Mid-Florida Research and Education Center NEWSLETTER

Honoring Decades of Services at MREC

We are proud to celebrate two members of MREC for their remarkable commitment and impact. Dr. Dave Norman, professor of plant pathology, is celebrating 30 years of service, and Jeanne Yuen, biological scientist under Dr. Norman, is celebrating 45 years of service. We are truly grateful for their dedication and celebrate the invaluable impact they continue to make.

Scientist looks to identify nitrogen-fixing bacteria with hopes to improve plant production Thanks to FNGLA's Endowed Research Fund, professor Dr. Jianjun Chen will lead a study to identify nitrogen-fixing bacteria that could enhance foliage plant production. His research will target non-pathogenic microbes that convert nitrogen gas into plant-usable forms, addressing nutrient loss from nitrogen leaching in potted plants. Incorporating these bacteria could reduce fertilizer use, lower production costs, and help mitigate environmental impacts.

Researcher receives USDA grant to look into invasive pests species Florida’s ornamental and floriculture industries face constant threats from pests. To stay ahead, professor Dr. Lance Osborne is working with Dr. Cindy McKenzie from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve pest management strategies and protect growers. The project focuses on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for some of the most damaging pests: whiteflies, thrips, mealybugs, and potential new invasive species that appear on ornamentals. Researchers will use molecular tools to identify pests and their natural enemies, building a foundation for future biological control research and efforts.

UF/IFAS Grant to Expand Neuroeconomics Research With support from a UF/IFAS Research Equipment and Infrastructure grant, Dr. Hayk Khachatryan's Consumer Behavior Lab will expand its neuroeconomics research capacity. Upgraded eye-tracking systems and advanced equipment will improve visual attention data quality, helping the team collect more accurate data on how people make decisions and reinforcing UF's leadership in neuroeconomics research.

UF/IFAS Grant Brings Advanced 3D Mapping to MREC Dr. Uttara Samarakoon and co-PIs Dr. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, Dr. Youssef Kaddoura, Dr. David Norman, Dr. Jianjun Chen, and Dr. Yilin Zhuang, will acquire a NavVis VLX 3 Indoor Mapping System, a state-of-the-art, wearable 3D laser scanner, thanks to a UF/IFAS Research Equipment and Infrastructure grant. This advanced geomatics technology enables high-resolution, colored 3D point clouds and can create digital twins of greenhouses and other controlled environments at MREC. By leveraging spatial data and geospatial analytics, scientists can better track plant growth, conduct phenotyping, and perform spatial analyses to study disease progression and disease spread. Detecting subtle changes such as leaf color, height, yellow margins, scorching, wilting, and stem discoloration will allow for early identification of nutrient deficiencies, irrigation stress, and pest impacts.

The pay in plants: Survey launched to benchmark pay in Florida's green industry In collaboration with the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA), professor Dr. Hayk Khachatryan and his colleagues, Drs. Samiul Haque, Bachir Kassas, Jianhui Liu, and Lisa House, launched an industry-wide survey to benchmark wages and benefits in Florida's green industry. This effort will address a long-standing data gap by creating comprehensive benchmarks for wages and benefits. The findings will help employers make informed decisions, improve workforce planning, and stay competitive in attracting and retaining talent. This is the first comprehensive effort to collect such data in Florida.

Plant People Meet Plant People: International Plant Production Society Visits MREC As part of the 2025 Southern Region Annual Meeting of the International Plant Production Society (IPPS), more than 200 horticulture professionals gathered in Orlando for five days of learning and networking. During their visit, IPPS members enjoyed lunch and a tour with UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education faculty, exploring the research driving the future of horticulture. MREC was proud to share its work and connect with fellow plant people from across the region.

Bringing Research to Life at FNGLA's Landscape Show In August, the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center brought research to life at the Landscape Show. Visitors to our booth saw unreleased cultivars from professor Dr. Jianjun Chen, learned about professor Dr. Hayk Khachatryan's FNGLA-commissioned study on wage and benefits in the green industry, and got details about the fall IPM Scouting classes. It was a fantastic opportunity to share resources, answer questions, and strengthen connections. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

Routes to Roots: Connecting Students to Future Careers Dr. Youssef Kaddoura and MREC staff met with dozens of students at the Fall 2025 Career Carnival at Valencia College West Campus, introducing many opportunities in UF/IFAS, including plant science, geomatics, horticulture, and related fields. Joined by outreach and advising teams from various UF/IFAS departments, they highlighted academic tracks available through the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center.

Breeding Resilient Vanilla Orchids Graduate student Rachel Stone under professor Dr. Jianjun Chen received a travel grant to attend the 15th Annual Plant Science Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She presented her work on vanilla orchid. Her research is focused on improving tissue culture techniques, developing pathogen-free plants and breeding fungus-resistant vanilla cultivars.

Showcasing Plant Biotechnology at In Vitro Biology Meeting Associate professor Dr. Alfred Huo and his lab attended the In Vitro Biology Meeting in Norfolk, Virginia. While there, Dr. Huo and many of his students presented their work in plant biotechnology, genomics, and in vitro biology.

From Wells to Wellness: Understanding Florida's Drinking Water Systems You've probably heard you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, but where does that water actually come from? On this UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Lunch episode, learn more about Florida's drinking water systems with three experts: Water Resources Regional Specialized Agents Dr. Yilin Zhuang and Dr. Andrea Albertin, and Water Economist and FRE Assistant Professor Dr. Weizhe Weng.

Dr. Liz Felter Retires After 31 years in UF/IFAS Extension, Dr. Liz Felter celebrated the beginning of her retirement on June 6. The event included leaders from local and state governments, Florida’s horticulture industry, friends, family, and IFAS colleagues from throughout her career. Dr. Felter was presented with Emeritus status from Dean of Extension Dr. Andra Johnson and retired Associate Dean for Extension Dr. Tom Obreza.

UF/FL-ASPRS Fall Geospatial Workshop Brings Industry and Academia Together Last fall, the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center hosted the UF/FL-American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Fall Geospatial Workshop, welcoming more than 150 participants in person and online. The workshop created valuable opportunities for students to network, showcase research, and connect with industry leaders, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications.

Congratulations to Mengzi Zhang for graduating with her doctorate as part of the Fall 2025 class! Guided by professor Dr. Jianjun Chen, Zhang's dissertation explored medicinal plants, specifically kratom plant physiology and alkaloid synthesis.