By Peter Chaires
Growers and nurserymen have come to understand that citrus breeding is a continuum. It can’t be turned on and off like a light switch. Though priorities of emphasis, available techniques, tools and technologies may change, large shifts in breeding objectives take time and can produce delays and inefficiencies.
Making crosses is a relatively quick process. Knowledgeable breeders utilize parents and families with a demonstrated propensity to produce desired traits. But then the long, painstaking process starts: selection, validating trueness to type, first bloom and fruit set, pest and disease tolerances and susceptibilities, evaluation on various rootstocks and soils, replicated trials, climatic suitability, etc. Such is the reality of a complex tree crop. If we add to this an industry desperately in need of varieties that can be profitably grown in an HLB endemic environment, in citrus under protective screen or with available therapies and tools, the pressure is intense.
Some years back, in response to industry demand, New Varieties Development & Management Corporation’s (NVDMC) board of directors shifted the vast majority of its available resources to develop and/or identify orange and orange-like selections in support of the juice channel. Concurrently, there was a smaller yet concerted effort to seek grapefruit solutions. Specialty fruit was not abandoned, but its emphasis was diminished.
As time progressed, industry acreage continued to decline, market forces changed, and many came to believe that Florida will experience a pendulum shift toward the fresh side of the equation. It remains to be seen how significant a shift this will be.
Packers are hearing from many growers who have not moved their fruit fresh in a very long time, if ever. It will take some time to determine what portion of the crop is packable, especially in the first year. Some orange growers are starting to think like grapefruit growers. They want to get every piece of fruit in a carton and then look to the juice steam as a home for the balance. This is especially true for growers with young tree fruit. This does not diminish the need for improved fruit quality, tolerance, color and volume to the remaining juice plants. Their need has never been greater. Florida must maintain its remaining processing capacity. However, this ultimately will be determined by economics. In the presence of imports, can the plants offer a price that will keep the growers in the black?
So how does all this impact the breeding teams? NVDMC deliberated whether to ask the breeders to shift their priorities and increase the amount of work being done on varieties for the fresh market. A very candid conversation about the industry’s challenges encouraged the teams to press forward with the best they have to offer in each fruit and utilization category and explore ways to build an abbreviated data set that can inform growers, help substantiate planting decisions, and acknowledge gaps in experience and data that can’t be filled in the time available. This is a very tough assignment.
I have had the pleasure of speaking with many growers and nurseries in recent weeks. I have reviewed planting plans, discussed pros and cons of available varieties and witnessed the anguish that comes with the growers’ knowledge that they can’t afford to fail. Thanks to the tremendous support of Senator Albritton, the Florida Legislature, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Department of Citrus and the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation, growers have access to financial support to replant and try new approaches.
Breeders are in the process of examining their best candidates, reviewing the very limited data that they have available and making decisions and qualified recommendations.
Nurseries often find themselves in the unenviable and frustrating position of advising growers on plantings. When you want to see the same variety planted in five different locations on various rootstock combinations, the trials are simply not there. Resources have not been available to expand trials of new material at any significant level. Some growers are electing to plant older varieties simply because they can visit them in more locations and conditions. Though some of the new varieties appear to have more promise, the limited number of trees, often in one location, is insufficient to support large replanting investments. Perhaps greater awareness of this issue will lead to solutions.
CRAFT is exploring ways to help facilitate trials of newly available scion varieties. The goal is to conduct trials that are statistically valid with standardized data collection and analysis for all varieties from all sources. Stay tuned.
Peter Chaires is executive director of the New Varieties Development & Management Corp.
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