Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Few studies are published on the long‐term impact of phosphorus (P) rates as triple superphosphate (208 g P kg⁻¹) on the vertical distribution of soil acidity and the availability of macro and micronutrients within conservation systems. This study explores the long‐term impacts of increasing P rates on the vertical distribution of soil acidity and Mehlich‐3 nutrient availability in long‐term trials managed under conservation tillage in North Carolina. In 2022, soil samples were collected from two contrasting long‐term trials: one on a sandy, poorly drained Portsmouth soil at Tidewater Research Station (67 years) and another on a well‐drained, clay‐rich Lloyd soil at Piedmont Research Station (37 years), at depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. In general, the greater crop yield and nutrient removal over the years occurred with higher rates of P, resulting in a decrease in the soil available potassium (K). Historical use of P increased the content of other nutrients that are part of phosphate compounds (i.e., calcium [Ca] and magnesium [Mg]) or are contaminants in these fertilizers (i.e., zinc [Zn] and manganese [Mn]). The distinct trend of sulfur (S) in both locations, where soil available S content increased with P rates at Tidewater and decreased at Piedmont, reflects the complexity of S dynamics in soils with contrasting characteristics. These findings reveal differences between soils and the importance of integrated nutrient management in long‐term experiments to avoid bias in the crop response over the years, especially in fields managed under conservation tillage.

The growing interest in non-conventional supplementary feeds has triggered research aimed at characterising alternative feed resources such as marula kernel cake (MKC) for improvement of livestock productivity. Samples of MKC and those of sunflower seedcake (SSC) were evaluated for chemical characteristics and rumen degradation. Chemical analysis of the two seedcakes was repeated twice. Dry matter and crude protein in sacco degradation were determined once using three fistulated steers. Samples were incubated in the rumen for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. MKC had higher (P < 0.05) content of gross energy, crude protein, ether extract and in vitro dry matter digestibility than SSC. Phosphorus and magnesium were higher (P < 0.05) in MKC samples than SSC. Oleic acid content was higher (P < 0.05) in MKC than in SSC whereas level of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) was similar (P > 0.05) between MKC and SSC. MKC was low (P < 0.05) in lysine compared to SSC. In sacco dry matter disappearance of SSC at 72 h was lower (P < 0.05) than that of MKC. In contrast, crude protein disappearance of both cakes was similar at 72 h incubation. It is therefore concluded that MKC is rich in energy, crude protein, some essential nutrients and could be a useful resource for supplying both energy and protein in ruminant diets.

Persons living in rural areas, especially farmers, farmworkers, and their families, are faced with various physical, biological, and chemical hazards as part of their job requirements or the environmental conditions where they live and play. Controlling/mitigating exposures to hazards in the workplace is vital to protecting workers and the environment. While there is a recommended hierarchy of control to reduce exposures, farmers and farmworkers must often rely on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as their first-line of defense due to conditions beyond their control such as the availability of less hazardous chemicals (which may be more expensive to purchase), modern equipment such as enclosed tractor cabs (which many farmers may not be able to purchase due to cost), and unpredictable weather conditions, which may require working prolonged hours to get crops harvested. Therefore, a working knowledge of the types of PPE available and recommended for the job being performed can allow the rural healthcare practitioner to advise their patients on ways to prevent on-the-job injuries and illnesses. In addition, federal agencies such as the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have rules and recommendations that must be followed to safely work with various chemicals such as pesticides or decrease exposure to common hazards on the farm such as loud noise levels. This chapter will discuss personal protective equipment for skin protection (clothing, gowns, and coveralls); eye protection (safety glasses, goggles, and face shields); respiratory protection (including various types of respirators and medical evaluation for their use); hearing protection (including ear plugs, ear muffs, and evaluation of hearing); and the proper cleaning and maintenance of this equipment.

Fumigation involves releasing a pesticide either as a gas or as a substance that volatilizes into a gas in a treatment area. Fumigants can reach and affect pests that are inaccessible to other types of treatment and often do not leave harmful residues behind, which makes fumigation a useful tool for pest control. However, fumigants can easily penetrate materials and move beyond the application site, which increases the chance of harm to nearby workers or bystanders. There are different uses of fumigation, including structural, soil, burrow, and commodity fumigation. Several registered pesticide products can be used as fumigants, with active ingredients including methyl bromide, chloropicrin, sulfuryl fluoride, phosphine, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), and dimethyl disulfide. Most human fumigation exposure is via inhalation of fumigant gases, which may also contact the skin and eyes. Not all fumigants have noticeable odors, especially at lower concentrations; therefore, harmful exposures may occur without warning, most commonly affecting the respiratory and neurological systems. The first signs of exposure are often irritated eyes, nose, and throat, followed by more severe respiratory effects, such as cough, bronchospasms, trouble breathing, pulmonary edema, and potentially death. Neurotoxic effects from some fumigants, such as methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride, and phosphine, include headache, ataxia, or seizures. Some fumigants affect the cardiovascular system, causing arrhythmias or tachycardia. Management of fumigant exposure and poisoning generally involves supportive care and symptom management, with no specific antidotes for chemicals currently registered in the United States as pesticide fumigants. Treatment may include the administration of oxygen with possible intubation and ventilation in severe cases, as well as seizure control for certain exposures. Depending on the chemical involved as well as the amount the patient is exposed to, some symptoms may develop or worsen hours or even days after exposure. Many patients who are occupationally exposed to fumigants are also exposed to other chemical hazards, so providers should take a comprehensive approach to health history questionnaires to capture the full extent of their patients’ chemical exposure.

Background Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in beef cattle has received less attention than in dairy herds, despite its potential impact on the beef industry. Objectives To compare six different supervised machine‐learning (SML) algorithms used to identify the most important risk factors for predicting BLV seropositivity in beef cattle in Florida. Animals Retrospective study. We used a dataset of 1511 blood sample records from the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, submitted for BLV antibody testing from 2012 to 2022. Methods Logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), gradient boosting (GB), random forest (RF), neural network (NN), and support vector machine (SVM) were used. Results Of the submitted samples, 11.6% were positive for BLV. The RF model best predicted BLV infection with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.98, with a misclassification rate of 0.06. The DT model showed comparable performance to RF (AUROC, 0.94; misclassification rate, 0.06). However, the NN model had the poorest performance. The RF model showed that BLV seropositivity can be best predicted by testing beef cows during the dry season, which mostly coincides with the pre‐calving processing and calving seasons, particularly for cattle raised in southern Florida. Conclusions The RF model shows promise for predicting BLV seropositivity in beef cattle. Key predictive risk factors include the dry season months coinciding with pre‐calving and calving seasons and geographic location. These findings could help develop predictive tools for effective screening for BLV infection and targeted interventions.

The armored scale insect Diaspis boisduvalii (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) has been observed affecting horticulturally grown and wild plants worldwide including orchids. Gaining an understanding of the diet breadth and infestation level of such herbivores on threatened wild orchid populations can raise awareness of their impacts and better guide conservation management. In 2022, we surveyed orchid-dense regions at the Everglades National Park (ENP), Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP), and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) in Florida, USA. All orchid species within the surveyed areas were identified, inspected, and individual plants were given a score of D. boisduvalii relative abundance. Six of the 23 orchid species (Orchidaceae) inspected were infested with the scale. These were Bletia purpurea (Lamarck) A.DC. (17 % of surveyed individuals infested), Cyrtopodium punctatum (L.) Lindley (15.8 %), Dendrophylax lindenii (Lindl.) Benth. ex Rolfe (1.8 %), Encyclia tampensis (Lindley) Small (14 %), Prosthechea boothiana (Lindl.) W.E. Higgins (20 %), and Prosthechea cochleate (L.) W.E. Higgins (0.3 %). All affected species except E. tampensis were of endangered or threatened species status in Florida. Overall, the scale infested a greater percentage of orchids in the ENP than that in BCNP and FSPSP. We speculate that the Boisduval scale is most likely an introduced species, a hypothesis supported by historical specimen records. However, the presence of cryptic species could render these historical data misleading. Native origin and impact of D. boisduvalii on wild populations need further research to understand fully. This is one of very few studies of the ecology of an armored scale insect species in a natural environment.

Meloidogyne floridensis was first described in Florida, USA, in 2004 but has since been reported in California, South Carolina, and Georgia. Our objective was to determine the galling and reproduction differences between two isolates of M. floridensis , Mf3 and MfGNV14, on culinary herbs. A duplicated study was performed where both isolates were inoculated separately to nine culinary herbs (basil, catnip, chicory, dill, fennel, marjoram, parsley, sage, and thyme). Tomato was used as a susceptible reference. Regardless of the isolate, chicory and marjoram had the lowest gall indices (1.85 and 1.00, respectively) and egg mass indices (1.25 and 0.90, respectively). The reproduction rate of Mf3 was greatest under catnip (959 eggs/g fresh root) and thyme (701 eggs/g fresh root), followed by sage (549 eggs/g fresh root) and parsley (501 eggs/g fresh root). Catnip (2,151 eggs/g fresh root) stood out for number of eggs among all tested herbs, followed by tomato (1,153 eggs/g fresh root) and sage (847 eggs/g fresh root) for MfGNV14. Marjoram was a non-host, chicory, fennel, and thyme were poor hosts, and catnip, parsley, and tomato were good hosts to both M. floridensis isolates. Basil, dill, and sage responses were isolate-specific, i.e., resistant to Mf3 but susceptible to MfGNV14.

A 2-d-old Warmblood colt was submitted for autopsy with a spectrum of bilateral ocular abnormalities. At postmortem examination, a constellation of lesions within the anterior segment included retention of ectodermal elements, compatible with choristoma. Ocular choristomas can be localized to different intraocular structures and are rare in equids. The morphologic features in our case were suggestive of abnormal corneal differentiation.

Tephritid fruit flies are serious pests of Ghana’s numerous economically important fruits and vegetables. Their damages include rotting, premature ripening, and dropping of fruits, which lead to severe production losses, reduction in export volumes, trade restrictions, and other health implications when infested fruits are consumed. Due to the activities of these pests, less than 10% of fruits (especially mango) and vegetables produced are exported, and more than 60% of them end up in waste yearly. With current regulatory measures, Ghana has made significant progress in managing fruit flies, especially after the European Union (EU) ban in 2015. However, the pests remain problematic in the sub-region. A more coordinated nationwide approach and investments in postharvest treatment facilities are anticipated to help reduce pest populations, increase trading volumes and incomes, increase access to other markets, including the United States, and boost Ghana’s economy. It is estimated that for every US$1 invested in managing fruit flies, the return on investment is US$93.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a glandular secretion fed to developing honey bee larvae by adult worker bees. It is also a potential source of disease transmission in and between honey bee colonies. We endeavored to characterize the microbiome, virome, and other biota present in RJ via an integrated meta‐omics approach. Using a magnetic beads‐based extraction protocol, we identified eDNA and eRNA fragments from organisms of interest in RJ using high‐throughput metagenomics (DNA‐seq), metatranscriptomics (total RNA‐seq), and parallel sequencing. This allowed us to enhance the detection of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) undetectable by standard ‘omics or amplicon protocols’. Using this integrated approach, we detected OTUs present in RJ from honey bee pests and pathogens, including Melissococcus plutonius , Paenibacillus larvae , Varroa destructor , V. jacobsoni , Aethina tumida , Galleria mellonella , Vairimorpha ceranae , Apis mellifera filamentous virus, Black queen cell virus, Acute bee paralysis virus, Sacbrood virus, Deformed wing virus, Israeli acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus, and Slow bee paralysis virus, as well as multiple beneficial gut bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus , Actinobacteria , and Gluconobacter . The presence of DNA and RNA from these organisms does not conclusively indicate the presence of live organisms in the RJ, but it does suggest some exposure of the RJ to these organisms. The results present a comprehensive eDNA and eRNA microbial profile of RJ, demonstrating that our novel method is an effective and sensitive molecular tool for high‐resolution metagenomic and metatranscriptomic profiling, and is of value for detection of pathogens of concern for the beekeeping industry.

As global agricultural systems face increasing challenges from pest pressures and environmental degradation, a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and resilient practices is imperative. The field of biosecurity, encompassing strategic and integrated approaches to managing risks to human, other animal, and plant life, has gained prominence as globalization facilitates the movement and spread of invasive species. This paper presents a comprehensive biosecurity framework that seamlessly integrates integrated pest management (IPM) strategies with sustainability principles to enhance the effectiveness of pest control strategies. By combining proactive and preventive measures, biosecurity practices, and IPM methodologies, we can create a holistic approach to safeguarding ecosystems, agriculture, and public health. This review outlines the key components of the biosecurity framework, benefits, challenges, and practical applications of incorporating IPM into biosecurity measures.

Micronutrient accumulation caused by low pH can lead to toxicity and have detrimental impacts on plant growth. In substrates with elevated pH, micronutrients become less available. In the first experiment, industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) growth was less at pH 3.0 and 4.0 than when pH was ≥5.0. Root growth was also observed to be inhibited at low pH levels. Leaf tissue micronutrient concentrations were higher at the lowest pH level, but no toxic accumulation occurred. In experiment 2, root growth had less mass at the lowest pH (3.1) and highest pH level (7.1). In experiment 3, substrates with three target pHs (3.8, 4.8, and 6.5) as well as three micronutrient concentrations (1X, 2X, and 4X) were examined to determine the impact of pH on micronutrient accumulation in two cultivars Cherry Wine (CW) and Sweetened (SW). Foliar micronutrient concentrations were the greatest in plants grown with pH 3.8, and the lowest concentrations occurred in plants grown at pH 6.5. Susceptibility to toxicity from micronutrient accumulation in plant tissue varied by cultivar. SW plants grown at pH 3.8 and 4X micronutrients resulted in lower leaf micronutrient toxicity symptoms, while CW plants grown under the same conditions did not. These studies suggest that C. sativa does not accumulate micronutrients to toxic levels at low pH when micros are applied within normal growing ranges, but that growth is inhibited at substrate pH < 5.0.

Polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers’ (CRFs) unique nutrient release mechanism has the potential to mitigate the leaching of mobile soil nutrients, such as nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The study aimed to evaluate the capacity of a polymer-coated CRFs to maintain maize (Zea mays L.) crop growth/health indicators and production goals, while reducing NO3-N leaching risks compared to conventional (CONV) fertilizers in North Florida. Four CRF rates (168, 224, 280, 336 kg N ha⁻¹) were assessed against a no nitrogen (N) application and the current University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recommended CONV (269 kg N ha⁻¹) fertilizer rate. All CRF treatments, even the lowest CRF rate (168 kg N ha⁻¹), produced yields, leaf tissue N concentrations, plant heights, aboveground biomasses (AGB), and leaf area index (LAI) significantly (p < 0.05) greater than or similar to the CONV fertilizer treatment. Additionally, in 2022, the CONV fertilizer treatment resulted in increases in late-season movement of soil NO3-N into highly leachable areas of the soil profile (60–120 cm), while none of the CRF treatments did. However, back-to-back leaching rainfall (>76.2 mm over three days) events in the 2023 growing season masked any trends as NO3-N was likely completely flushed from the system. The results of this two-year study suggest that polymer-coated CRFs can achieve desirable crop growth, crop health, and production goals, while also having the potential to reduce the late-season leaching potential of NO3-N; however, more research is needed to fully capture and quantify the movement of NO3-N through the soil profile. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that CRF performance was significantly influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. In 2022, temperature-driven nitrogen release aligned with crop uptake, supporting higher yields and minimizing NO3-N movement. In 2023, however, rainfall-driven variability led to an increase in NO3-N leaching and masked the benefits of CRF treatments. These analyses provided critical insights into the relationships between environmental factors and CRF performance, emphasizing the importance of adaptive fertilizer management under varying climatic conditions.

Lilioceris egena (Weise) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an approved classical biological control agent that feeds on the aerial reproductive structures (i.e., bulbils) of the invasive air potato vine in Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, has mass-produced and released over 100,000 beetles since 2021. Mass rearing can be challenging for highly specialized herbivores like L. egena. Therefore, we present a detailed protocol to mass rear L. egena under laboratory settings. This protocol ensures consistent production of approximately 675 beetles per month/colony for research and field applications while maintaining efficiency and affordability. Additionally, we determined how the number of mating pairs and the condition of air potato bulbils (whole or bisected) used in the mass rearing system influenced the number of adults produced. Results showed that 17 mating pairs per bulbil (of approximately 150 g) was an optimal beetle density to maximize beetle production and maintain a healthy colony. The condition of bulbils utilized did not influence the number of adults produced. This protocol can be adopted by integrated pest management (IPM) and master gardener programs, universities, and regulatory agencies in other southeastern states currently facing air potato infestations.

Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) is an invasive tree in Florida, USA, for which a psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), was successfully established in April, 2002 to control its spread. A parasitoid wasp, Psyllaephagus migrator McClelland, sp. nov. was found to parasitize this psyllid in Australia, which we consider to be its native range, and in Florida, where we consider it to be adventive. We provide a description, high resolution images and morphological diagnosis for P. migrator and a molecular data set of five gene regions to facilitate its identification and use in phylogenetic studies. The biology of the parasitoid is presented with documentation of its immature stages. Trapping data suggest that P. migrator has reduced populations of the biocontrol agent B. melaleucae in Florida.

Two species of sheath nematodes were studied using an integrative approach, combining morphological and molecular analyses. The first species was collected from an oak tree (Quercus sp.) imported from Texas into Florida, while the second one was obtained from the ornamental palm Phoenix sylvestris in a Florida nursery. These species were compared to a closely related species, Hemicaloosia uarki, which was originally described in Arkansas. Phylogenetic analyses using partial 18S rRNA, D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and COI gene sequences revealed that sheath nematodes from Texas and Florida represent two new species of the genus Hemicycliophora, which are described here as Hemicycliophora ornata sp. n. and H. silvestris sp. n., respectively. In the phylogenetic tree based on ITS rRNA gene sequences, Hemicaloosia uarki grouped within a clade of other Hemicycliophora species rather than within the Hemicaloosia species clade, indicating that this species belongs to the genus Hemicycliophora rather than to Hemicaloosia. Consequently, this species was reclassified as Hemicycliophora uarki comb. n. These findings confirmed that morphological characters traditionally used to distinguish Hemicaloosia species from those of Hemicycliophora are valid but insufficient for reliable identification when some life stages, such as males, are absent. The presence of males with straight spicules is a very useful character to validate the morphological identification of Hemicaloosia species. In absence of this life stage, phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences is the only reliable method to accurately differentiate sheath nematodes resembling Hemicaloosia from Hemicycliophora.

Many root-knot nematode (RKN) species in the genus Meloidogyne occur in Florida, including M. enterolobii , a species able to overcome RKN resistance genes in many crops. The distribution of these nematodes in horticultural crops is not well known. A RKN survey was conducted in South and Central Florida aiming to: (i) identify RKN infecting vegetables, fruit, and other crops; (ii) document host plants; (iii) determine RKN distribution; and (iv) gain insight on the relatedness of M. enterolobii obtained in this study with other populations from the USA and other countries. A total of 304 soil and root samples were collected from 56 plant species cultivated in commercial vegetable and fruit farms, research farms, horticultural gardens, Asian vegetable farms, and natural landscapes in 12 counties. Meloidogyne species identification was performed using mitochondrial haplotype-based identification, species-specific primers, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RKN were detected in 247 out of 304 (81.25%) root samples collected from September 2019 to January 2023. Five RKN species ( M. arenaria , M. enterolobii , M. hapla , M. incognita and M. javanica ) were identified. The most prevalent RKN were M. incognita and M. enterolobii , which were found in 25% of the samples. Less prevalent were M. javanica , found in 16%, and M. arenaria and M. hapla , found in 8% and 5% of samples, respectively. Mixed populations of M. enterolobii and M. incognita were found in 1% of the samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed low genetic variability among DNA sequences of M. enterolobii populations from Florida, other states in the USA, and other countries. New host records found in this study include: a worldwide host record, Solanum capsicoides ( M. enterolobii ); new US continental host records, Vigna unguiculata ( M. enterolobii ), Opuntia cochenillifera (mixed species – M. enterolobii and M. incognita ). Additionally, new state host records found were Cannabis sativa , Colocasia esculenta , and Lilium sp. ( M. arenaria ), Phaseolus vulgaris ( M. enterolobii ), Cucumis melo ( M. hapla ), and Lavandula angustifolia and Helianthus annuus ( M. incognita ). These findings confirm the predominance of tropical RKN species, and especially of M. enterolobii , in Florida. and provide new insights into the distribution, prevalence, and hosts of RKN species in horticultural crops in Central and South Florida.

Two phylogenetically unrelated viruses transmitted by different insect vectors, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), are major threats to tomato and other vegetable production. Although co‐infections of TSWV and TYLCV on the same host plant have been reported on numerous occasions, there is still lack of research attempting to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between two viruses when they coexist in the same tomato or other plants. After assessing the effect of four TSWV‐coded proteins on suppressing TYLCV in TSWV N transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings, the TSWV N protein proved to be effective in reducing TYLCV quantity and viral symptoms. Western blot analysis indicated that TSWV N was involved in down‐regulating the expression level of the V1, C3, and C4 proteins of TYLCV, among which V1 was the most significantly suppressed one. Moreover, TSWV N was confirmed to reduce TYLCV V1 within both nucleus and cytoplasm, but a greater suppression was observed in cytoplasm. The co‐immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry identified 244 differential proteins from the TYLCV‐infected TSWV N transgenic N. benthamiana seedling. These proteins pertaining to energy metabolism pathways were enriched, suggesting that TSWV N could inhibit TYLCV through competing for energy or regulating energy‐related metabolism. The evidence presented here offers a novel perspective that will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of virus–virus and virus–host interactions, as well as a potential strategy for plant virus control through using TSWV N in the near future.