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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “International”
Scientists with Tunisian and Swedish universities recently wrote “Salinity–Chloride Interaction Effects on Novel Citrus Combinations Under Various Field Conditions,” which was published in Horticulturae. The authors are Hend Askri, Sywar Haffani, Hager Snoussi, Rim Zitouna-Chebbi, Tarek Fezzani and Asma Najar — all with Université de Carthage in Tunisia — and Ronny Berndtsson with Lund University in Sweden. A brief summary …
Heavy rainfall in South Africa’s Eastern and Western Cape provinces earlier this month — during early mandarin harvesting — caused widespread flooding that is expected to impact production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported that the floods destroyed export-quality fruit and wiped out entire crops for some growers at the peak of the season. The …
An international group of authors recently reported on a study to investigate the impact of organic farming on the soil microbiome in citrus orchards. The authors are: The soil microbiota of eight conventionally and seven organically managed commercial citrus orchards across eastern Sicily were evaluated. FINDINGS The structure (diversity and relative abundance) and functionality of soil bacterial and fungal communities …
Cover crops in orchards are recognized as a sustainable practice that enhances multiple ecosystem services, yet systematic evaluations of different cover crops used in citrus orchards remain limited. A recent study in China investigated the effects of cover crops on soil properties, soil carbon dioxide (CO2) flux, leaf physiological traits, fruit quality and yield in a citrus orchard, using clean …
Researchers have demonstrated how an early application of the plant hormone 2,4-D can significantly reduce fruit cracking (also known as fruit splitting) in citrus crops — a major economic challenge worldwide. The researchers are from the Mediterranean Agroforestry Institute at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and Valencian Institute of Agrarian Research in Spain. Their work complements pioneering studies conducted in …
South Africa’s citrus season is rapidly gaining momentum, with fruit now beginning to flow steadily to markets in the Middle East. The current pressures on exporters of citrus are confined to marginally longer transit times and higher shipping costs, but there is no material diversion of South African citrus volumes to alternative markets away from the Middle East. “Early consignments …
The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) released production and export forecasts for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere citrus season. The forecasts are based on information from the WCO network in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Africa and Uruguay. ALL CITRUS Total Southern Hemisphere citrus production is expected to decrease 5.86% from the previous year to 26.4 million tons. Exports, however, …
South Africa’s Department of Agriculture and the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) announced the amendment of the plant health protocol governing the export of South African citrus to China. The amended protocol introduces additional phytosanitary pest risk mitigation treatment options, reflecting a science-based and risk-managed approach to plant health compliance. The outcome, based on scientific outputs from Citrus …
A recent study shows how citrus volatiles influence mood, highlighting their potential application in functional foods and nutraceutical applications. The introduction to an article in Food Quality and Safety about the study states that mood food refers to foods that enhance mental health. Among these, the widely favored citrus aromas evoke emotions such as pleasure, relaxation and alertness, thereby influencing …
The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) on April 1 released its citrus export estimates for 2026, which point to continued growth. The report includes estimates of all varieties, excluding late mandarins (which make up the bulk of the mandarin crop). Taking the historic trajectory of late mandarins into account, total citrus exports are expected to increase by approximately …
A Spanish project is working on the extraction and recovery of orange and mandarin pectin to develop edible inks capable of being printed directly on food. The project also includes the development of a sensor that marks the deterioration of food. Pectin is a soluble natural fiber with gelling properties. The research team focuses on formulating and obtaining inks with …
Research conducted in China may hold significant implications for the sustainable development of citriculture amid the ongoing global HLB epidemic. The work offers novel insights into vascular immunity and plant defense responses. The article (Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveals the cellular immune responses to Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in rough lemon) appeared in the January 2026 issue of Horticulture Research. The authors are …
Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have found that consuming a diet rich in flavonoids such as berries, apples and citrus may help people feel happier and more optimistic over time. The research, co-led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, is one of the first large-scale studies to examine the role of flavonoids in psychological wellbeing. Flavonoids are …
Forecasts for 2025–26 tangerine, lemon/lime and grapefruit production and trade in Türkiye were included in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report. TANGERINES/MANDARINS UP Turkish tangerine/mandarin production is forecast to increase 10% to around 2.19 million metric tons (MMT). The Satsuma variety is the most widely produced in Türkiye and is crucial for both domestic …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has issued 2025–26 production and trade forecasts for European Union (EU) citrus. TANGERINES/MANDARINS EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2025–26 is estimated at 2.794 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 2.97 MMT bumper crop in the previous season. After years of constant contraction, EU’s tangerine and mandarin area has …
A U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) forecast for citrus in Türkiye in 2025–26 included a report on oranges and orange juice (OJ). ORANGES Orange production is forecast to decrease 15% to around 1.3 million metric tons (MMT). This is due to severe frost occurring in spring 2025. The most popular orange types in Türkiye are Washington …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently issued its 2025–26 forecasts for South African grapefruit, tangerines/mandarins and lemons. GRAPEFRUIT South African grapefruit production is forecast to increase by 1% to 430,000 metric tons (MT). The area planted with grapefruit is 8,150 hectares. This production area declined from 2020–21 to 2022–23 and appears to have stabilized since …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast year-over-year production increases for Australian oranges, orange juice and mandarins in 2025–26. ORANGES Orange production in Australia is projected to reach 590,000 metric tons (MT) in 2025–26, up from 580,000 MT the prior year. Of the total forecast, 365,000 MT is expected to come from navel varieties and …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently forecast European Union (EU) orange and orange juice (OJ) production and trade for 2025–26. ORANGES EU orange production is projected at just above 5.6 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 5.9 MMT orange crop in 2024–25. Orange production is the largest citrus category within the EU. Spain accounts …
A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global fresh grapefruit and fresh lemon/lime projections for 2025–26. GRAPEFRUIT UP Global fresh grapefruit production is forecast up 2% to 7 million tons on larger crops in China, the United States and the European Union (EU). China production is forecast …
