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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Research”
For every gallon of Florida orange juice produced, nearly an equal amount of peel is left behind. Traditionally, this material has been used for cattle feed or compost. New research from Yu Wang and Hyun Jeong Jung at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center suggests a far more valuable use. …
The new Citrus Plant Protection Guide 2025-26 from Australia’s New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) is available online. The seventh edition of the guide provides up-to-date information on all aspects of managing pests and diseases in citrus orchards and includes updates on NSW DPIRD projects. Some of the projects are funded by Hort Innovation …
A study in Pakistan shows essential oil from sweet orange peels has possible applications in food preservation and oncology. The study authors are Mahnoor Syed, Saeeda Fatima and Muhammad Bilal Sadiq with Forman Christian College and Moazzam Ali and Khadija Rashid with the University of the Punjab. The research expands the horizons of the way waste materials in the food industry are perceived. Citrus …
A recent study has shown that regular orange juice (OJ) consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes inside immune cells. Many of these genes help control blood pressure, calm inflammation and manage the way the body processes sugar, all of which play an important role in long-term heart health. The study followed adults who drank 500 milliliters of …
Recent research highlights the potential of natural compounds derived from agricultural waste, particularly focusing on orange peels. The study unravels the prebiotic and antioxidant properties of these compounds, shedding light on their potential applications in health and nutrition. The authors of the study, which was conducted in India, are: Peels from citrus fruits, specifically oranges, constitute a significant portion of …
By Michael Rogers It has now been two decades since huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, was first detected in Florida. That announcement in August 2005 changed everything for the Florida citrus industry. At the time, Florida citrus was still a global powerhouse. Less than a year earlier, HLB had been confirmed in Brazil, and we were aware of its devastating …
Growing global production of citrus offers opportunities for Australia’s little-known six native species, according to a University of Queensland researcher. Doctoral candidate Joel Johnson at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is investigating the chemical composition and nutritional potential of those indigenous citrus species. They are: C. australasica (Australian finger lime), C. australis (round lime), C. garrawayi …
Scientists at The University of Alabama (UA) have developed a bio-engineered molecule that uses a natural citrus compound to both target and treat inflammation. Naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit, has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the human body does a poor job of absorbing the compound in the form of food or currently …
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) convened its November board of directors meeting to take up recommendations from its Research Management Committee. According to Rick Dantzler, CRDF chief operating officer, one of those recommendations was funding a proposal from Swadesh Santra, who is a professor of chemistry with the University of Central Florida. “This funding would allow Dr. Santra …
A University of Connecticut researcher recently made advancements in citrus gene editing techniques to reduce the drawbacks of traditional methods. The researcher is Yi Li, professor of horticultural plant breeding biotechnology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. BACKGROUND Scientists employ genome-editing technologies to precisely modify a plant’s own genes, either by inactivating or activating specific target genes …
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 …
The characteristic sour-sweet balance of citrus fruits is largely defined by citric acid accumulation in the vacuoles of juice sacs. Previous studies identified several proteins — such as CsPH8, CsAN1 and CsPH4 — that control acid storage and transport. However, little was known about the CsAN11 protein. Many citrus cultivars exhibit wide variations in acidity, even among closely related varieties, …
Agromillora, in collaboration with the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), has introduced CIVAC-19, a new citrus rootstock. CIVAC-19 is the result of more than a decade of research between IVIA and Agromillora. It is a hybrid rootstock of Citrus reshni (Cleopatra mandarin) and Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange). Its semi-dwarfing nature provides medium vigor, key for maintaining compact canopies and …
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, …
Nazneen Qureshi, a University of Florida (UF) graduate research assistant, is investigating how photoperiod — the amount of light a plant receives each day — can help citrus fruit tolerate cold weather. Qureshi’s research is done alongside UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Assistant Professor Muhummad Shahid. The research looks at whether the amount of light a plant …
Freeze tolerance is a focal point of citrus studies conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. As citrus production continues to grow in the cold-hardy citrus region, growers need varieties that are able to withstand prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures. Leading that research is Muhammad Shahid, …
A recent study reveals that consuming 100% fruit juice is a marker for healthier diet choices and does not displace whole fruit consumption. The study, published in Nutrients on Aug. 21, explored the consumption patterns of 100% fruit juice and diluted juice with the goal of better understanding its relationship to diet quality. Population groups in the study included consideration …
By Kim D. Bowman, Ute Albrecht and Caroline Tardivo Profitability of citrus in Florida has been severely reduced by the impact of huanglongbing disease (HLB). Previous studies have demonstrated that rootstock selection and injection of established trees with oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) can both significantly improve the health, cropping and fruit quality of trees affected by HLB. However, neither a superior …
A study by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers provides insights into the mechanisms of HLB tolerance in C. australis hybrids. A recent article about the study by Sheetal Ramekar, Lamiaa M. Mahmoud, Jaideep Kaur Deol, Stacy Welker and Manjul Dutt of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center was published in BMC Genomics. Citrus …
In 2012, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier and their research team published a paper in the journal Science describing the CRISPR-Cas9 system as a precise gene-editing tool. It was considered a major scientific breakthrough with huge possibilities in human medicine and in agriculture. Doudna and Charpentier were awarded the Noble Peace Prize in chemistry in 2020 for their pioneering work with …
