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
- Brassinosteroids: Biosynthesis, Signaling, and Hormonal Crosstalk as Related to Fruit Yield and Quality
  D Aryal, F Alferez
  Plants 14 (12), 1865
- Global strategies to manage huanglongbing (HLB) and its vectors: insights and implications for the Mediterranean region
  M Pérez-Hedo, MS Hoddle, F Alferez, B Lochy, GAC Beattie, ...
  Entomologia Generalis, 1-16
- Huanglongbing (HLB) and its vectors: recent research advances and future challenges
  M Pérez-Hedo, MS Hoddle, F Alferez, A Tena, T Wade, C Shourish, ...
  Entomologia generalis, 1-19
- View All Fernando Alferez's Research Publications

Extension Publications

Alferez - UF/IFAS Publications

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

Professional Experience
- July 2024 - Present
  Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida
- February 2017 - July 2024
  Assistant Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida

Awards and Honors

Publications
- Research Publications
- Extension Publications

Other Professional Activities