Smelling Huanglongbing for Early-Detection

Josh McGillCitrus Greening

Another early-detection method being developed works by smelling huanglongbing infections in trees. This method detects the different scents plants give off. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have created a test that could lead to advances in fighting huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. Researcher and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Christina Davis, said the test looks for a …

soil health

Use of Biochar and Compost in Citrus: Leveraging NRCS Conservation Practice 336 to Improve Soil Health

Daniel CooperCitrus

By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston and Abhishek Neupane Florida citrus production occurs predominantly on sandy soils that are inherently low in organic matter and possess limited water- and nutrient-holding capacity. These soil constraints have become increasingly important in the era of Huanglongbing (HLB), where compromised root systems reduce the tree’s ability to efficiently acquire water and nutrients. As a result, …

biofertilizer

Early Data on Biofertilizer for HLB-Affected Trees

Daniel CooperNutrition

By Flavia Tabay Zambon and Paulo Eduardo Branco Paiva Florida’s citrus industry has faced severe decline due to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening). Production has dropped 92% since the 2003–04 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Growers have relied on cultural practices, tolerant varieties and antimicrobial treatments, especially oxytetracycline (OTC), which has recently …

Florida

Florida Southern College Citrus Groves Rehabilitated

Daniel CooperEducation

A collaborative effort among citrus industry partners and Florida Southern College (FSC) has led to the rehabilitation of two historic citrus groves on the Lakeland campus. The rehabilitation was made possible through donations by FSC alumnus Phillip Rucks of Rucks Citrus Nursery, as well as Mike Hurst of Mike Hurst Citrus Services. Rucks Nursery provided the trees that form the …

soil

How To Get Started With Improving Soil Health

Daniel CooperEvents, Soil Health, Tip of the Week

By Jamie D. Burrow, Taylor Livingston and Tripti Vashisth Before huanglongbing (HLB), citrus grew well in Florida because of the climate and sandy soil. Trees had strong structural roots and a wealth of feeder roots. Since the continued tree decline caused by HLB, root systems have become smaller and weaker. By improving the physio-chemical properties of the sandy soil, it …

website

UF/IFAS Website Brings All Things Citrus Together

Daniel CooperTip of the Week

By Jamie D. Burrow, Tripti Vashisth and Michael E. Rogers In the early days of huanglongbing (HLB), the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Team realized it needed to bring its HLB content together on a single website to make it more accessible. The website has become outdated, and much more is available today for …

scientists

Scientists Speak About Long-Term HLB Solutions

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The recent Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference featured seminars from several scientists who are working on solutions to fight huanglongbing (HLB) disease. GENETIC RESEARCH Vivian Irish of Yale University presented her research on combating HLB through gene editing. She noted several promising gene-editing targets have been identified. Plans call for getting these lines planted to evaluate their resistance to HLB. …

HLB

Compost, Rootstocks and HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Rootstocks

Compost-amended plots (left) had more weeds than those with no compost. A new study published in Scientific Reports examines whether repeated compost applications could improve the health and productivity of young citrus trees growing under endemic huanglongbing (HLB) conditions in Florida. Gabriel Pugina, Caroline Tardivo, Brittney Monus, Emma Dawson, Sarah Strauss and Ute Albrecht of the University of Florida Institute …

HLB

How HLB Research Has Evolved

Daniel CooperHLB Management, International, Research

Huanglongbing (HLB, or citrus greening) disease has been the focus of an enormous amount of scientific research over the past two decades. A new study — “Bibliometric Mapping of Citrus Greening Disease Reflecting Trends, Shifts and Focus Areas” — takes a unique look at that research. It analyzes thousands of scientific publications to identify where scientists have concentrated their efforts …

Cyprus

Biocontrol of Psyllids Is Successful in Cyprus

Daniel CooperBiologicals, International, Pests

Classical biological control is having a very significant impact on populations of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Cyprus, according to Ángel Marhuenda, director general of common agricultural policy for the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA). ACP is the vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Marhuenda said, however, that “the detection of residual populations of the vector indicates that continued …

leaf

Leaf Quantity Matters for Fruit Quality

Daniel CooperProduction, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston, Meryam Manzoor and Johann Hiller Citrus fruit quality and yield remain major concerns for sweet orange growers in the huanglongbing (HLB) era. These outcomes largely depend on the tree’s ability to support developing fruit throughout the growing season. Leaf area and canopy density are positively correlated with carbohydrate production and allocation to fruit, directly influencing …

CUPS

Pest Avoidance and Monitoring in CUPS

Daniel CooperCUPS, Pests, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) is a novel system for large-scale citrus production in screen houses covered with a tightly woven mesh screen on all four sides and the roof. The primary goal of this shift from a traditional open orchard to a CUPS system is to protect citrus crops from huanglongbing (HLB) disease, which is …

EPA

EPA Urged to Complete Review of Emerging Rootstocks

Daniel CooperRegulation, Rootstocks

U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin recently led members of the Florida congressional delegation in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete a timely, science-based review of emerging citrus rootstock technologies to combat huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening. Florida’s citrus industry has faced steep declines due to HLB, compounded by recent hurricanes and freeze damage. Production has dropped …

micronutrient

Micronutrient Management for Improved Citrus Productivity

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Alisheikh Atta and Muhammad Shahid Micronutrients are those nutrients not required in large quantities but are important for improved tree performance. In the era of huanglongbing (HLB), micronutrients such as manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) have become very critical for optimal tree management. For example, B is known to help the …

traits

Citrus Traits To Be Studied in Australia

Daniel CooperBreeding, Research

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Professor Peter Prentis will lead a $2.2 million study to investigate the genetic basis of several citrus traits. This includes disease resistance and plant growth habits.  QUT researchers will work with members of the CRC Future Food Systems and Superior Production PTY LTD. The project is titled “Elucidating the genetic basis of disease, dwarfing, seedlessness …

improve

Improve Water and Nutrient Retention With Compost and Biochar

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Soil Health, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Abhishek Neupane and Taylor Livingston Florida citrus trees are under pressure from huanglongbing (HLB). The disease weakens root systems, reducing the tree’s ability to take up water and nutrients. Compounding this issue, most Florida groves sit on sandy soils with very little organic matter. These soils drain quickly, struggle to hold nutrients and allow both water and …

PGR

Match the PGR to the Purpose at the Proper Time

Daniel CooperPGRs

By Tripti Vashisth and Prudhvi Vulchi Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have become an important management tool for Florida citrus growers facing the challenges of huanglongbing (HLB). HLB disrupts the tree’s hormonal balance by reducing growth-promoting hormones like cytokinin and gibberellins and increasing stress-related hormones. This imbalance weakens carbohydrate transport, reduces sink strength and accelerates canopy decline. PGRs can help restore …

ambrosia

After Freeze, Ambrosia Beetles Are Potential Threat

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Pests

Florida citrus growers should be on the lookout for an uncommon citrus pest following the recent freeze events that devastated crops throughout the state. During a recent postfreeze webinar hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Team, Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor and entomologist, warned growers about the ambrosia beetle. This pest can prey on …

Influence of Rootstock on Growth, Productivity and Fruit Quality of Eureka Lemon

Tacy Callieslemons, Rootstocks

By Kim D. Bowman, Matt Mattia, Ranjeet Shinde and Flavia Zambon Profitability of the historic kings of citrus in Florida, sweet orange juice and fresh market grapefruit, has been severely reduced by the impact of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that lemon cultivars are generally more tolerant to HLB than sweet orange and grapefruit. Lemon trees continue cropping …

HLB

Invaio and Fundecitrus Collaborate on HLB Solutions

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Invaio Sciences, Inc. recently announced a collaboration with Fundecitrus (Fund for Citrus Protection), a research organization based in Araraquara, Brazil. The partnership aims to accelerate the development and evaluation of novel solutions — particularly peptide-based technologies — for controlling huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. The collaboration combines Invaio’s Biologicals by Design™ platform and Fundecitrus’ expertise in grove …