CREC Open House a Hit

Ernie NeffEvents

The Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Nov. 16 open house and field day “was quite a crowded event. It went off really well,” CREC Director Michael Rogers reports. Rogers says the event drew about 200 industry members, as well as 150 CREC faculty, staff and students. The CREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …

Open House/Field Day Set at CREC

Ernie NeffHLB Management

The work that University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty members have done on HLB will be featured Nov. 16 at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. The center will host growers and others that day at an open house and field day. The morning program will kick off with a panel discussion …

science

See Science in Action at CREC’s 100th Anniversary Celebration

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Research

Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and limes. Most people think of these as signature plants of Florida, but scientists have traced their origins back millions of years and across continental land masses, said Fred Gmitter, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of horticultural sciences. Scientists can describe the evolutionary paths of your favorite citrus, from prehistoric …

Greatest CREC Accomplishments

Tacy CalliesResearch

Editor’s note: This article is part of the special coverage on the 100th Anniversary of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, found in the October 2017 issue of Citrus Industry magazine. By Tom Nordlie Throughout the Citrus Research and Education Center’s (CREC) 100-year history, the collective efforts of its faculty and staff have supported Florida citrus growers in myriad …

citrus celebrates anniversary

CREC and FDOC: Decades of Working Together

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Research

As the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) celebrates its 100th anniversary, administrators are praising a decades-long relationship between researchers with CREC and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “Housing the FDOC and CREC scientists at the same location has brought together the expertise needed to address any issue facing the …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, November 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

The November All In For Citrus podcast takes a trip around the globe. Faculty from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) join the show to describe citrus production in regions outside of the United States. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, gives an update on citrus in the Caribbean and …

December

Sneak Peek: December 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

As the end of the year approaches, now is a good time to look back at what has been learned about huanglongbing (HLB) disease over the last 20 years. In the Citrus Industry section of the December issue of Specialty Crop Grower, Michael Rogers, Citrus Research and Education Center director, provides a comprehensive review of the progress made in fighting …

cold

Preparing Citrus Groves for Cold Fronts

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Tip of the Week

By Muhammad A. Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Davie Kadyampakeni As temperatures begin to drop across citrus-growing regions, now is the time for growers to prepare their groves for potential freeze events. Citrus trees, especially young plantings, are susceptible to cold temperatures. Damage from a single freeze event can result in canopy dieback, fruit loss and even tree death. Proper planning …

updates

Florida Citrus Disease Updates

Daniel CooperDiseases

Plant pathologist Megan Dewdney on Nov. 20 presented updates on greasy spot, greasy-green, citrus black spot (CBS) and phytophthora brown rot. Dewdney is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and Extension specialist at the Citrus Research and Education Center. GREASY SPOT AND GREASY-GREEN Dewdney reported that control measures for greasy spot, caused by the …

Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake Field Day Highlights Conventional Breeding Potential

Daniel CooperBreeding, Events, HLB Management

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) citrus breeding team hosted a field day on Nov. 19 at the UF/IFAS Eagle Lake Block. The Eagle Lake Block is a 30-acre property that was gifted to CREC as part of the Jim Hughes estate. The grove tour featured several selections being …

NVDMC

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC’s Research Initiatives for 2025–26

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Research

By Peter Chaires Last month’s Citrus Nursery Source article promised additional details on New Varieties Development & Management Corp.’s (NVDMC) 2025–26 sponsored projects. While there is only space for general summaries, it is important to highlight the areas of focus for each research team, and the emphasis on short-term benefits while continuing to build a foundation for the future. NVDMC …

fruit drop

Dual-Action Approach to Mitigate Preharvest Fruit Drop

Daniel CooperFruit Drop, HLB Management, Tip of the Week

By Taylor Livingston and Tripti Vashisth Preharvest fruit drop is a major concern for Florida citrus growers, especially in groves affected by huanglongbing (HLB). Environmental stressors such as drought, flooding and cold snaps further accelerate fruit drop and tree decline. Recent field trials in Central Florida evaluated the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) — specifically gibberellic acid (GA3) and …

CRISPR

Taking a Closer Look at CRISPR in Citrus Breeding

Daniel CooperBreeding, Research

By Manjul Dutt Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series outlining how genetic technology can be using in citrus breeding. Traditional methods for improving citrus, such as crossbreeding different varieties, can be time-consuming due to the creation of a random mix of genes from both parents through a process called genetic introgression. In the article last month, …

citrus canker

Citrus Canker Detection in Alabama

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation

Citrus canker, a federal and state regulated plant disease, has been detected in Mobile County, Alabama. As required by federal law, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will establish a citrus canker quarantine for the county. The Auburn University Plant Pathology Lab confirmed the first detection from foliage and fruit samples collected during ADAI’s routine citrus survey. The …

improve

Two Practices to Improve Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers recently explained the benefits of raised bed planting and mulching to improve citrus tree establishment, productivity and resilience against environmental stress. Assistant Professor Muhmmad Shahid and Postdoc Scholar Shahid Iqbal, both of the North Florida Research and Education Center, and Associate Professor Davie Kadyampakeni of the Citrus Research and …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, October 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, CUPS

The October All In For Citrus podcast features citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Over the past decade, the practice has grown in popularity due to its ability to exclude the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Roughly 1,500 acres of citrus are grown under screen in Florida with more acreage under development. Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor of entomology at …

ReMedium TI®

What You Need to Know for the 2025–26 Trunk-Injection Season

Daniel CooperHLB Management, OTC Expert

Sponsored Content Q: With the 2025–26 trunk-injection season near, what steps can be taken to make the ReMedium TI® injections the most effective for increased fruit yield and quality? A: The basics of the injection are still the same: There is one factor that is new in the injection realm. Research conducted at the University of Florida shows that injection …

benefits

Silicon Benefits Citrus

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Nutrition

A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher recently highlighted a number of benefits from using silicon as a nutrient for citrus. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, presented silicon research findings at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August.   According to Shahid, silicon is categorized as a plant …

psyllid

Psyllid Management Tactics Discussed

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, HLB Management, Psyllids

Control of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) can be enhanced with dormant winter sprays and a focus on spraying grove perimeters, according to Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presenter Jawwad Qureshi. Qureshi is an associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. DORMANT SPRAYS In making the …

genetic

Improving Citrus Using Genetic Tools

Daniel CooperBreeding

By Manjul Dutt Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of two articles on plant improvement. Next month will feature the timeline for CRISPR-developed trees. Traditional methods for improving citrus, such as crossbreeding different varieties, can be time-consuming due to the creation of a random mix of genes from both parents through a process called genetic introgression, leading …