Recent research showed that individual protective covers (IPCs) proved highly effective in reducing Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations and thereby preventing HLB infection in three mandarin cultivars. However, overall tree response varied.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. The authors are Saoussen Ben-Abdallah, Susmita Gaire, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, Jawwad Qureshi and Fernando Alferez of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.
The article notes that IPCs may not provide optimal growing conditions for all citrus cultivars, as each can respond differently to the microenvironment they create.
The researchers investigated how IPCs affect plant growth, physiological and horticultural performance, biochemical responses, and pest and disease severity in three citrus mandarin cultivars — US-Early Pride, Sugar Belle and Tango — over the first three years after planting. The cultivars were grafted on sour orange or US-942 rootstocks. The IPC trees were compared with trees planted simultaneously and left uncovered (no-IPCs).
Upon IPC removal, in winter 2022, all IPC trees tested negative for HLB, while all no-IPC trees were confirmed positive. Additionally, all scion cultivars grown under IPC exhibited a greater leaf area than no-IPC trees.
The study emphasizes the crucial role of IPCs in enhancing young tree health and reducing HLB incidence. The ability of IPCs to maintain higher chlorophyll content, increase leaf area and suppress HLB confirms that the mesh bags are a key tool in integrated HLB management strategies.
However, the effectiveness and adoption of IPCs may be influenced by the physiological and horticultural responses of different scions and/or the rootstock combinations, as well as the duration of coverage.
While IPCs initially led to improved tree growth, the overall tree response varied depending on the duration of coverage and the scion cultivar and/or rootstock.
The researchers stated that their findings highlight the complex interactions between IPCs, citrus scion cultivars and rootstocks, which significantly influenced overall vegetative growth and tree health in the three mandarin cultivars studied.
See the full article here.
Source: American Society for Horticultural Science
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