ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Across the state, mangroves are known for protecting our coastlines. However, some of Florida's mangroves are experiencing die-off events and infection due to the increase of a disease scientists are calling “Mangrove CNP.”

What You Need To Know

  • Mangrove CNP is a fungal disease that can cause infection and death in mangroves

  • Signs of the disease include leaf yellowing, spotting and curling

  • For the past year, UCF researchers have been developing MgSun, a nanoparticle treatment for the disease

  • Mara Skadden, the Director of Science at the Marine Resources Council, has treated over 3,000 mangrove trees with MgSun and said the treatment is effective and works quickly

Mangrove CNP is a fungal disease that can cause infection and death in mangroves. It’s caused by pathogens Curvularia, Neopestalotiopsis, and Pestalotiopsis (CNP). Earlier this year, the disease caused 87% of the young mangrove trees at the Marine Resources Council’s mangrove nursery to die off. Now, however, the mangroves have grown back and are thriving once again. It’s all because of a new treatment created by scientists at the University of Central Florida and tested by scientists at the Marine Resources Council.

For the past year, UCF undergraduate research assistant Melissa Maria Deinys and her fellow researchers have been creating MgSun (or “MagSun”) — a nanoparticle treatment for Mangrove CNP. Deinys said signs of the disease include leaf yellowing, spotting and curling. 

“It causes the leaves not to be able to work correctly,” Deinys said. 

As a high schooler, Deinys discovered the United States’ first case of Mangrove CNP in Miami in 2019. She was studying plant pathogens when she realized they may be harming mangroves in Florida — research she’s continued as an undergrad at UCF.

“When I went to college, I kind of didn’t want to leave it behind,” she said. “I wanted to continue on.”

Deinys said the disease has also been found in other countries like Australia, Malaysia, China and the Bahamas. In her research, Deinys tested 130 mangrove trees across the Indian River Lagoon and Miami. She found that 80% of them have at least one of the pathogens in Mangrove CNP.

“Tree-wise, it is a very high percentage that we’ve at least found either two or one of these pathogens,” she said.

Mangroves provide habitat for dozens of marine animals. They also protect the coast from storm surge and erosion. Deinys said it’s critical to stop Mangrove CNP from becoming widespread — for the mangroves and the hundreds of coastal communities they protect.

“Mangroves protect our shoreline so much,” Deinys said. “Even if they’re just being affected or they’re not having as many leaves or their roots are not able to, like, be strong enough to hold that shoreline, it’s still causing an impact, not just to the plant but to us as well.”

It’s why Deinys and other UCF researchers have spent the last year creating MgSun, their treatment for Mangrove CNP made up of sulfur and magnesium nanoparticles. 

“The magnesium is in the form of nanoparticles,” Jorge Pereira, UCF postdoctoral associate, said. “Then we combine with our sulfur material.”

Since plant pathogens can’t be cured, MgSun is a treatment for Mangrove CNP. The UCF research team said the treatment has shown positive results in fighting the disease. One way to test its efficacy is at the lab’s bio safety cabinet. 

“After making our formulation, we usually come here to micro to make sure it works against whatever organism we’re trying to combat,” Deinys said.

At the bio safety cabinet, the group performs mycelium growth tests. Fungi from the disease is placed in an environment where it has the best opportunity to thrive. However, the team’s treatment is able to stop it from growing. 

“The nanoparticles are surrounding the fungi and stopping it from growing,” Deinys said.

After successful results in the lab, the UCF research team has been working with the Marine Resources Council to treat plants in the mangrove nursery.

“The current treatment plan that we’ve been working with MRC on the nursery aspect is soaking mangroves for 24 hours in our treatment,” Deinys said.

At the Marine Resources Council, Director of Science Mara Skadden has treated more than 3,000 mangroves with MgSun. She said the treatment works quickly and has made the mangroves at the nursery healthier and stronger.

“You can tell right away,” Skadden said. “They’re growing faster. They have nice dark green leaves.”

The UCF research team said it’s exciting to see their treatment work in the nursery.

“It’s very exciting to see something that you put so much effort into actually have some fruition or have good results in the environment,” Pereira said. 

MgSun is currently approved for treatment in nurseries. The next step is being able to use it on mangroves in the wild. To do so, the lab will need to fund a multi-million dollar EPA study. The research team said they hope MgSun will be approved to treat mangroves in the wild, and that their creation can help protect mangroves across the world.

“I think what I am looking forward to the most with this project is to actually make a difference,” Pereira said. “If I could see this make a difference with the mangroves, I’d be very, very happy.”

Bradley Demosthene, a graduate research assistant on the team, said he also wants to see MgSun make a difference.

“I also would like to see an impact,” Demosthene said. “I would like to actually see this invention of ours actually go through and actually get the kind of results that we want to go see.”

Deinys said fighting Mangrove CNP will be a lifelong project of hers and that she wants to see the MgSun treatment help wild mangroves in the future.

“Seeing it be implemented in places and actually seeing mangroves bounce back, I feel is one of my goals that I would like to see,” Deinys said.

For questions about MgSun or Mangrove CNP, you can reach out to Deinys at melissadeinys@ucf.edu. If you suspect mangroves in your area may be affected by the disease, you can submit photos by emailing them to mangroveprotection@outlook.com. For more information about the disease or treatment, visit the project’s website.

Reagan Ryan is a 2023 — 2025 Report for America Corps Member, covering the environment and climate across Central Florida for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.