementof the Center’s grove property. The foudnation also sponsors Friendsof the CREC Library and CREC workshops, events, faculty retirementevents, spring and winter Centerwide employee events and Employeeof the Year awards. The Foundation also serves as a vehicle for the sale

of citrus publications at CREC. The Board of Directors, shown below at their February business meeting, includes several representatives from the citrus industry aswell as retired CREC faculty. The meeting also included a presentation from IFAS Executive Assistant Vice President Dr. Joe Joyce aboutthe proposed IFAS budget. From left to right :immediate past-president Bill Barber, Ellis Hunt, Jr., Jack Norris, Bert Harris, presidentJohn Neiswanger, Executive Director Dr. Harold Browning, Andy Lavigne and secretary-treasurer Buster Pratt. Other board members,not pictured, include Dean for Research Dr. Richard Jones, Dean for Extension Dr. Larry Arrington and Harold McTeer. For informationon the CRE Foundation or a membership brochure, please visit Dr. Harold Browning’s office.

CREFoundation

118th AnnualFlorida State HorticulturalSociety MeetingJune 5-7Marriott Tampa WestshoreThe FSHS meeting includes presentationsand educational opportunities in citrus;handling and processing; fruits;

Tuesday, March 22Dr. Robert Braddock, Professor of FoodScience, UF/IFAS CREC “Citrus By-Products for the Food andFlavor Industries”BHG Room 1, 11 am – 12 noon (10:45 am,refreshments)

Tuesday, April 26BHG Room 1, 11 am – 12 noon (10:45 am,refreshments)Dr. Mickey Parish, Professor of FoodMicrobiology, UF/IFAS CREC.

vegetables; and ornamentals, garden andlandscape. Presentations are not limitedto strictly horticultural topics, butinclude pathology, entomology, agengineering and related areas. Meeting registration forms are onlineat www.fshs.org. Registrants can alsopay their membership dues on this form,which includes a copy of the meetingproceedings. Members also have onlinepassword access to the most currentissues. For more information on FSHS, visittheir website: www.fshs.org.

Upcoming Seminars at CREC“Alicyclobacillus-mediated spoilage oflow pH beverages.”

CRE Foundation Board

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This month’s issue includes news onscience fair accomplishments! For thoseunfamiliar with school science fairs, itinvolves student research in science andengineering topics (elementary to highschool). The students must complete aresearch project, which can range from asimple experiment to an extensive, in-depthstudy. The students present their research,typically in a poster-type display or exhibit(some competitions involve oralpresentations), and are judged on criteriasuch as scientific method, etc. There arecompetitions at the school, county orregional, state, national and internationallevels. Several CREC scientists and engineersmentor students and serve as science fairjudges, an schools are always looking forhelp in these areas. Dr. Russell Rouseffserved as a judge in the chemistry cateogryat Jewett Academy in December, and Dr.Samunder Singh served as judges at JewettAcademy and Denison Middle School inDecember. Dr. Jim Syvertsen served as ajudge in the botany category in the PolkCounty Regional Science and EngineeringFair, and points to a need for experiencedresearchers to lend their expertise to thisactivity. Dr. Syvertsen writes of his experience:“I recently served as a Science Fair judgein Botany at the junior high school level. Itwas a rewarding experience thatunderscored the difficulties scienceteachers must have getting studentsexcited about science. For example, half ofthe experimental projects only treated oneplant to compare to one control plant.Thus, we had discussions aboutdeveloping a hypothesis, experimentaldesign, replicates and variation. Even moreof a problem, one of the judges I workedwith did not appreciate why one neededreplications for valid testing. Morescientists from CREC need to volunteer tobe qualified judges inthese programs to getkids excited about askingscientific questions.”(The coordinator of thisscience fair assured usthat this person wouldnot be asked to judge infuture fairs). The science fair is a good activity thatgives students a chance to developtraining and expertise in designing and

implementing a research project. However,only a small portion of the population isqualified to provide such guidance. CREC isworking on some web-based resources toassist students with science fair and otherrelated activities, with a particular interest inreaching students that do not have accessto research laboratory equipment andfacilities. The State Science and Engineering Fairof Florida will be April 6-8 at the OrangeCounty Convention Center in Orlando. Thisarticle includes only a partial list of thechildren and students affiliated with CREC.Good luck to all our aspiring young scientistsand engineers! Remember, for all studentsthat participate in science and other activities,the true prize is in theexcitement of learning anddiscovery! Also, if you areinterested in being a judgeat the state fair, contactSaioa de Urquiza(surquiza@mail.ucf.edu) atthe State Science andEngineering Fair of Floridaoffice.

Sanjit Singh, son of Dr.Samunder and Dr. ShilaSingh, was awarded firstplace in the senior botanycategory at the PolkRegional Science andEngineering Fair with theproject, “ Do matureValencia and Hamlin fruitsleft in the trees after harvestreduce yield the followingyear?” Sanjit worked withDr. Jackie Burns at CREC. In addition tothe opportunity to compete at the statescience fair in April, $100 cash prizesponsored by Publix and a gift from FisherScientific. Sanjit is a freshman in theInternational Baccalaureate program in

Bartow.

Sravya Keremane(upper right),daughter of Dr.M a n j u n a t hKeremane and Dr.C h a n d r i k a

Ramadugu, is a ninth-grader in theInternational Baccalaureate program atEastside High School in Gainesville. She hasbeen conducting research on genetic

engineering ofcitrus andtomato for coldtolerance andhas alreadyamassed a longlist ofaccomplishments.In 2003, she wasawarded firstplace in themicrobiology category and the grandchampionship in the junior divison of theState Science and Engineering of Florida.Also, in 2003, she placed in the top fortyand competed in the national DiscoveryYoung Scientists Challenge inWashington, D.C., where she received a$500 scholarship and the honor of a minor

planet named after her by theLincoln Laboratory. In 2004, Sravya repeated aswinner of the microbiologycategory at the state science fairand received a $1000 scholarshipfrom the Florida Department ofAgriculture. She again placed inthe top 40 and competednationally in the DiscoveryYoung Scientists Challenge,where she was awardeda $500scholarship and opportunities

to participate in aflight camp in Osh-Kosh, Wisconsinand spend a weekin Yellow StoneNational Park. TheDiscovery Channelaired an one hourprogram about thefinals lastDecember, and her

work is featured on their website:school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/finalists/disc_winners.html. She wasalso profiled in the Oct. 2004 issue ofFlorida Monthly magazine. Sravya conducted much of her labora-tory work in the UF Dept. of Plant Pathol-ogy in Gainesville with her father, Dr.Keremane, who has worked with Dr. Rich-ard Lee on citrus pathology projects. Hermother, Dr. Chandrika Ramadugu, alsoworked at CREC as a postdoctoral scien-tist with Dr. Dennis Lewandowski.

Shelby Flynn, daughter of Richard andKarla Flynn, was awarded 3rd place in the

Student Outreach and Accomplishments

More scientists from CREC needto volunteer to be qualifiedjudges in these programs to getkids excited about askingscientific questions.

- Jim Syvertsen

continued on page 9

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junior engineering category Polk RegionalScience and Engineering Fair with a projectinvolving a bridge made out of fettucine.She received two awarded totalling $175from UF Gator Engineering and theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers, whoalso invited Shelby and her family to attenda banquet where she would be recognizedfor her achievements. Shelby (right) was also top scorer in theReader’s Digest Word Power Challenge atGrace Lutheran Middle School . Her test isbeing sent to Reader’s Digest to competenationally. She was also chosen torepresent Grace Luther in a mathcompetition, Mathcounts.

David Futch (lower right), son of Dr.Steve and Deborah Futch, placed third inthe zoology category at the Polk RegionalScience and Engineering Fair. His projecton endangered indigo snakes caught theattention of Fox 13 news, where he wasinterviewed for a segment by Ken Suarez.This is the first year of a multi- year researchplan.

Bao Tram, a worked with Dr. JimGraham and Marty Dekkers at CREC, wonfirst place in the Senior microbiologycategoryand Best of Show in the seniordivision at the Polk County RegionalScience and Engineering Fair. Her researchinvolved evaluating the effectiveness ofchemical treatments for citrus bacterial spot,which is caused by a bacterium similar tothe species that causes citrus canker (citrusbacterial spot is used as a “surrogate” forcitrus canker in research at CREC becausespecialized quarantine facilities are requiredin areas that do not have citrus canker). Bao writes, “From a previous experimentof using different concentrations of RocksilI calculated the amount of Aluminum itcontained to get my concentrations for thisexperiment. I also used Kocide, thefungicide used in the fields, as one of thesolutions to be tested. We used a morenatural approach to inoculating with 108

bacteria count. The results were interestingin that the lowest concentration ofAluminum had the most effect in reducing[citrus bacterial spot]. I could have not donemy experiment without the tremedous helpof Dr. Graham and Mr. Marty Dekkers.” Bao’s favorite school subjects arescience and math. After graduating fromhigh school this year, she will enter collegeto major in chemistry or microbiology andpursue a career in the medical field.

Rhonda Schumann in Dr. Nigg’s lab hasmentored science fair students the past threeyears, this year mentoring a student with aCarribbean fruit fly project. One of her paststudents was Meredith Morton, a UFjournalism major who has worked at CRECfor the past two summers. Meredith, whocompeted internationally with her science fairprojects, is interested in scientific writing andwill return to CREC this summer as a publicrelations intern.

OtherStudentOutreachActivitiesDr. MonicaLewandowski didfive presentations to7th grade girls aboutcareers in science at McKeel Academy ofTechnology’s “Girls Invent the Future”workshop on Jan. 14. The event, which isorganized by the Girl Scouts, gives girlsexposure to various careers as well aspractical advices in areas such as self-confidence and anger management. Dr. Lewandowski also provided a CRECtour to a Girl Scout troop from Lakeland onFeb. 7.

CREC also participated in the FloridaCitrus Festival. A CREC exhibit in the OrangeDome was part of the citrus exhibits, andposter illustrating some of last year’shurricane damage to citrus, created by

Student Outreach cont. Gretchen Baut and George Brinkley, wasselected for display in the entrance of theOrange Dome. CREC’s biggest participation in thefestival involved the school program. Areaelementary schools took field trips to theCitrus Festival on Feb. 1-2. The students,ages 4-7, participated in special programsand activities that took place before thefestival was open to the public. LindaMurphy (pictured below, somewhere in thesea of students) helped thousands of

students plant citrus seeds, and KarlaFlynn bravely helped with a fingerpaintingactivity. Over 1300 students attended theprogram each day, so you can imagine howdifficult these assignments were. Monica presented an educational skit,sometimes addressing over 400 studentsat a time! Monica portrayed a space alien,traveling in a spaceship and landing in acitrus grove at CREC. Through the windowof the spaceship, as seen as a Powerpoint

presentation, Monica and thestudents explored different usesfor citrus fruit as well as someinsects, leaves and soilencountered in the grove.Gretchen Baut created alienstage props, and student internJoseph Barnes createdanimations of a Diaprepes rootweevil and space probescollecting leaves. Special thanks

to Gretchen for her audio-visual and videoexpertise and creating stage artwork andsong verses for the presentation.Larry, the sound guy for the CitrusFestival, provided special effects withcolorfulstage lights.Contrary torumor,Monica didnot performthis skit forPresidentMachen’svisit toCREC.

10Submitted to the Publications Committee in JanuaryM. E. Parish and R. M. Goodrich. Recovery of Presumptive Alicyclobacillus Strains from

Orange Fruit Surfaces. Journal of Food Protection.M. Salyani and J. Wei. Characterizing Citrus Tree Canopy Structure for Variable Rate

Applications. Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Precision Agriculture.L. R. Parsons. Spring Irrigation is Essential. Florida Grower.K.-R. Chung and L. W. Timmer. Update of PFD Controls in Florida. Citrus Industry

Magazine.S. Singh and M. Singh. Effect of Adjuvants on Trifloxysulfuron Efficacy and Chlorophyll

Fluorescence of Sicklepod, Guineagrass, Yellow Nutsedge, and Cotton. Weed Technology.Kuo-Tan Li and J. P. Syvertsen. Mechanical Harvesting Has Little Effect on Water Status

and Leaf Gas Exchange in Citrus Trees. Journal of the American Society of HorticulturalSciences.

R. H. Brlansky, A. Roy, D. S. Howd, A. Fayad, and A. Kahlon. Aphid Transmission fromCitrus tristeza virus Complexes. Phytopathology.

W. S. Castle and T. R. Gottwald. Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Tree Decline Losses AmongNavel Orange Trees on Swingle Citrumelo Rootstock in Two Central Florida Citrus Groves.Proc. of the 16th Conf. IOCV, Section Citrus Tristeza Virus.

S. H. Futch, C. W. McCoy, J. H. Graham, L. W. Duncan, and H. N. Nigg. Field Diagnosisof Citrus Root Weevil Damage. Citrus Industry Magazine.

A. W. Schumann, W. M. Miller, Q. U. Zaman, K. H. Hostler, and S. Buchanon. VariableRate Granular Fertilization of Citrus Groves: Spreader Performance with Single-TreePrescription Zones. Applied Engineering in Agriculture.

H. N. Nigg, R. A. Schumann, E. Etxeberria, and S. Fraser. Consumption of Sugars by Anastrepha suspensa Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae).Journal of Economic Entomology.

L. G. Albrigo. The Potential for the 2005-06 Crop after the 2004 Hurricanes. Citrus Industry Magazine.

Submitted to the Publications Committee in FebruaryR. S. Buker, III. Five Essentials for Your 05' Weed Management Program. Citrus Industry Magazine.H. I. Manner, R. S. Buker, III, C. R. Elevitch, and V. E. Smith. Traditional Tree Initiative. World Wide Web.S. H. Futch, L. G. Albrigo, T. Obreza, L. W. Timmer, M. E. Rogers, J. H. Graham. Hurricane Recovery Citrus Production School. Citrus

Industry Magazine.A. S. Guerra-Moreno, K. L. Manjunath, R. H. Brlansky, and R. F. Lee. A Multi-partite RNA Virus is Associated with Citrus Leprosis

Disease. Proc. of the 16th Conf. IOCV.V. Orbovic and J. W. Grosser. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Citrus. Agrobacterium Protocols (Methods in Molecular

Biology).C. C. Childers, R. Ochoa, J.C.V. Rodrigues, F. E. Lenis, and W. C. Welbourn. Pest Mite Species on Ornamental Plants from Central

America Imported for Propagation, Important Viral Diseases they Vector, and the Inherent Potential Risks of Exotic Pest Introductions.Florida Entomologist.

T. Satyanarayana, C. J. Robertson, S. M. Garnsey, and W. O. Dawson. Generation of a Genetically Engineered MCA13 Nonreactive Variantof the T36 Decline Isolate of Citrus tristeza virus. Proc. of the 16th Conf. IOCV.

C. J. Robertson, S. M. Garnsey, T. Satyanarayana, S. Folimonova, W. O. Dawson. Efficient Infection of Citrus Plants with Different ClonedConstructs of Citrus tristeza virus Amplified in Nicotiana benthamiana Protoplasts. Proc. of the 16th Conf. IOCV.

J.C.V. Rodriques, E. C. Locali, J. Freitas-Astua, E. W. Kitajima. Transmissibility of Citrus Leprosis Virus (CiLV-C) by Brevipalpusphoenicis to Solanum violaefolium. Plant Disease Note.

WelcomeJennifer Vick - OPS (Dr. Syvertsen)Bill Swan - OPS (Dr. Albrigo)Steve Nagy - OPS (Dr. Nigg)David Nikdel - OPS (Dr. Salyani)Karthik Karuppiah - student, Gnv (Grosser)Nolan Rayburn is now working for Dr.Parish

Did we miss you? Contact MonicaLewandowski at mmlew@crec.ifas.ufl.eduor Ext. 1233.

FarewellSteve Nagy - OPS (Dr. Nigg)Phillip O’Neill - OPS (Dr. McCoy)Tammy Flannery - FDOC (Dr. Cancalon,S. Barros)Richard Bond - OPS (Dr. Gmitter)Dr. Hong Li - postdoc (Dr. Syvertsen)Collison Brentu - student (Dr. Timmer)Dr. Eddie Ueckermann - visiting scientist(Dr. Childers)

51st Annual Citrus Engineering ConferenceMarch 10 - CRECRegistration, $60ENERGY SAVINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITRUSINDUSTRY Nathaniel Lewis, Lead Engineer, and CharlesThomas, Lead Engineer, Progress Energy

NEW SYSTEMS IN PLANT SANITATION Roger Beers, EcolabFood and Beverage Group

NEW PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR WATER AS ANINGREDIENT Steven Moore, GE Water and Process Technology

24th Citrus Engineering Award Jay Oliver, Manager, C.I.G.Accounts, Progress Energy

BIN AUTOMATION AND MANAGEMENT Rodney Swofford,Director of Electronics, Brown Citrus Systems Inc.

HURRICANE PANEL DISCUSSION - LESSONS LEARNEDModerator, Barry L. Wilson, Safe Chem, Inc. Panelists are GeorgeBaxter, Distribution Operation Manager, Progress Energy; JeffRogers, Americom President, Nextel Communications; ChrisLankster, Sales / National Accounts, Oakley Transport; LarryAlexander, Director, Polk County Public Safety; and Thomas P.Hovanec, Director, Citrus and Technical Operations, TropicanaProducts

April 2005M

onTues

Wed

ThursFri

SatSun

45

67

89

31011

1213

1415

16

1718

1920

2122

23

13 - Certified C

rop Adviser N

utrient Mgt. and

IPM

Educational S

eminar. B

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1-2.P

rogram online: w

ww

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ater Assoc. sem

inar,B

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3-4.

26 - Sem

inar, Dr. M

ickey Parish, P

rofessor ofFood M

icrobiology, CR

EC.

“Alicyclobacillus-m

ediated spoilage of lowpH

beverages.” BH

G 1, 11 am

- 12 pm(10:45 am

, refreshments).

29 - Luncheon to honor Dr. C

lay McC

oy, BH

G1-2.

Classes at C

REC

This Semester:

Citrus P

est Managem

ent course offered atC

RE

CThursdays, Jan. 6 – A

pril 28, 2005; 3 - 6 p.m.,

BH

G Teaching Lab

Plant P

ath and Friends hold weekly

seminars every Friday at 11 am

- 12 pm in

the BH

G Teaching Lab. C

RE

C personnel,

especially students and post-docs, areencouraged to present inform

al seminars.

Topics are not limited to plant pathology. For

more inform

ation, contact Dr. C

hung,krchung@

crec.ifas.ufl.edu.

All events subject to change.

FloridaAgCalendar.com

Ag industry events

statewide

calendar.ifas.ufl.eduU

F/IFAS Extension

events statewide

24

end of UF pay

period

25

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

end ofU

F payperiod

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

Dr.

McC

oy Retire-

ment Luncheon

12

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

2627

2829

30

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

Florida Citrus

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eeting

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Dr. M

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March 2005

Mon

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FriSat

Sun

78

910

1112

61314

1516

1718

19

2021

2223

2425

26

All events subject to change.

FloridaAgCalendar.com

Ag industry events

statewide

calendar.ifas.ufl.eduU

F/IFAS Extension

events statewide

27

end of UF pay

period

28

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

end ofU

F payperiod

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

13

45

2

Citrus P

est Mgt

course 3-6 pm

2930

31

Citrus

EngineeringC

onferenceSem

inar Dr.

Burns

Seminar:

Dr. Braddock

FCPR

ACpresentations

March 8 - S

eminar, D

r. Jackie Burns,

Professor of H

orticulture, UF/IFA

S C

RE

C.

“Abscission agents im

prove mechanical

harvesting capacity and selectivity.”

8 - Florida Citrus P

roduction Research

Advisory C

ouncil proposal presentations.B

HG

3-4.

10 - 51st Annual C

itrus Engineering

Conference. P

rogram on page 10 and online:

ww

w.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/C

RE

CH

OM

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ents/CitrusE

ngineering05.doc

22 - Sem

inar - Dr. R

obert Braddock, P

rofessorof Food S

cience, UF/IFA

S C

RE

C. “C

itrus By-

Products for the Food and FlavorIndustries.” B

HG

1, 11 am - 12 pm

(10:45,refreshm

ents)

22 - Florida Citrus P

roduction Research

Advisory C

ouncil proposal presentations.B

HG

3-4.

23-25 - HA

AC

P workshop, B

HG.

29 - Videconference, Master G

ardenerm

id-year update. BH

G 1, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

.

30 - Citrus C

anker Task Force meeting.

BH

G 2.

Classes at C

REC

This Semester:

Citrus P

est Managem

ent course at CR

EC

Thursdays, Jan. 6 – April 28, 2005; 3 - 6 p.m

.,B

HG

Teaching Lab

Plant P

ath and Friends hold weekly sem

inarsevery Friday at 11 am

- 12 pm in the B

HG

Teaching Lab. CR

EC

personnel, especiallystudents and post-docs, are encouraged topresent inform

al seminars. Topics are not

limited to plant pathology. For m

oreinform

ation, contact Dr. C

hung,krchung@

crec.ifas.ufl.edu.

Bloodmobile at

CR

EC

, 9 am -

12 pm

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

Plant P

ath andFriends

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ath andFriends

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