Chronological repository of HLB-REON extension publications, oral presentations, and conference poster proceedings.
Poster PresentationAugust 1-4, 2026
Making Research Work for Growers: AI and Text Mining to Bridge the Gap in Huanglongbing (HLB) Disease Management
Authors: Vidal Gomez, U., McRoberts, N., M., McClure, D., Hill, M., Galindo S., Diepenbrock, L. and Dewdney, M.
Meeting: Plant Health 2026 | Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating disease affecting citrus in the United States, with severe impacts in Florida and growing concern in Texas and California. In response, USDA has funded numerous research initiatives, generating a substantial body of literature on HLB biology and management. However, systematically identifying research trends and knowledge gaps across hundreds of documents is challenging, and translating that scientific knowledge into practical, accessible information for growers remains a critical unmet need...
Mapping research trends and knowledge gaps in USDA-NIFA-funded HLB research using topic modeling
Authors: Vidal Gomez, U., McRoberts, N., M., McClure, D., Hill, M., Galindo S., Diepenbrock, L., Mantegazza, L. and Dewdney, M.
Meeting: 58th Annual Meeting Caribbean Food Crops Society & 1st Annual Virgin Islands Caribbean Agricultural Conference | St. Croix, USVI.
This project analyzes and translates research outputs from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded efforts addressing Huanglongbing (HLB), one of the greatest threats to the U.S. citrus industry. The initiative supports the development of a publicly accessible web-based database designed to systematize and share more than 15 years of fragmented research with growers, stakeholders, and researchers through accessible, actionable information. Mapping research progress is a critical step toward better knowledge transfer, data-driven decisions, and identifying where more work is still needed.
Engaged citrus growers and industry stakeholders in knowledge-transfer activities designed to improve access to research-based information on Huanglongbing (HLB) management and support evidence-based decision-making in the U.S. citrus industry.
Beyond the Psyllid: Are We Aligning HLB Research with Real-World Challenges?
Authors: Vidal Gomez, U., Coleman, K., Olkowski, S., McRoberts, N., McClure, D., Hill, M., Kalauni, D., Galindo, S., Diepenbrock, L., Vashisth, T., Wang, Y. and Dewdney, M.
Meeting: The 5th Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference | ANU, Canberra, Australia.
Decoding HLB research: Using text mining to support grower decision-making
Authors: Vidal Gomez, U., Coleman, K., Olkowski, S., McRoberts, N., McClure, D., Hill, M., D., Kalauni, D., Galindo, S., Diepenbrock, L.M., Vashisth, T., Wang, Y., Dewdney, M.
Meeting: 107th Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society | Lake Alfred, FL, USA.
Huanglongbing (HLB) has severely impacted citrus production over the past decade, particularly in Florida, driving extensive research into its biology and control strategies. However, much of the resulting knowledge remains highly technical, fragmented, and largely inaccessible to the growers and stakeholders who need it for practical decision-making. To address this critical gap, we analyzed 269 HLB-related grants funded by the U.S. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to identify key research trends, knowledge gaps, and future directions...
Fostering informed decision-making for citrus growers: A research project database to combat Huanglongbing disease
Authors: Vidal Gomez, U., Coleman, K., Olkowski, S., McRoberts, N., McClure, D., Hill, M., Laughlin, D., Kalauni, D., Galindo, S., Diepenbrock, L.M., Vashisth, T., Wang, Y., Dewdney, M.
Symposium: 19th Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Annual Symposium.
Huanglongbing (HLB) has severely impacted citrus production over the past decade, particularly in Florida, driving extensive research into its biology and control strategies. However, much of the resulting knowledge remains highly technical, fragmented, and largely inaccessible to the growers and stakeholders who need it for practical decision-making. To address this critical gap, we analyzed 269 HLB-related grants funded by the U.S. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to identify key research trends, knowledge gaps, and future directions...