A common management tool that Florida citrus growers use to improve the health of trees impacted by citrus greening disease could be a valuable resource for cold-hardy producers — but for a different reason.
Mary Sutton, University of Georgia assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the tool gibberellic acid (GA) at the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia.
“Gibberellic acid is very popular in Florida because it promotes vegetative growth, which is helping to rehabilitate greening trees,” Sutton said. “But for here in Georgia with our healthy trees, I’m hoping we might be able to use gibberellic acid to pre-thin our flowers, so it will reduce flowering in the following season.
“I’m hoping we don’t have a true alternate bearing pattern. But if we do, I think that GA can help even it out by reducing flowering in the ‘on’ year. Hopefully, the tree will have enough resources for the next year.”
There is a concern that satsuma mandarins — the predominant variety produced in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama — experience an alternate bearing cycle where trees produce high yields one year then a very light crop the following season. Satsumas were in abundant supply in 2024 but there was a minimal amount in 2025. GA could help fix this problem.
“I’m not 100% sure we’re in a true on-off year where we’re going to have a ton of production in one year and none the next,” said Sutton. “But even if it means keeping it consistent where we have 200 to 300 pounds every year instead of 400 to 500 one year versus 100 the next year, that still would be helpful for growers when they’re trying to market their fruit. That way they can deliver a similar amount from year to year.”
GA can be used as a plant growth regulator to manipulate vegetative and reproductive growth, flowering, fruit growth and development.
Share this Post