Eight species of Poaceae are hosting different genetic and pathogenic strains of Sugarcane mosaic virus in the Everglades Agricultural Area

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in eight different species of the Poaceae family in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) of south Florida: Broadleaf signalgrass (Urochloa platyphylla), Columbus grass (Sorghum almum), goosegrass (Eleusine indica), maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), and sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids). Based on their coat protein (CP) gene sequence, 62 isolates of SCMV from Florida and 29 worldwide isolates representing the known genetic diversity of this virus were distributed into eight major phylogenetic groups. SCMV isolates infecting Columbus grass, maize, and sorghum in Florida formed a unique group whereas virus isolates infecting sugarcane in the USA (Florida and Louisiana) clustered with isolates from other countries. Based on the entire genome coding region, SCMV isolates infecting sugarcane in Florida were closest to virus isolates infecting sorghum species or St. Augustine grass. Virus isolates from Columbus grass, St. Augustine grass, and sugarcane showed different virulence patterns after mechanical inoculation of Columbus grass, St. Augustine grass, and sugarcane plants, thus proving that these isolates were different pathogenic strains. Sugarcane was symptomless and tested negative for SCMV by tissue blot immunoassay after inoculation with crude sap from SCMV-infected Columbus grass, indicating that Columbus grass was not a reservoir for SCMV infecting sugarcane in the EAA. Close CP sequence identity between isolates of SCMV from Columbus grass, maize, and sorghum suggested that the same virus strain was naturally spreading among these three plants in south Florida.

Fusarium Wilt: A New Threat to Florida Lettuce Production

Fusarium wilt of lettuce is a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae. The disease is present in all lettuce production areas worldwide. Recently this disease has been identified in Florida in localized fields. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents information about the disease, symptoms, and control measures useful to lettuce growers in Florida. Following these recommendations may help to avoid the spread of this fungus in muck soils at the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), where 90% of the lettuce in Florida is planted. Written by Germán V. Sandoya, Jesse J. Murray, Richard N. Raid, and Christian F. Miller.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1385

Everglades Agricultural Area Soil Subsidence and Sustainability

This 4-page major revision, a publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences, highlights the current status of Histosols within the Everglades Agricultural Area in southern Florida. Over the last century, soils within the region have gradually been lost via oxidation, a process commonly referred to as soil subsidence. The rate of subsidence is gradually declining, due to factors such as increased mineral content in soil, humification, and water management (maintenance of higher water tables). Best Management Practices and crop rotation help slow down the rate of oxidation and promote soil sustainability within the region. Written by Jehangir H. Bhadha, Alan L. Wright, and George H. Snyder.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss523

Evaluation of Lettuce Cultivars for Production on Muck Soils in Southern Florida

Lettuce as a commercial crop is planted mainly in organic soils ("muck") in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in south Florida. This updated publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents a summary of previous cultivar releases by UF/IFAS as well as a description of cultivars currently planted in the EAA. Written by German Sandoya and Huangjun Lu.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1225

Relative Abundance of the Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Complex Infesting Rice in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Florida

Florida’s rice stink bug complex comprises three species; Oebalus pugnax (F.), O. insularis (Stal), and O. ypsilongriseus (DeGeer), the latter two of which are invasive and exclusive to Florida within the United States. A series of surveys were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to determine the relative abundance of the three species throughout Florida’s rice growing region within the Everglades Agricultural Area, in addition to comparing their seasonality within crop and noncrop habitats. Sampling occurred in commercial rice fields and adjacent transects of graminaceous noncrop hosts using sweep nets. Oebalus pugnax (52.7%) and O. insularis (61.7%) were the most abundant species in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Both species were more prevalent in rice fields compared to transects of noncrop hosts. Oebalus ypsilongriseus remained in low abundance relative to O. pugnax and O. insularis, and did not differ in numbers collected among rice and noncrop hosts. Of the noncrop hosts in transects, Panicum dichotomiflorum (fall panicum) was the most abundant across both years. This study is the first report of Oebalus species feeding on Echinochloa crus-galli (common barnyardgrass) in Florida. This study shows that the invasive O. insularis continues to increase in abundance, and has surpassed O. pugnax in terms of regional populations. These results emphasize the need for additional studies to assess the interactions among O. insularis and other Oebalus species in addition to its feeding behavior in Florida rice.

Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Fertilizer Spill Prevention

Phosphorus fertilizer spill prevention is a Best Management Practice (BMP) approved by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), one designed to reduce drainage P loads in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Spill prevention of P fertilizers is a BMP that is widely implemented by growers in the EAA. This BMP is easily implemented and can have an immediate impact on reducing off-farm P loads. This EDIS document is part of a series of publications that provide current implementation guidelines for commonly employed farm-level BMPs designed to reduce P loads from farms located within the EAA basin. This document is SL231, one of a series of the Department of Soil and Water Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2005. SL231/SS450: Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Fertilizer Spill Prevention (ufl.edu)

Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Controlling Particulate Phosphorus and Canal Sediments

The South Florida Water Management District has developed a BMP table that lists the BMP practices that have been designed to reduce particulate P and sediment loads in drainage waters from Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) farms. The purpose of this document is to explain and discuss these particulate P and sediment control practices. These practices serve as important tools in efforts to improve water quality in the basin. This EDIS article is one in a series that attempts to explain in easily understandable terms the implementation methods and rationale behind the main P load reducing BMPs employed on EAA farms. This document is SL228, a fact sheet of the Soil and Water Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date August 2005. SL228/SS448: Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Controlling Particulate Phosphorus and Canal Sediments (ufl.edu)

Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Soil Testing

The purpose of this document is to outline the process of soil testing as an important tool for both fertilizer recommendations and as a BMP in this region. This EDIS article is one in a series which attempts to explain in easily understandable terms the implementation methods and rationale behind the main P load reducing BMPs employed on EAA farms. This document is Fact Sheet SL-225, one of a series of the Soil and Water Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date July 2005. SL-225/SS445: Best Management Practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Soil Testing (ufl.edu)