Manjul Dutt

Dr. Manjul Dutt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center. His research focuses on citrus improvement using conventional breeding and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing Huanglongbing (HLB)-tolerant hybrids via somatic cell fusion and genetic engineering.

• Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Breeding
• HLB and Citrus Canker Resistance
• Anthocyanin Biofortification in Citrus
• Flowering Regulation via Gene Modulation
• Stress Tolerance Mechanisms

Dr. Dutt's recent publications (2024–2025) highlight advancements in CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for HLB tolerance, molecular responses to stress, and hybrid physiology. His work integrates genomics, physiology, and market analysis to address citrus industry challenges.

• Lead advisor to Ph.D. candidates Jaideep Deol and Trinidad Fernando
• Mentor to Master's student Vidal Sanchez
• Collaborator on rootstock selection and transformation protocols

Lab members under his program include biological scientists and assistants working on HLB research, finger lime cultivation, and genetic transformation techniques. His team employs cutting-edge methods like cationic lipid nanoparticles for transgene-free editing and transcriptomic analysis of stress responses.