Gene Mcavoy

University of Florida | UF · Cooperative Extension

Chapter 8 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 7 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 10 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 18 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 17 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 13 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

This chapter covers beet, radish, carrot, sweetpotato, cassava, taro, and malanga production.

This chapter covers production of legumes, such as peas and beans.

This chapter covers production of cucurbits, such as cantaloupe, cucumber, squash, watermelon, and pumpkin.

This chapter covers production of cole crops and Asian crucifers, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard (bok choy), kohlrabi, lobok/daikon, collards, kale, mustard, and turnip.

This chapter covers production of celery, okra, and parsley.

While Florida is known for theme parks and beaches, its agricultural sector is the second largest industry in the state and accounts for a substantial proportion of the United States’ annual production of many fruit and vegetable crops. Florida’s farmers have capitalized on the fact that Florida is a top tourism destination, with 70-80% of large pr...

This 6-page article provides an overview of surfactants and how they may be used to better manage water and nutrients in sandy soils for vegetable and fruit production. It is a minor revision written by Guodong Liu, Gene McAvoy, Ben Hogue, and Crystal A. Snodgrass, and published by the Horticultural Sciences Department, October 2019. HS1230/HS1230:...

Tomato chlorotic spot tospovirus is a species of the genus Orthotospovirus, family Tospoviridae. One of the causal agents of tomato spotted wilt, tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) was first detected in tomato and bell pepper in south Florida in 2012 and is considered an emerging virus to the region. It has caused significant losses to tomato growe...

Cucurbit downy mildew is a major disease that affects over 40 species of cucurbits, like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, squash, and pumpkin. The classic sign of the disease is the presence of dark sporangia, a structure that holds developing spores, on the underside of infected leaves. As the disease progresses, it may lead to large necrotic area...

This document is HS739, Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Published November 2006. HS739/CV137: Chapter 18. Tomato Production (ufl.edu)

Fourteen tomato cultivars resistant to tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) were evaluated for their tolerance against tomato chlorotic spot tospovirus (TCSV) under field conditions during the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons in Homestead, FL. All TSWV-resistant tomato cultivars had significantly (P < 0.05) lower disease incidence of TCSV,...

The rapid expansion of Asian populations in the United States presents significant opportunities and challenges for the eastern U.S. produce sector to take advantage of their close proximity to densely populated areas. Initial crop studies followed by ethnic consumer and crop surveys were conducted to examine vegetable, leafy green, and herb consum...

A unique strain of Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), which has undergone genome reassortment with, and contains the medium RNA segment of, Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) emerged in solanaceous vegetables in south Florida in late 2009. A typical (non-reassorted) strain of TCSV was reported from tomato in this same area in 2012. Identification of...

Compact growth habit (CGH) tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are determinate plants with shortened internodes and strong side branching due to the brachytic gene (br) that grow either prostrate or upright as a result of unidentified gene(s). Compact growth habit tomatoes do not require staking, tying, or pruning and can potentially be mechanically ha...

Bacterial leaf spot (BLS), caused by the bacterium, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, is one of the most serious diseases of pepper in Florida. Infection can markedly reduce yields and fruit symptoms reduce marketability. Bacterial leaf spot of pepper is a serious disease because it has a high rate of transmission, especially during periods with wind driv...

Relatively warm winter temperatures in south Florida is an ideal location for winter vegetable production. Palm Beach County is the national leader in bell pepper production with 5,500 acres the US. The challenges for Palm Beach County pepper growers include the subtropical environment of south Florida which supports year-round pest populations. Th...

Phytophthora root and crown rot, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora capsici Leonian, is an important soil-borne plant disease that causes economic losses on important fruit and vegetable crops such as bell pepper, eggplant, summer squash, tomato, and watermelon in Florida. This plant pathogen has a major economic impact on crop production in Calif...

Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) and Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) are two emerging tospoviruses in Florida. In a survey of the southeastern U.S., GRSV and TCSV were frequently detected in solanaceous crops and weeds with tospovirus-like symptoms in south Florida, and occurred sympatrically with Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in tomato and pe...

The jalapeño is derived from the Capsicum genus of the family Solanaceae. Jalapeños are members of a diverse group, which also include ancho poblano, cayenne, serrano, Anaheim, banana, Asian, habanero, and Hungarian wax peppers. Hot peppers are classified by their heat and shape. The heat of the pepper comes from the chemical compound capsaicin, wh...

The majority of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties grown for the Florida fresh-market are hybrids with a determinate upright growth habit that require staking, tying, pruning, and manual harvest. These cultural practices account for as much as 55% of the total tomato production cost estimated at $14,000/acre. Mexico is the major Florida co...

Water-repellent soils are unable to effectively adsorb or retain water. On these soils, water may simply pool on the surface or may move down preferred pathways, leaving large amounts of soil dry even when a large volume of water is applied. Thus, managing water and nutrients in sandy soils is often challenging. This 6-page fact sheet provides an o...

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is considered to be the most damaging tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) virus worldwide. Management of TYLCV has relied primarily on insecticidal control targeting the vector sweetpotato whitefly [SPW (Bemisia tabaci)]. However, resistance of the SPW to insecticides; increased length of the growing season, due in p...

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, natio...

Bitter melon, a tropical and subtropical cucurbit, is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Rich in vitamins A and C, iron, and phosphorus, it contains a compound (charantin) that has been used to lower blood sugar levels to treat diabetes. Two major types of bitter melon, Chinese and Indian, are grown in South Flori...

Enriching environmental samples to increase the probability of detection has been standard practice throughout the history of microbiology. However, by its very nature, the process of enrichment creates a biased sample that may have unintended consequences for surveillance or resolving a pathogenic outbreak. With the advent of next-generation seque...

Blossom drop and reduced fruit set in tomato can seriously impact yields. Growers in Florida routinely experience such problems and inquire about the cause and possible preventative measures to reduce flower loss and improve yields. The problem can be frustrating and difficult to manage in some situations. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Moni...

BOTANY Nomenclature Family-Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Radish-Raphanus sativus Origin Radish is believed to be native to China. Related Species Virtually every plant part is consumed across the various vegetables in the Brassicaceae family. Other root crops are horseradish, turnip, and rutabaga. The stem is utilized from kohlrabi. Leaves of mustard,...

Several invasive species of thrips have established in Florida and are causing serious economic losses to vegetable, ornamental, and agronomic crops. Damage to crops results from thrips feeding and egg-laying injury, by the thrips vectoring of plant diseases, the cost of using control tactics, and the loss of pesticides due to resistance. This 12-p...

Groundnut ringspot virus was recently identified in tomatoes in South Florida — the first report in the United States. It can infect tomato plants at all stages of growth and lead to unmarketable fruits or plant death. This 4-page fact sheet shares what is known about the symptoms, host range, disease transmission, and management. Written by Eugene...

Until recently, squash has been the only cucurbit crop seriously affected by the B biotype of the sweet potato whitefly, also known as the silverleaf whitefly, because of the silverleaf disorder induced by feeding of the immature stages (nymphs). However, three viruses transmitted by the whitefly have been identified in watermelon, muskmelon, and s...

Florida ranks first nationally in the production, acreage, and total value of fresh market snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with approximately 36% of the total U.S. market with 32,200 acres with a volume of 6,440 million bushels (30-lb bushel) at a market value of $135 million in the 2009–2010 season. High yield and deep green pod color are the m...

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.

This study primarily focuses on estimating consumer demand for ethnic greens and herbs, willingness to pay a premium for fresh leafy greens and herbs, document preferences for local produce and demographic characteristics of ethnic consumers’. The first phase of the project documents the consumer buying patterns relating to ethnic greens and herbs...

Florida ranks second nationally in fresh market vegetable production with 192,600 acres planted with a value of $1.4 billion in 2008–09. Seventy percent are grown in southern Florida with a harvest season from October to June during which growers may have to deal with hurricanes, droughts, and extremes in temperature. The objective of this survey w...

AE462, a 9-page illustrated fact sheet by Norman Breuer, Clyde Fraisse, Gene McAvoy, and David Letson, is the Spanish language version of “CIR1450/AE269 Using Seasonal Climate Variability Forecasts: Risk Management for Tomato Production in South Florida.” It describes the difference between weather and climate, suggests climate-based management opt...

The success of the best management practices (BMPs) program for vegetables in Florida is measured by the level of BMP implementation and the improvement of water quality. Both require keeping water and fertilizer in the root zone of vegetables. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Vegetable Group...

This study was undertaken to examine the possible niche markets which East Coast farmers might be able to use to regain their advantage. Their future economic success could hinge on shifting the focus from traditional fruits and vegetables to high-value specialty ethnic produce for which there might be a growing demand. The study results indicate t...

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is considered the worst tomato virus worldwide. The disease is induced by a number of closely related begomoviruses transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). TYLCV infection may result in up to 90% flower abscission and highly reduced yields. Foliar symptoms include shortened internodes and dwarfe...

IPM-205, a 2-page illustrated fact sheet by G. McAvoy, is part of the Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production. It discusses disease resistance in general, limitations, and resistance in tomato and pepper varieties. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2008.

IPM-201, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by G. McAvoy, was compiled from material in “Chapter 2 - Tomato and Pepper Production” of the Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2007. IPM-201/IN733: Unique Challenges for Florida Growers in Tomato and Pepper Produc...

IPM-202, a 3-page illustrated fact sheet by G. McAvoy, was compiled from material in “Chapter 2 - Tomato and Pepper Production” of the Grower's IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production. It provides guidelines for selecting varieties suited to a grower's farming operation for greatest profitability. Published by the UF Department of Entomo...

IPM-204, a 2-page illustrated fact sheet by G. McAvoy, is part of the Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production. It lists pepper varieties currently popular with Florida growers. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2007. IPM-204/IN757: Common Pepper Cultivars for Florida Production (ufl.edu)

IPM-203, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by G. McAvoy, is part of the Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production. It lists tomato varieties currently popular with Florida growers. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2007.