University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology
The University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is an academic department within UF/IFAS conducting plant disease research, graduate education, and extension diagnostic services across Florida through six regional labs and the UF Fungarium.
- Company typePublic
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGainesville, Florida, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology does
The University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is an academic department within UF/IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences), located in Gainesville, Florida. The department conducts plant pathology research, graduate education, and extension services, with research spanning eight defined areas including bacteriology and plant interactions, cropping systems and disease management, disease diagnostics and pathogen detection, epidemiology and modeling, fungal and oomycete biology, microbial bioinformatics and phylogeny, plant disease resistance and biotechnology, and virology. Faculty expertise covers temperate, subtropical, and tropical crop diseases, and the department employs molecular, morphological, culture-based, and computational methods including artificial intelligence, machine learning, network analysis, and precision agriculture technologies. Technical assets include Nanopore MinIon third-generation sequencing for fastidious and unculturable pathogens, probe-based pathogen enrichment methods, and the UF Fungarium (FLAS), a curated collection of over 58,000 fungal specimens with approximately 700 type specimens.
The department operates a network of six regional plant diagnostic laboratories across Florida (Gainesville, Quincy, Apopka, Wimauma, Immokalee, and Homestead), with the Gainesville-based Plant Diagnostic Center serving as the main hub for the Florida Plant Diagnostic Network and accredited as the hub lab for the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network under USDA-NIFA coordination. Diagnostic services are offered on a co-pay basis with partial state and federal subsidy for domestic samples; international samples are priced at $250 (general) and $300 (turf). Educational programs include MS and PhD degrees plus the interdisciplinary Doctor of Plant Medicine professional degree, with assistantships providing stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance. Extension offerings include the Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Service, Fungal ID services coordinated with Florida Poison Control, mushroom fact sheets, the Palm Diagnostic Key, and EDIS (Electronic Data Information Source) publications.
Revenue is derived primarily from state appropriations through UF/IFAS, federal grants from USDA-NIFA and NSF, and diagnostic fee income rather than commercial sales, consistent with the department's public land-grant mission. Customer segments include agricultural producers and growers, UF/IFAS extension agents, Florida homeowners, graduate students, and international research institutions, with collaborative research relationships extending to institutions in Argentina, Chile, Australia, China, Brazil, Pakistan, and Israel.
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology
- Legal name
- University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology
- Website
- https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is an academic department within UF/IFAS conducting plant disease research, graduate education, and extension diagnostic services across Florida through six regional labs and the UF Fungarium.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Plant Pathology Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro industry
- Pathogen & Disease Diagnostics Services (Plant, Soil, Water)Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Agricultural Testing & Diagnostics Services (Soil, Plant Tissue, Water)Plant Tissue & Sap Testing ServicesAgriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Agricultural Testing & Diagnostics Services (Soil, Plant Tissue, Water)Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization)
Keywords
Where University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gainesville, Florida
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Assistantships - MS/PhD Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Domestic Diagnostic Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | International Diagnostic Services |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Department of Plant Pathology provides plant disease diagnostic services, graduate-level academic programs (MS, PhD, Doctor of Plant Medicine), applied and basic research in plant-pathogen interactions, and extension outreach to growers, county agents, and the public across Florida. Core activities include operating the Plant Diagnostic Center hub, six regional diagnostic labs, the UF Fungarium with 58,000+ fungal specimens, and the EDIS electronic publication system delivering crop and pest management fact sheets.
Product overview
The UF Department of Plant Pathology is an academic department within UF/IFAS offering a unified portfolio of educational programs, diagnostic services, research, and extension outreach. The core offerings include graduate degree programs (MS, PhD, Doctor of Plant Medicine), the Plant Diagnostic Center (main hub for Florida Plant Diagnostic Network), regional diagnostic labs, Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Service, Fungal ID Services, the UF Fungarium (FLAS) with 58,000+ specimens, and extension programs providing crop-specific solutions through specialists and EDIS publications. These services work together to support plant health in Florida through research, education, and practical disease management guidance for growers, students, and the public.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plant Diagnostic Center The main diagnostic laboratory hub for the Florida Plant Diagnostic Network, providing plant disease diagnosis and identification of plant pathogenic mushrooms. Located in Gainesville, FL on the UF main campus.
- UF/IFAS Extension Programs Extension outreach providing educational resources, diagnostic services, and expertise across a variety of crops including citrus, vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, palms, turf, agronomic crops, and forestry through county offices and specialists.
- Graduate Programs in Plant Pathology Graduate studies leading to Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis options) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, plus the interdisciplinary Doctor of Plant Medicine professional degree.
- Research Programs Research across eight areas: Bacteriology and Plant Interactions, Cropping Systems and Disease Management, Disease Diagnostics and Pathogen Detection, Epidemiology and Modeling, Fungal and Oomycete Biology, Microbial Bioinformatics Evolution and Phylogeny, Plant Disease Resistance and Biotechnology, and Virology and Plant Interactions.
- Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Service Specialized diagnostic service for rapid identification of turfgrass diseases, offered through the Rapid Turf Diagnostics Service.
- UF Fungarium (FLAS) - Fungal Collection University of Florida Fungal Collection managed by the Plant Pathology Department, curating over 58,000 fungal specimens including macrofungal fruiting bodies, infected plants, and microfungi isolates, with approximately 700 type specimens.
- Fungal ID Services Laboratory services for mushroom identification in potential human or veterinary poisoning cases, wood decay fungi consultation, and indoor mold issues. Free identification service coordinated with Florida Poison Control for health emergencies.
- EDIS - Electronic Data Information Source UF/IFAS publication system providing fact sheets and detailed information regarding a variety of crops, managed through the Plant Pathology Department EDIS page.
- Regional Diagnostic Labs Network Six regional plant diagnostic laboratories across Florida including Gainesville (main hub), Quincy, Apopka, Wimauma, Immokalee, and Homestead, serving commercial, homeowner, and extension plant disease samples.
- Sample Submission Services Various sample submission forms and collection instructions for different sample types including general diagnostics, rapid turfgrass, palm, phytosanitary/regulatory, and SCMV turf testing.
- Palm Diagnostic Key Online tool to aid in the diagnosis of palm diseases and disorders, developed in collaboration with IDTools.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduate assistantships available with application deadline November 1
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Florida Poison ControlcoreCoordination with Florida Poison Control Centers for mushroom identification anytime, free of charge, when human health is potentially at risk. The lab identifies mushrooms for the Poison Control network to determine if consumed species are toxic.
- National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN)coreUF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center is accredited by and serves as the hub lab for the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN), which is part of the national network coordinating diagnostic laboratories across the US with USDA-NIFA, USDA-APHIS, and National IPM Centers.
- University of Cordoba (Argentina)minorInternational research collaboration with Dr. Eduardo Nouhra at Universidad Nacional de Cordoba on ectomycorrhizal fungi of southern South America.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Australia)minorInternational collaboration with Foundacion Fungi director Giuliana Furci and Camille Truong on documenting diversity and distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi in southern South America.
- Michigan State UniversityminorCollaboration with Greg Bonito on NSF-funded Pezizales phylogenomics research combining expertise for systematics work.
- Florida Museum of Natural HistorycoreThe UF Fungal Collection (Fungarium/FLAS) is one of the collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History, managed by the Plant Pathology Department.
- FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)coreHemp sample diagnosis requires current FDACS commercial license. Department coordinates with state agency for regulatory compliance and pesticide investigation services.
- Florida State Health Department - Indoor Air ProgramminorCollaboration with Michelle Dale at Florida Indoor Air Program for consultation on indoor mold issues, working with state employees with expertise in indoor air quality.
- USDA Forest Service - Center for Forest Mycology ResearchminorPostdoc Michelle Jusino currently based at USDA Forest Service Center for Forest Mycology Research, maintaining collaboration with Smith Lab.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- UC Riverside Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology: Land-grant department with deep expertise in subtropical/tropical and citrus pathology, directly comparable in geographic-crop specialization and integration of molecular diagnostics with extension.
- Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences: Land-grant department with active NSF-funded collaboration with UF on Pezizales phylogenomics; comparable in combining plant pathology research, diagnostics, and graduate training, with overlapping faculty expertise in mycology and disease epidemiology.
- Purdue University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology: Midwestern land-grant peer offering plant pathology graduate training, diagnostics, and extension; directly comparable in faculty structure, USDA-NIFA funding reliance, and crop disease research scope.
- North Carolina State University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology: Southeastern US land-grant peer with combined entomology and plant pathology programs; comparable extension/diagnostic footprint across tobacco, vegetables, and ornamentals, and a direct collaborator within the NPDN/SPDN ecosystem.
- UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology: A leading land-grant university plant pathology department with parallel missions in research, graduate training, and diagnostic/extension service; directly comparable in faculty depth, crop breadth, and integration of molecular diagnostics with extension delivery.
- Penn State Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology: Northeastern land-grant peer with parallel extension diagnostic clinic and graduate programs; comparable in offering applied plant disease diagnostics, mushroom/toxicology identification, and graduate training in plant pathology.
- Texas A&M University Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology: Large southern land-grant plant pathology department with diagnostics, extension, and graduate programs covering crops relevant to Texas; comparable scale and mission, and a peer within the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network.
- Cornell University Plant Pathology Section (School of Integrative Plant Science): Closely matched academic unit combining plant pathology research, extension diagnostics, and graduate programs; competes for USDA-NIFA funding and serves as a reference hub for the Northeastern US, making it a structural peer.
Emerging players
- Agdia, Inc. Private diagnostics company specializing in plant pathogen testing kits and ELISA/molecular assays; comparable as a commercial alternative to academic diagnostic labs and a potential commercialization counterpart for academic innovations.
Broad incumbents
- USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Science and Technology: Federal agency that funds and coordinates much of the NPDN/SPDN diagnostic infrastructure; comparable because it sets diagnostic standards, funds surveillance, and partners directly with university diagnostic labs including UF.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Florida Department of Plant Pathology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology
What does University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology do?
The Department of Plant Pathology provides plant disease diagnostic services, graduate-level academic programs (MS, PhD, Doctor of Plant Medicine), applied and basic research in plant-pathogen interactions, and extension outreach to growers, county agents, and the public across Florida. Core activities include operating the Plant Diagnostic Center hub, six regional diagnostic labs, the UF Fungarium with 58,000+ fungal specimens, and the EDIS electronic publication system delivering crop and pest management fact sheets.
Is University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology a public or private company?
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology founded?
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology based?
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology is headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, United States, in the North America region.
Who are University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are UC Riverside Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Purdue University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology, Penn State Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Texas A&M University Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Cornell University Plant Pathology Section (School of Integrative Plant Science). Agdia, Inc. is listed as an emerging player. USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Science and Technology is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology.
What industry is University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology in?
University of Florida Department of Plant Pathology's product category is Agricultural Plant Pathology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAKAG, Pathogen & Disease Diagnostics Services (Plant, Soil, Water), with a secondary code of AFACAKAB, Plant Tissue & Sap Testing Services. Its NAICS code is 11511 and its SIC code is 700.