Photo by Jeffrey Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry
A groundbreaking research collaboration led, in part, by Indian River State College Professor Tom D’Elia, has resulted in the successful annotation of the Asian citrus psyllid genome. This marks a significant advancement in the fight against citrus greening disease. The research, published in GigaScience, represents an achievement in both scientific discovery and undergraduate education, featuring 28 Indian River State College student co-authors.
The multi-year project, funded through two rounds of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants, brought together researchers and students from Indian River State College, USDA Agricultural Research Service, the Boyce Thompson Institution, Cornell University, Kansas State University and the University of Cincinnati. Their collaborative efforts have produced the third and most comprehensive version of the psyllid genome, which is now freely available at citrusgreening.org to researchers worldwide.
“The involvement of our students in such high-level research demonstrates the exceptional opportunities available at our institution and highlights our role in addressing critical challenges facing our region,” said Timothy E. Moore, president of Indian River State College.
“This publication represents the culmination of a unique research partnership that began in 2015,” said D’Elia. “Our students worked alongside leading scientists to analyze complex genomic data, contributing to research that addresses a critical agricultural challenge.”
Citrus greening disease, transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, has devastated Florida’s citrus industry, causing over $7 billion in lost revenue and thousands of lost jobs since 2005. The newly published genome annotation provides essential data for researchers developing strategies to combat this destructive disease.
The project’s educational impact has been equally significant. Of the 28 student authors, 10 have advanced to graduate programs, while others have launched successful careers in scientific fields.
“This collaborative approach has provided our students with authentic, real-world research experiences,” D’Elia noted. “They’ve developed critical skills in team-based problem-solving while contributing to a project with significant agricultural and economic implications.”
Read the complete research paper here.
Source: Indian River State College
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