Meet The Team

Sweet Corn and Potato Breeding and Genetics

Dr. Lincoln Zotarelli has a bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering and received an M.S. and Ph.D. in Agronomy-Soil Science from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an Assistant Professor in the Agronomy Department of the State University of Londrina, Brazil. Currently, he is an associate professor at the Horticultural Sciences Department with 60% extension and 40% research appointment. He has a statewide research and extension program in potato production, specifically focusing on developing best management practices for irrigation and nutrient management and potato variety improvement and adaptation.

Focus on studying and deploying new breeding techniques to breed potatoes to became more adaptable to the Florida weather and agronomic conditions. More specifically, select and breed potato clones that are resistant to hot and humid weather, diseases resistant and nutrient with great flavor. Increasing the level of sustainability of the crop. My goal is to enhance potatoes to improve the livelihood of farmers and consumers by developing new potato varieties.

BS Computer Info Systems, 1988

MBA, 1990

BS Statistics, 1994

Worked Hastings Research & Education Center (now HAEC) summer 1984 after graduating high school - late 2007

UF/IFAS Soilslab (ARL) late 2007 - early 2013

HAEC 2015 - present

I assist in conducting potato research and variety trials. I also manage the greenhouse operations at Hastings Farm, where I grow new minitubers from true potato seed for future trials, contributing to the development of innovative potato varieties.

I am a soil fertility and plant nutrient researcher. My background is in applied precision agriculture using multi-spectral and hyperspectral sensing UAVs and proximal sensors. Currently, I am developing an AI-driven pipeline for high-throughput phenotypic selection in potato.  

​My research focuses on advancing potato breeding by developing genomic prediction models for key traits and leveraging crop model insights to understand GxE interactions, ultimately combining these methods to accelerate breeding efforts and optimize selection strategies.

I'm working towards potato variety development through genomics and selective breeding.