Postbloom Fruit Drop Control: Timing Is Key

Natalia Peres

Timing of fungicide sprays is the key to controlling the postbloom fruit drop (PFD) that caused many Florida citrus growers severe problems this year. That was a central message that University of Florida researcher Natalia Peres delivered at Citrus Expo this summer.

In this interview, Peres discusses the keys to proper spray timing, starting with bloom.

Peres says longer bloom periods apparently caused by HLB mean longer bloom exposure to the inoculum that causes PFD and to the rain that exacerbates the disease. “Anything that we can do to concentrate that bloom – have a more uniform and shorter bloom” will make it easier for growers to spray fungicides at the right time, she says.

About the Author

Ernie Neff

Senior Correspondent at Large