There is a constant stream of research flowing out of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). In recent years, much of that science has focused on the fight against HLB.
There are various venues where growers and other stakeholders can learn more about this research, including the All In For Citrus podcast. The podcast, produced by AgNet Media, is a great resource to hear scientists talking about their projects and how growers can apply what they are learning in the grove.
There are currently 70 episodes of the podcast posted online that cover a wealth of topics, including HLB and much more. Here’s a few topics covered in recent episodes.
OTC AND THE SOIL MICROBIOME
Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS soil microbiologist, joined the podcast recently to discuss her research on the interaction of oxytetracycline (OTC) currently being injected into citrus trees and the soil microbiome. She noted the OTC does change the soil microbial community. The good news is that the changes appear to be beneficial to the tree.
“What we think could be happening, and this is just a hypothesis, is that some of these harmful bacteria and the reduction of the HLB bacteria allows for more resources for other (positive) bacteria to grow in more abundance,” Strauss said.
Check out more of this interview in Episode 70, June 2024.
NUTRIENT UPDATE
In 2022, the Florida Legislature allocated $8.7 million in funds to UF/IFAS to update nutrient recommendations for several specialty crops, including citrus.
In some cases, it had been decades since the recommendations were updated. The case was made that it was time for nutrient recommendations for citrus that consider new scientific understanding, new technology and the impacts of HLB.
During a recent All In For Citrus episode, Tom Obreza, UF/IFAS professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences, provided background on the legislative funding and how new research is being conducted. He is managing the effort underway at UF/IFAS.
Obreza noted that the amount of funding the state provided for this research was unprecedented. In fact, it was more than double what the university requested in 2022, and the Legislature has continued to fund the research.
While nutrient research often has been on the back burner over the years, this funding puts the work front and center. These new recommendations will be used as guidelines for updates to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Best Management Practices manuals for citrus and other crops.
Hear more about nutrient recommendations in Episode 69, May 2024.
NEW PEST
When it comes to talking about citrus bugs, Lauren Diepenbrock, an entomologist with UF/IFAS, is happy to join the conversation. And that’s just what she did in a recent All In For Citrus episode. Chilli thrips are showing up in citrus nurseries and in citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Chilli thrips have been a problem in crops like strawberries and blueberries for years, but the pest is new to citrus.
Photo by Andrew Derksen
“Chilli thrips are much smaller than flower thrips, which we are very much accustomed to in citrus,” Diepenbrock said. “More recently, we have seen them moving into nurseries and CUPS structures and causing quite a bit of damage to the fresh foliage of citrus.”
Diepenbrock said she’s not sure why the thrips have taken a liking to citrus, but added they seem to be moving seasonally. There appears to be an influx of the pest with the spring flush. She said it might be that they are just drawn to the fresh foliage and flowers. Chilli thrips are so small that screens will not exclude the pest.
She added that citrus growers could benefit from previous research on controlling chilli thrips in other crops to identify potential chemical controls.
Learn more about chilli thrips in Episode 67, March 2024.
Visit CitrusIndustry.net/allinforcitrus to hear the All In For Citrus podcast episodes.
Share this Post
About the Author
Sponsored Content