Agricultural and Life Sciences (IFAS)
Gulf Coast Nematology Lab
Led by Johan Desaeger · Entomology and Nematology
What we study
The lab studies plant-parasitic nematodes in Florida's crops, focusing on sustainable management strategies like chemical, biological, and cultural methods to reduce reliance on fumigation.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Fieldwork
- Worms (C. elegans)
- Plants
- Projects
- 3
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Nematode survey to determine importance of different root-knot species
Researching root-knot nematodes in tomato and cucurbit crops to identify key species.
Nematode host status and use as a nematode management tool in strawberry, tomato and cucurbit crops
Testing cover crops for nematode suppression in strawberry, tomato, and cucurbit fields.
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Nematode management in organic strawberries and vegetables
Developing organic-friendly nematode control methods for strawberries and vegetables.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Cover Crops for Nematode Management in the Tropics
2026 · Indian Journal Of Nematology
Reviewed how cover crops can help manage nematodes in tropical farming.
- New Caladium Cultivars UF-15-131 and UF-15-627 for Containers and Landscapes
2026 · HortScience
Introduced new caladium cultivars UF-15-131 and UF-15-627 for container and landscape use.
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- New Caladium Cultivars Recently Released (during the Covid-19 Pandemic)
2026 · Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Described two new caladium cultivars, 'Pink Panther' and 'Crimson Skye', released in 2020.
- INFECTION AND REPRODUCTION OF MELOIDOGYNE ENTEROLOBII AND M. JAVANICA ON Mi-TOMATOES UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA
2026 · Nematropica
Tested whether Mi-tomato cultivars resist root-knot nematodes like M. enterolobii and M. javanica in Florida.
- Can Soil-friendly Nematicides Cost-Effectively Replace Soil Fumigation? Evidence from Florida Tomato Production
2025 · HortScience
Compared costs and benefits of soil-friendly nematicides vs. fumigation in Florida tomato farms.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Johan Desaeger hasn't set up this page yet. You can also look them up in the UF directory (search “Johan Desaeger”).