Dr. Flavia Zambon 

Assistant Professor, Citrus Production and Other Tree Crops 

Dr. Flavia Zambon was named Assistant Professor of Horticulture Production of Citrus and Other Tree Crops at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in late 2023. Dr. Zambon, a new IRREC faculty member, is highly trained and experienced in citrus production and other tree crops. Her devotion to the industry commenced long ago, in South America.

A native of Brazil's famous citrus production region, São Paulo State, Dr. Zambon understands the value of citrus to fruit lovers worldwide. Her homeland is immersed in citrus production and holds global significance as the leader of sweet orange production. In her current position, Dr. Zambon serves growers of the Indian River District, a central-east coastal stretch from Micco in Brevard County to north Palm Beach County, known for its peerless grapefruit exported to points as far away as Southeast Asia.

Dr. Zambon's decade-long citrus experience derives from her undergraduate, graduate research, and a 3-year postdoctoral position as project manager for a Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) project at the IRREC. The project, named "Evaluation of Potential HLB Tolerant Grapefruit Rootstock/Scion Combinations in the Indian River District of Florida," was granted by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal, and Plant Health Inspection Service from 2018 to 2021. Additional agencies collaborating with the project include The Indian River Citrus League and the Division of Plant Industry with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Between August 2020 and April 2022, 42 experimental grapefruit blocks were planted, each with 42 grapefruit scion-rootstock combinations managed by 16 participant growers, totalizing over 12,000 plants on the ground. In 2022, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation granted funds to continue data collection for the grapefruit trees. The research is critical as the trees enter their fruit-bearing years.

Dr. Zambon leads a second active experimental field trial, the Millennium Block citrus grove. The 20-acre active experiment implemented in 2019 comprises more than 5,500 trees, including UF and USDA scions and rootstock selections in four independent block trials. Now in its 4^th year, it is possible to observe susceptibility and tolerance levels in some grapefruit and grapefruit hybrids. In 2024, the Millennium Block received funds from the Florida Department of Citrus to continue collecting data until June 2024. Based on years of data collection, results from the Millennium Block will support growers' decisions as to which grapefruit, grapefruit-hybrid, and rootstock to use. 

• Research

  Dr. Flavia Zambon's research program focuses on both citrus crop production and other tree crops that show and will optimize profitability for Florida fruit producers. 

  A third aspect of the IRREC horticultural research program involves citrus under protective screenhouses, also known as CUPS. Trees that can grow inside the CUPS are physically isolated from the pests and insects that damage the trees and are also disease vectors. One of those insects is the psyllid (Diaphorina citri), also known as Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), vector of the bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus CLas), the causal agent of citrus greening, or huanglongbing (HLB). Inside CUPS, healthy, high-value grapefruit grows free of citrus greening and poses an alternative to grapefruit production in the Indian River District.

  As part of her role, Dr. Zambon's research program includes the study of the regulation of carbohydrate synthesis and degradation in HLB pre-symptomatic infected plants by analyzing and quantifying the expression of several genes related to carbohydrate pathways. Trees under attack by citrus greening showed distinct responses to defend themselves from the pathogen, which includes the accumulation of callose and p-protein in the sieve pores of the phloem sieve plate. By understanding the pathway in which the carbohydrate synthesis and its regulation inside the chloroplast shift from a healthy to a susceptible plant, Dr. Zambon expects to determine where and when the plant metabolism changes upon the presence of CLas. 

  Deriving from her graduate studies, Dr. Zambon seeks to explore the effect of micronutrients on the hormonal profile of citrus by studying the hormonal modulation in susceptible and tolerant citrus plants. This study will define and unveil the complex relationship among the endogenous plant hormones and their importance in determining plant's energy utilization under CLas infection. 

  Part of Dr. Zambon's work will include efforts to collaborate statewide with professional growers, research, and Extension faculty to explore alternative crops that could provide economic opportunities in the Indian River production region.
  
  

   

• Extension

  Dr. Flavia Zambon leads research for the Multi-Agency Collaboration USDA-NIFA grant statewide grapefruit program, as well as with the IRREC iconic Millennium Block, and shares findings with the industry. Additional Extension duties include work with growers in their groves with the MAC project and training for agricultural workers. Dr. Zambon utilizes the Millennium Block to train her laboratory team to identify crop disease and disease resistance.   

  Part of Dr. Zambon's work will include efforts to collaborate statewide with professional growers, research, and Extension faculty to explore alternative crops that could provide economic opportunities in the Indian River production region.
    

• Education
  • Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center, 2020.
  • B.S. in Agriculture, University of São Paulo Luiz de Queiroz, College of Agriculture, in Brazil, 2013.
  • B.S. in Agronomic Engineering, University of São Paulo Luiz de Queiroz, College of Agriculture, in Brazil, 2013.

   

• Publications

   

  • Research Publications
• Awards and Service

   

  Memberships

  • American Society for Horticultural Science (2021-present)

  Service

  • Judge for the St. Lucie County Regional Science Fair

  Certifications

  • Remote pilot, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation

  Languages 

  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Statistics