A saturated summer across the Southeast means more potential for development of phytophthora root rot disease in citrus trees. The impact on Georgia’s young trees could be devastating, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia assistant professor and small fruits pathologist.
Oliver implores Georgia’s citrus producers to stay vigilant with their fungicide sprays, as the wet conditions have not let up.
“We definitely have seen the phytophthora root rot. Growers should be concerned about that,” Oliver said. “It’s likely they’re going to need to apply fungicides regularly, especially in a season like this to protect their young trees which don’t have established root systems and are more vulnerable to the root rot. That is a major concern. I would expect that growers with young trees probably need to be aware of that and taking every precaution and every measure they can to manage that issue.”
Georgia’s citrus production has spiked in the past recently, with an estimated 2,700 acres this year, compared to just 1,000 acres in 2019. With so many trees being planted in the last two years, the young roots are vulnerable to the disease.
“The feeder roots get damaged, and the plant’s just not able to take up the water and nutrients that it needs. Especially then if we get a dry spell after this wet spell, the plant has almost no roots and it can’t take up enough water and it’ll die,” Oliver added.
According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, root rot occurs when the cortex of fibrous roots becomes infected, softens and appears water soaked. When growers manage phytophthora-induced diseases, it is important to integrate cultural practices such as planting tolerant rootstocks and implementing proper irrigation practices.
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