IRREC News August 2017

August 2017, Volume 14, No. 3 Focus on Faculty

University of Florida/IFAS

Indian River
Research and
Education Center

A Newsletter for IRREC Advisory Committee Members, Faculty, Staff and Students

From the Director’s Desk entomology, horticulture, plant physiology
and aquaculture. This diversity of expertise
enhances IRREC’s role in the scientific
community of the Treasure Coast. Our faculty
also originated from various countries: USA,
China, Colombia, Pakistan and Brazil. And the
stories these nationally and internationally
renowned scientists can tell about how they
reached this stage in their careers are unique
and exciting.

Dr. Ronald D. Cave, IRREC Acting Director Inside this newsletter you will meet our
three newest faculty members. Dr. Jawwad
The vitality and character of a Qureshi is an entomologist whose research
examines the pest and beneficial insects
research and education center is embodied affecting citrus and other horticultural crops.
in its highly qualified, experienced and Dr. Carey Minteer is also an entomologist, who
dedicated professors, associate professors investigates exotic beneficial insects that we
and assistant professors. These faculty expect will mitigate the widespread problem
members drive the innovative research of invasive plants in South Florida. In addition,
that advances our knowledge in agricultural Dr. Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi specializes
sciences and addresses the questions that in citrus horticulture; his research program
need to be answered. They organize and is looking to find citrus rootstocks and scions
present the extension programs that present that are tolerant of greening disease.
vital information useful to our stakeholders
of growers, farm managers, farmworkers, Welcome to our Indian River REC
natural resource managers and homeowners. community!
Faculty members are involved in teaching
informative online courses, mentoring Dr. Ronaldinside this issue D. Cave
graduate students, and advising youths who
are discovering the thrill of science. inside this issue

The Indian River Research and From the Director’s Desk.................pg.1
Education is fortunate to have 10 faculty Dr. Jawwad Qureshi........................2-3
members. They are specialized in a variety Dr. Carey Minteer.........................4-5
of disciplines covering soil and water Dr.Rhuanito“Johnny”Ferrarezi...........6-7
sciences, water resources, plant pathology, Faculty Science Fair Participation.....8-12

IRREC News

Dr. Jawwad Qureshi

Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, IRREC’s Assistant Professor of Entomology,
examines insects on a wild lime tree

An entomologist with 10 years of citrus industry at a time when huanglongbing
(HLB), also known as citrus greening, has had
research focused on the state’s iconic citrus a negative impact on the crop statewide.
industry has joined the faculty at UF/IFAS
IRREC.

Named Entomologist of the Year in 2012 by TAP SAMPLING METHOD
the Florida Entomological Society, Dr. Jawwad
A. Qureshi was selected for a new position as Dr. Qureshi was, in 2012, recognized as
assistant professor of entomology at IRREC. Entomologist of the Year for his work to
develop a sampling method for the Asian
“Dr. Qureshi is one of the world’s few citrus psyllid, commonly known as ‘tap
entomologists who have expertise in integrated sampling method.’ This method has become
pest management focused specifically on an invaluable tool for researchers, growers
citrus,” said UF/IFAS IRREC interim director and consultants who require rapid estimation
Ronald D. Cave. “His work is much needed in of the Asian citrus psyllid to assist them in
the region known worldwide for the highest making decisions to control the psyllid in
quality fresh citrus product.” groves.

According to Cave, Dr. Qureshi’s expertise continued
with insect pest management for the citrus
industry is critically valuable to the state’s

His work on dormant season control of Asian Dr. Jawwad Qureshi serves as a
citrus psyllid using sprays of broad-spectrum judge at the regional science fair
insecticides in winter provides an effective
tactic for integrated management of this pest
and is now practiced throughout Florida.

Dr. Qureshi previously served as a research
associate professor at the UF/IFAS Southwest
Research and Education Center in Immokalee,
Florida, since 2006. During his time at UF/
IFAS SWREC, organizations such as the Citrus
Research Board and the Citrus Research and
Development Foundation awarded more than
$2.3 million for research to which he either
led or contributed.

Prior to joining UF, Dr. Qureshi held a post-
doctoral research associate position and
served as a graduate research and teaching
assistant at Kansas State University.

THE CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND Dr. Qureshi has authored or co-authored
BIOSCIENCES INTERNATIONAL 49 research articles published in national
and international scholarly journals such
For six years, he was a higher scientific officer as PLOS ONE, Biological Control, Journal of
and team leader, working with biological Economic Entomology and Environmental
control and integrated pest management of Entomology. Since 2004, he has been editor
economically important pests, for the Center for the Arthropod Management Tests for the
for Agriculture and Biosciences, International, Entomological Society of America.
a global organization based in the United
Kingdom. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Qureshi has made
54 presentations before both international
In keeping with the UF/IFAS goal to develop and national scientific assemblies.
management strategies for citrus production,
Dr. Qureshi’s placement at the UF/IFAS IRREC Dr. Qureshi was awarded a doctorate in
puts him in the center of the world’s premier entomology from Kansas State University. He
fresh fruit citrus production region. earned both a master of science and a bachelor
of science in entomology at the University of
“I look forward to working with growers and Agriculture in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
industry to conducting entomological research
for the development of knowledge-based pest
management systems which utilize multiple
control tactics,” said Dr. Qureshi.

IRREC News

Dr. Carey Minteer

A

Dr. Minteer prepares a drone for observing natural lands for invasive infestations

Carey Minteer, a research “Dr. Minteer has demonstrated effectiveness
in investigating the biological control of invasive
professor with expertise in the use of weeds in the central U.S.A. and Florida,”
biological controls to manage invasive said Dr. Ronald Cave, UF/IFAS IRREC interim
plants, has joined IRREC. Florida has the director. “Her expertise in biological control is
most invasive species in the country, with strengthened with her knowledge of sophisticated
28 ports of entry, including seaports, mapping technology for spatial analysis of large
airports and train stations. infestations, thereby bringing a new dimension of
research capability to the laboratory.”
Dr. Minteer is also an expert in geographic
information systems. She is collaborating Dr. Minteer joined the UF/IFAS laboratory
with professor James Cuda, UF/IFAS after two years of working as a postdoctoral
Extension agent Ken Gioeli and other research entomologist with the U.S. Department
scientists to fight the state’s most noxious of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service
weeds, including the Brazilian peppertree, Invasive Plant Research laboratory in Fort
one of Florida’s most widespread invasive Lauderdale. There, she led efforts to study and
plants. address south Florida’s water hyacinth and water
lettuce problems.

IRREC News

Dr. Minteer and her laboratory staff

GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Cave said Dr. Minteer’s familiarity “Sharing the safety and efficacy of biological
with geographic information systems, or control with the public is important to me so
GIS, brings the most innovative invasive they can understand what an amazing tool it is to
species research technique to the UF/ protect their parks and natural areas,” she said.
IFAS Fort Pierce laboratory.

“With GIS mapping platforms, I can use Dr. Minteer completed a Ph.D. in entomology,
satellites to collect spectral signatures with a minor in GIS, in 2012 at the University of
from plants, or light spectrums,” said Arkansas. She earned a master of science in biology
Minteer. “I can select a large swath of in 2007, also at the University of Arkansas. At the
land and collect data about the extent University of Central Arkansas, Minteer earned a
of an infestation of an invasive species bachelor of science in biology in 2000.
and, over time, monitor changes in that
infestation.”

The science involved in the biological
control of invasive plant species is
sophisticated, and when successful, saves
millions of dollars annually because the
need for expensive mechanical removal
and, or, chemicals is either obsolete or
greatly reduced, Minteer said.

IRREC News

Dr. Rhuanito “Johnny” Soranz Ferrarezi

Dr. Rhuanito “Johnny” Soranz Ferrarezi in IRREC’s Citrus Research Grove

R huanito “Johnny” Soranz IRRIGATION SMART-DEVICE

Ferrarezi has joined IRREC citrus horticulture According to Dr. Cave, Dr. Ferrarezi’s research
research in the world’s premier grapefruit with low-cost automation in citrus research
production region. groves is sought-after by growers and his peers.
Ferrarezi identified an irrigation smart-device
Dr. Ferrarezi brings more than 10 years that costs growers a fraction of the standard
of experience to his new position as equipment being used in most groves, and is
assistant professor of citrus horticulture more efficient in applying water to commercial
to the UF/IFAS Indian River Research crops.
and Education Center in Fort Pierce. He
joins two additional new hires at UF/IFAS “My research focus will be to support citrus
IRREC who will work as a team to assist producers with their efforts to protect crops
growers as they manage citrus greening, or from citrus greening,” said Dr. Ferrarezi. “Citrus
Huanglongbing (HLB), the industry’s most greening is complex. My response to the matter
formidable pathogen. is to help mitigate the disease by implementing
nutrition and better irrigation systems for
“Dr. Ferrarezi is capable and exuberant growers to extend the grove life under HLB–until
about his work to manage crop scientists determine a cure for this disease–or
production,” said Ronald Cave, UF/IFAS find resistant varieties.”
IRREC director. “He has demonstrated
a fervent commitment to agriculture in Dr. Ferrarezi said the first step to fight citrus
his native Brazil, which is also one of the greening is to create an integrated solution that
world’s most productive citrus regions, and will involve research scientists from multiple
we are confident his work in Florida will be
significant.” continued

IRREC News

To the right is
one of four 8-foot

greenhouses in
which Dr. Ferrarezi

is conducting
experiments with

citrus protected
under greenhouses

disciplines. He noted his new UF/IFAS PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
IRREC colleagues, Jawwad A. Qureshi,
an expert with citrus pest management, Dr. Ferrarezi has been recognized for
and, Dr. Liliana Cano, an innovative plant outstanding contributions: In 2016, with the
pathologist, are also working with citrus AmericanHort Laurie Award, and with the CIGR
greening. Award and Armand Blanc Prize.

Dr. Ferrarezi plans to work with local A prolific author, Dr. Ferrarezi published
producers to conduct nutritional three catalogs for research projects; a book
enhancement studies with fruit groves on nutritional guidelines for citrus seedlings
in which citrus greening is present. The production; and, wrote a book chapter about
nutritional enhancements will retain plant plant nutrition. He wrote and published 18
health and extend grove survival under peer-reviewed journal articles in publications
HLB, he said. such as the Journal of the American Society for
Horticultural Science, HortScience, Journal of
Dr. Ferrarezi’s most recent position was Plant Nutrition and HortTechnology.
as a research assistant professor with the
University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Throughout his graduate studies, Dr. Ferrarezi
Experiment Station at Kingshill, VI, where supervised four graduate students and 12
he developed a horticulture program to undergraduates.
assess cultivar performance in tropical
climates to increase food security for the Dr. Ferrarezi completed a Ph.D. in agricultural
local farmers. engineering in 2013 at the University of
Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil. He earned
Other positions he held were with private a master of science in tropical and subtropical
agriscience companies such as Alellyx agriculture in 2006 at the Agronomic Institute,
Applied Genomics, a Monsanto Co. in Brazil; Soil and Environmental Resources Center,also
and, AgriSus Foundation for Sustainable in Campinas, SP, Brazil. At Santa Catarina State
Agriculture, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of University, Ferrarezi earned a bachelor in
the world’s leading agricultural regions. agronomy in 2002.

IRREC News

IRREC Faculty, Scientists and Graduate
Students Judge Annual Regional
St. Lucie County Science Fair

Dr. Pasco Avery (right) was “Head Judge”
for the regional science fair

PhD student Patricia Prade, Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, and Dr. Held Friday, Feb. 10, this year’s annual event
Pasco Avery, Biological Scientist IIII, served as judges was the 29th Annual St. Lucie County Regional
Science and Engineering Fair, STEM Competition.
I n an effort to support The event took place at the Indian River State
College Kight Center for Emerging Technologies
local youth and to encourage Science, in Fort Pierce. There, IRREC faculty members,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematical graduate students and staff members enjoyed
(STEM) career skills, 10 IRREC faculty, viewing projects that involved horticulture,
scientific staff members and graduate insects and soil and water sciences.
students served as judges for the 2017
Annual regional St. Lucie County Science According to the event organizer, Paul Reif,
Fair. 49 schools serving grades kindergarten through
12 participated in the fair. About 400 display
One student project the IRREC community boards featured experiments about plants, math,
will find compelling involved research horticulture and engineering. From 13 different
looking at citrus greening. categories, 14 students competed in the state
science fair.

continued

IRREC News

The Annual Regional St. Lucie County Science Fair was held at
the Indian River State College Kight Center

Dr. Alan Wright (center) served as a judge at the regional science fair

IRREC LEADERSHIP FOR JUDGING JUDGES IMPRESSED WITH STUDENT WORK

Leading the event judges was IRREC Dr. Alan Wright said, “The students gave an
Biological Scientist III, Dr. Pasco Avery. excellent accounting of their projects and the
Participating faculty members included answers to questions I posed were well done.”
Dr. Mark Ritenour, Dr. Jawwad Qureshi,
and Dr. Alan Wright. All of the participating judges who represented
IRREC said they were impressed with the projects
Dr. Avery, the head judge said, “After and especially the way in which the students
talking with several of the judge’s, overall, demonstrated a professional demeanor and were
I thought that the science fair went very enthusiastic about their work. Graduate student
well. I was very pleased that there were Patricia Prade said she was pleased to see so many
many science-oriented judges this year young women interested in science.
available to assess the student projects.”

Biological scientists and technicians who “Science fairs are a great opportunity for young
judged the projects were Dr. Avery, Cuifeng children to become interested and learn about
Hu and, laboratory technicians Amy DuBois science. I was so happy to see how advanced the
and Alison Lukowsy. In addition, IRREC students’ projects were,” said Patricia.
graduate students Patricia Prade, Liguang
Li and Isaac Lee gave their time for the “I was proud to see so many girls choosing
event. STEM disciplines and doing incredible research.
It is important, as a woman in science, to
encourage the children to work hard and become
scientists.”

continued

IRREC News

Cuifeng Hu judged student projects

Dr. Mark Ritenour judged
horticulture research projects

Cuifeng Hu, IRREC Biological Scientist, presentations were selected for participation in
agreed with Patricia’s observation. She the INTEL International Science and Engineering
was impressed with work involving an Fair in Los Angeles in May.
innovative energy project completed by an
eighth-grade student. U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher,
Dr. Erin Rosskoff, mentored Haniya, whose work
“One student, a young lady, worked won “Best of Show” at the State Science Fair.
with energy savings,” said Cuifeng. “The Haniya’s project, “Molecular Characterization
student invented new equipment that she and Enhanced Efficacy of a Novel Host-Specified
built by herself to pump water that cooled Bioherbicide Candidate for Cyperus Rotundus,”
different kinds of solutions to see which placed Fourth at the international event.
were working best.”
CITRUS GREENING STUDENT PROJECT
STANDOUT PLACE WINNERS

Two Lincoln Park Academy students, Dr. Avery noted that Sheyra completed a science
Haniya Shariff and Shreya Reddy, fair project looking at citrus greening, the fruit
completed plant science projects and industry’s most formidable disease in history and
won multiple awards at the regional and a primary focus for IRREC’s research efforts.
state science fairs. Haniya’s and Shreya’s
continued

IRREC News

Sheyra Reddy
explains her science

fair research
project, which
contributed to the
body of research
for the control of
Asian citrus psyllid,
the insect that
carries the pathogen
that causes citrus

greening

Sheyra’s research project, “Degradation mechanism in most living things, which is turned
of Nonpathogenic Indovirus May Improve on when it detects double-stranded RNA, dsRNA,
Food Nutrition in Insects,” involved the inside the cell which usually are associated with
Asian citrus psyllid, the vector for the viral infection.
pathogen that causes citrus greening.
When the cell proteins called DICER, detect
Under the direction of U.S. Department of dsRNA, they bind to it and cut it into pieces. The
Agriculture scientist, Dr. Wayne Hunter, who cell then uses a specialized protein complex,
collaborates with many IRREC scientists, called RISC that unzips the dsRNA fragments and
Sheyra completed a study that involved uses the nucleotide sequence to match, bind and
caffeine and cell defense mechanisms. cut, any corresponding virus genome sequences,
thereby stopping, or reducing virus replication.
“First Shreya focused on evaluating the
use of RNA interference strategies, to “Second, she focused on combining a plant
suppress psyllids by targeting very specific chemical, a member of the methylxanthine
transcripts (single-stranded messenger family, commonly known as caffeine, which
RNA), mRNA, needed to produce insect occurs naturally in more than 60 plants, including
proteins,” said Dr. Hunter. those that give us coffee, tea, cola and cacao,
all produce caffeine. Caffeine has also been
Hunter explained that researchers previously shown to have insecticidal effects, for
have figured out that this cell defense many insects,” said Hunter.
mechanism, called ‘RNAi,’a natural
continued

IRREC News

Patricia Prade and Lincoln Park Academy student Shreya Reddy

Hunter explained that Reddy’s work was on even more, while the insect was also being
developed with current scientific thoughts treated with the RNAi trigger, maybe it (insect
around studying life as a “Biological suppression) would work even better.”
System,” and that is “many parts
interacting together.”

RNAi GENE-BASED MECHANISMS

Shreya first examined the use of RNAi, Along with Dr. Hunter, Shreya learned how to
to reduce the fitness of the insects. Then work with gene-based mechanisms, and to use
she thought about, how to increase the the world genome database to design double-
efficacy of the RNAi by trying to use strand RNA with specificity to the insect pest.
the interaction of caffeine to stress the This makes the treatment safe for use around
insect’s (Asian citrus psyllid) immune honeybees, and other beneficial insects.
system. To try to make the insect weaker,
more susceptible. Viruses, which infect insects and plants, are
the topic of research throughout the world.
Then she reasoned that “if the RNAi Researchers are interested in using them as a
mechanism is turned on when a virus natural way to deliver the RNAi against insect
sequence is present, like when trying to pests, and many plant viral pathogens. One
replicate inside the insects cells, then day these types of highly specific pest control
maybe using the genetic material from products may help solve problems associated
a natural insect virus could do the same with the psyllid-transmitted pathogen in citrus
thing. So if the RNAi mechanism was turned trees, in this case, citrus greening disease.