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Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology

UF Tea

Tea is a camellia species (C. sinensis), and like many ornamental camellias, it grows well in sandy soils with high organic matter, and tolerates both humid summer heat and mild winter freezes. In fact, the temperature and rainfall profiles of North-central Florida are very similar to some of the top tea production regions in China. Researchers at UF have been exploring the potential for tea as a specialty crop for Florida production.

We are bringing together expertise in horticulture, agronomy, soil science, breeding, and plant pathology to develop suitable cultivars and growing recommendations for Florida and the southeastern US, and as new questions develop, we are expanding our team to answer them.

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Contact Us

Research Questions
Brantlee Spakes Richter
Asst. Professor, Plant Pathology
bsr@ufl.edu

Bala Rathinasabapathi
Professor, Horticultural Sciences
brath@ufl.edu

Donations to the Program
Caylin Hilton
Associate Director, Annual Giving and Engagement
cnewbern@ufl.edu

Plant Pathology Department
1449 Fifield Hall, 2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110680
Gainesville, FL 32611

Horticultural Sciences Department
1253 Fifield Hall, 2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville FL 32611