Be yourself, but don't be the same.

Attending the 2025 @NAPlantBreeders in Kona, Hawaii was a truly rewarding experience. Grateful to the organizers and participants for creating an environment where both science and culture were meaningfully integrated. #PlantBreeding #ProfessionalDevelopment #ScientificCommunity

Today, I taught ESOL 1st graders at Twin Lakes about plant-animal interactions in English and Spanish. 🌿🐝 Seeing their eyes light up as they discovered nature gave me so much hope for the future! 💚 #FutureStewards #NatureEducation

Excited to have shared my research on improving blueberry fruit texture at the UF Plant Science Council (PSC) Symposium! The event provided invaluable opportunities for networking, learning, and being inspired by the brilliant minds in plant science. #UFPlantScience #Blueberry

Tasted the future of citrus at the UF IFAS Citrus Variety Display! 🍊 Dr. Chaparro’s team is accelerating citrus breeding by using early-flowering Eremocitrus with HLB resistance while maintaining amazing fruit quality. #UFIFAS #AgInnovation

If you are in plant breeding, you need to check out #CHiDO! This no-code tool makes genomic prediction so much easier. Perfect for students and pros alike to tackle climate challenges head-on. #Genomics #AgTech #AI #PlantBreeding.

Exciting news from North Central Florida! Successfully grew yellow and purple passion fruits (P. edulis flavicarpa & P. edulis). Growing these high-value crops despite winter chill shows potential for premium earnings for Florida farmers. 🍈💰 #PassionFruit #AgInnovation

Pruning blueberry plants in our QTL mapping population, all focused on studying fruit texture🫐. Every cut brings us closer to improving that perfect crunch! Special thanks to @MartinZapien6 from Nunez-lab #PlantBreeding #QTLMapping #BlueberryTexture #AgResearch

Honored and deeply moved to be awarded the William C. and Bertha M. Cornett @UFCALS Scholarship. Grateful for the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion in plant breeding, where every step forward is build on hard work and trusting the process. 🌱 #Thankful #CALS

RT @UFPlantbreeding: Here's Manuel Gastelbondo talking about what he's doing with Vanilla 😎

I had a great time in the 2024 UF Plant Breeding Retreat. @UFPlantbreeding It is very gratifying to have the chance to share with colleagues and professors from different working on different crops and breeding tools and methods.

I am having an amazing time in the 2nd #MultiOmic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Under Different Approaches: Past, Present and Future Short Course. Engaging lectures, hands-on sessions, and a lot of fun. #MOIAI @UF_IFAS @UFIFASAgronomy

RT @UFIFASAgronomy: 🔥 2nd hashtag#MultiOmic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Under Different Approaches: Past, Present and Fu….

Gator bear!!!.

RT @UFIFASAgronomy: 📣June 14th is the last day to register at the early bird rate for the 2nd Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Predict….

Passiflora Incarnata(Maypop). Excellent flavor, nematode resistant, and cold-hardy. This species that I found in the wild in Florida is an excellent candidate for developing passion fruit that can grow in subtropical regions with high productivity. Thanks @HanniHassan

Inspiring week at the UF Crop Transformation Center Summit thanks to Dr. Messina! Collaborated with academics, stakeholders, and students on gene editing solutions. Excited about transgenic citrus plants to fight HLB. #AgInnovation #UF #CropTransformation @UF_IFAS @UFCALS

This has been a very challenging season, with days exceeding 18+ hours of hard work. But the satisfaction of doing good, honest work is truly rewarding! #PhDlife #2024BlueberrySeason

First patent of cold brew produced with ultrasound. Proud of my country 🇨🇴

Planting machine? No, just humble hands and honest work. My agronomists roots guide my breeder's vision.🌱 #humbleHands #Honestwork #agronomist #plantbreeding

RT @rickaccu: Our @DassanayakeLab is in need of new #postdoc #hiring. Check details on our webpage: or check webli….