Southwest Florida Research & Education Center

Citrus Horticulture

Dr. Fernando Alferez began as the SWFREC Citrus Horticulturist in February 2017. He previously worked as a visiting research scientist at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred on systemic acquired resistance of citrus plants.

Dr. Alferez earned his Ph.D. in plant biology from the University of Valencia, Spain. His graduate studies dealt with determining and understanding exogenous endogenous factors regulating fruit development, maturation, and quality.

At SWFREC, Dr. Alferez’ research and extension programs will be interconnected and strive to serve the citrus industry in southwest Florida and the entire state. Some of his projects will include systematic characterization of novel varieties being released for both processing and the fresh market and assaying novel ways to manage postharvest fruit drop under HLB pressure.

Research / Extension

Researching and testing solutions to protect citrus trees and increase fruit yield and quality. Currently, we are working on

Psyllid exclusion to maintain trees healthy and productive
Fruit drop alleviation to harvest more fruit

Research Publications

Fernando Alferez - Research Publications
- The Huanglongbing-associated Preharvest Fruit Drop Signal Arises Several Weeks Before the Physical Separation of Sweet Orange Fruit.
  S Singh, M Sutton, A Guha, F Alferez, C Vincent, T Vashisth
  Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 149 (5), 255-269
- 2024–2025 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Rootstock and Scion Selection
  U Albrecht, F Alferez, JM Chater, M Zekri
  Horticultural Sciences Department
- 2024–2025 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Canopy Management
  T Vashisth, M Zekri, F Alferez, MA Shahid
  Horticultural Sciences Department
- 2024–2025 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Citrus under Protective Screen (CUPS) Production Systems
  AW Schumann, A Singerman, MA Ritenour, J Qureshi, F Alferez
  Horticultural Sciences Department
- 2024–2025 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Irrigation Management of Citrus Trees
  DM Kadyampakeni, KT Morgan, M Zekri, AW Schumann, S Guzmán, ...
  Agronomy Department
- Individual Protective Covers Improve Yield and Quality of Citrus Fruit under Endemic Huanglongbing
  S Gaire, U Albrecht, O Batuman, M Zekri, F Alferez
  Plants 13 (16), 2284
- Root System Reductions of Grafted ‘Valencia’Orange Trees Are More Extensive Than Aboveground Reductions after Natural Infection with Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus
  C Tardivo, L Archer, L Nunes, F Alferez, U Albrecht
  HortScience 59 (5), 595-604
- Homobrassinolide Delays Huanglongbing Progression in Newly Planted Citrus (Citrus sinensis) Trees
  M Pérez-Hedo, A Urbaneja, F Alférez
  Plants 13 (9), 1229
- Homobrassinolide Delays Huanglongbing Progression in Newly Planted Citrus Trees
  M Pérez-Hedo, A Urbaneja, F Alférez
  Preprints
- Individual Protective Covers (IPCs) Improve Yield and Quality of Citrus Fruit under Endemic Huanglongbing (HLB)
  S Gaire, U Albrecht, O Batuman, M Zekri, F Alferez
  Preprints
- Effect of plant growth regulators on postharvest calyx retention of citrus fruit
  S Mostert, FM Alferez, W du Plooy, PJR Cronjé
  Postharvest Biology and Technology 207, 112629
- View All Fernando Alferez's Research Publications

Extension Publications

Fernando Alferez - UF/IFAS Publications

Education
- PhD in Biology, University of Valencia-CSIC, 2001
- B.S. in Biology, University of Valencia, 1992

Professional Experience

Awards and Honors

Publications
- Research Publications
- Extension Publications

Other Professional Activities