UF-CTA Affiliated Faculty:

Monica L. Elliott

Title and department: Professor, Plant Pathology

Address: Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center 3205 College Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

Phone: 954-577-6315
E-mail: melliott@ufl.edu

Education:

B.S.  Botany, Environmental Biology, Eastern Illinois University
B.A.  History, Eastern Illinois University
M.S.  Plant Pathology, Montana State University
Ph.D.  Plant Pathology, Montana State University
J.D.  Nova Southeastern University

Research Interests (with focus on Tropical Agriculture)
  • Fusarium diseases of palms, with a focus on:
    • new Fusarium oxysporum formae speciales affecting Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen palm) and Washingtonia robusta (Mexican fan palm) in nurseries and landscapes
    • new lethal disease of Ravenea rivularis (Majesty palm) caused by a Fusarium spp.
    • exploration of host range expansion by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis
  • Identification and molecular characterization of Serenomyces species associated with petiole and rachis blights of palms
  • Identification and molecular characterization of Cocoicola species associated with a petiole blight of Washingtonia robusta in Florida
  • Interaction of microbial inoculants and fertilizers on palm establishment.
Extramural support during past 5 years:

2007-2008

$5,000

Cenipalma, Bogota, Columbia

Oil Palm Disease Research in Colombia

2007-2008

$5,000

FNGLA Endowed Research Fund

Fusarium Decline of Palms:  Pathogen, Hosts, Diagnosis and Control

2006 - 2007

$3,800

FNGLA Endowed Research Fund

Determine the Etiological Agent for a New Disease Affecting Syagrus romanzoffiana

2006 - 2007

$23,961

Florida Turfgrass Research Foundation

Rapid Turfgrass Disease Diagnosis Assistantship

2005 - 2007

$6,000

Plant Health Care, Inc.

Evaluation of Mycor Palm Saver on Field-grown Palms in South Florida

2004 - 2005

$34,183

U S DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

Technological Enhancement of Potential Biocontrol Agents of Lygodium microphyllum

2003 - 2005

$28,457

UNIV OF TENNESSEE
(sub-contract for USDA Southern IPM)

Stacking Biological Seed Treatments in an IPM Program

2002 - 2005

$69,312

U S DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

Technological Enhancement of Potential Biocontrol Agents of Lygodium microphyllum

 
Teaching/Extension/Outreach Interests (with focus on Tropical Agriculture)

Information regarding palm diseases is extended to a broad range of groups, including students, county Extension faculty, palm producers (container and field prodcution), landscape maintenance staff (public entities and private companies), arborists and homeowners. 

This is accomplished via presentation at programs sponsored by county Extension faculty and public and private organizations, UF/IFAS in-service training programs, publications on the UF/IFAS Extension EDIS web site (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/), publications available from the UF/IFAS Bookstore and the American Phytopathologcial Society and “hot topic” publications on the FLREC “Palm Production and Maintenance web site (http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/palm_prod/palm_production.shtml).

 

International Activities (with focus on Tropical Agriculture)

Previous international activities dealt with turfgrass culture.  The most recent activity regarding palm agriculture was a visit to Colombia (2007) sponsored by Cenipalma to examine oil palm disease issues in the eastern and western zones of oil palm production.

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