Recent cooler morning and evening weather should soon lead to color in Georgia citrus fruit, according to University of Georgia (UGA) Assistant Professor and Citrus Extension Specialist Mary Sutton.
“In a lot of places, we’ve already transitioned from dark green to a lighter green with some yellow starting to peek through,” Sutton reported in an update to Georgia growers. “Cooler nights (~46 to 60 degrees) help stimulate chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation in the peel, getting us that yellow-to-orange color we’re looking for in most of our citrus.”
In some UGA trials, researchers have started monitoring fruit Brix and acid levels.
“With satsumas, we’re starting to see the Brix creep up to a 10 and acid starting to drop,” Sutton stated. That suggests quality development is on track, she added.
PLAN FREEZE PROTECTION
As winter approaches, it’s important to be planning for freeze protection, Sutton reminded growers. She reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration winter weather outlook predicts a wetter winter for the Southeast.
“They’ll continue to provide updated predictions as we move into the winter, so current outlooks could definitely change as we move forward,” she stated.
Sutton noted that UGA Field Report B1589 has more information on how winter freezes damage citrus and how different freeze protection strategies work to protect trees.
RESEARCH UPDATE
Sutton reported that UGA researchers are wrapping up many field trials for the year and planning harvests. She hopes to be able to share some highlights from those trials soon.
“This winter, I’ve got a couple projects planned,” Sutton said. “I’ve got a freeze protection trial planned to start evaluating how the efficacy of different protection strategies compare. I’m also going to be monitoring how well some of our citrus acclimates to cooler temperatures as we move through the winter and then see if we can catch how quickly they lose it once things start warming up in the spring.”
Source: Georgia Citrus Association
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