Dr. Rob Gilbert's primary research responsibility is Stage III of the Canal Point (CP) sugarcane cooperative breeding program with USDA-ARS and the Florida Sugar Cane League. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the highest-value row crop in Florida. Approximately 445,000 acres were harvested in 2001, with an estimated value of more than $750 million. The University of Florida, IFAS participates in a tripartite cooperative breeding program with USDA and the Florida Sugar Cane League to produce the Canal Point (CP) sugarcane clones. These cultivars are grown on more than 70% of the total sugarcane acreage in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) and thus generate in excess of $525 million in annual revenue. Grower interest in improved sugarcane germplasm is high, yet the useful life of a given cultivar is limited due to changing disease and pest pressures. New cultivars with both improved agronomic characteristics and disease resistance must be continually developed to sustain the sugarcane industry of Florida. In addition, existing germplasm should be examined to determine the most economical harvest time based on sucrose accumulation characteristics.

Stage III is the first replicated on-farm test of new CP sugarcane clones. More than 130 clones are evaluated annually for agronomic characteristics and disease resistance in approximately 1400 plots at four locations. Additional research responsibilities include agronomic evaluation of recently-released sugarcane cultivars and screening of bioengineered clones resistant to sugarcane mosaic virus.
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Dr. Ken Pernezny's current research includes electrolyzed oxidizingwater (Eo H20) is generated by passing an electric current through a brine solution (e.g., sodium chloride or potassium chloride) to create a solution rich in oxidants,(hypochlorous acid, ozone, etc.). This solution has been shown to have excellent antimicrobial properties. We examined EO H20 for its effects on plant-pathogenic bacteria and the diseases they cause. We found that several bacterial pathogens of vegetables were very sensitive to EO H20 in culture tubes in the laboratory. Unmfortunately, this promising activity did not carry over to control of disease on greenhouse plants. We found that bacteria on leaf surfaces were not killed by EO H20 as they were in the test tube, probably because the toxic chlorine compounds and other oxidants were inactivated by the organic compounds associated with the living plant tissue.

We are currently trying to identify concentrations of EO H20 that might work for disease control but do not cause phytotoxicity.

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Dr. Mabry McCray's research program has four projects continued from 2004.
The Sugarcane Leaf/Soil Survey was started in 2004 to look at the current nutritional status of the Florida sugarcane industry. In the first year samples from 162 plant cane fields were collected, representing a wide range of soils and conditions. The survey will be continued in 2005, following some of the first year’s fields into the first stubble crop and adding additional plant cane fields. Soil and leaf samples are collected in addition to asking growers for plant and harvest information so relationships between these factors can be examined.
The Sugarcane DRIS Fertilizer Supplement Study was also started in 2004 and compares production in commercial fields with and without a DRIS-based fertilizer supplement in addition to the normal fertilizer program. The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) is an approach for evaluating leaf nutrient analyses which compares leaf nutrient ratios with those of a high-yielding population. DRIS indices for all nutrients are determined relative to an optimum value of zero. The more negative a DRIS index value for a given nutrient, the lower the sufficiency of that nutrient relative to other nutrients. The DRIS has been used with many crops, and sugarcane DRIS norms were first developed in the 1970’s in South Africa and updated for Florida by Elwali and Gascho in the 1980’s. With this study we will evaluate DRIS as a diagnostic tool for midseason nutritional supplements and work to develop guidelines for its economic use.
The Sugarcane Phosphorus Rate Study was started in fall 2004 to examine cane production in relation to broadcast and band-applied phosphorus fertilizer ranging from 0 to 300 lb P 2O 5/acre. There are 2 locations of these small-plot trials, one is in a grower’s field and the other is at EREC, and each is on organic soil. This study is intended to complement and add to the work already being done by Dr. Ron Rice with the Sugarcane Growers Cooperative. The information from this combined effort will be used to update the phosphorus soil test calibration for sugarcane currently being used by the Everglades Soil Testing Laboratory.
The Sugarcane Silicon/Magnesium Study was started in fall 2004 to compare rates and application methods of several silicon and magnesium amendments as to their effect on cane production. Much work has already been done looking at the response of sugarcane to calcium silicate. However, there needs to be more work on rates of calcium silicate required to maintain a response and to compare Si sources. Some of the silica sources are also sources of magnesium and are compared to a standard dolomite treatment. Small-plot studies were set up in 2 locations, one on sand and one on an organic soil.
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Dr. Samira Daroub is involved in research and education activities related to environmental issues in the Everglades . One major research and education program she oversees is the implementation and evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMP) to reduce phosphorus transport off farms in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Best Management Practices research is done both at EREC and at participating growers' farms in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Results of this research work are presented to the growers' community through BMP workshops and training seminars. Around seven workshops are offered yearly by Dr. Daroub and her lab personnel. Dr. Daroub also conducts research at the Loxahatchee National wildlife Refuge. This research aims to identify impact of sediments accumulated in the Refuge canals on phosphorus flux into the water column. In addition, Dr. Daroub teaches several undergraduate and graduate classes in soil science, irrigation, and nutrient management. Undergraduate classes are offered through video conferencing to students all over the State of Florida . Graduate classes are offered on line to students in Florida and the US.

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Dr. Curtis Rainbolt's research and extension program focuses on weed biology and applied weed control in sugarcane, sod, and other crops grown in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). He works in cooperation with agricultural chemical companies to generate data for the labeling and registration of new herbicides. Currently, he is evaluating combinations of current and experimental herbicides for preemergence weed control in sugarcane. Additionally, he is continuing research with the new herbicide trifloxysulfuron (Envoke) in order to further understand its role in postemergence sugarcane weed control.

Longer term research includes gathering information on the biology and ecology of weed species in the EAA. This information will be used to determine the competitiveness of these weeds in specific crops, which will allow growers to make decisions based on the potential crop loss and cost of control.

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