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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Tip of the Week”
By Michael E. Rogers The 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo took place Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event brought growers, researchers and industry professionals together for two full days of education and discussion. This year’s program featured what may have been a record number of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
By Sandra M. Guzmán and Amir Rezazadeh During Florida’s rainy and hurricane season, accurate water management becomes even more critical for citrus growers. Soil moisture sensors (SMSs) can be used as a baseline tool for making informed irrigation decisions. But to get reliable readings, it is critical to choose, install and use them correctly. WHERE TO INSTALL Proper SMS placement …
By Tripti Vashisth Fruit drop has become one of the biggest challenges for Florida citrus growers, especially in groves hit hard by HLB. On top of the disease, recent hurricanes like Ian and Milton have made the problem worse, causing fruit to drop not just during the storm but often weeks later. Other stresses — such as drought, flooding or …
By Jamie D. Burrow and Tripti Vashisth There are many aspects to research from start to finish, but it’s the time in between that can be most intriguing and exciting. Each year, the UF/IFAS Citrus Team brings the latest research to the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The Aug. 20–21 trade show at the Florida State Fairgrounds will be your …
By Jawwad A. Qureshi The impact of the Asian citrus psyllid continues to intensify through devastation of its vectored huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Although there is no permanent solution for HLB yet, psyllid suppression reduces its impact. Chemical control is the most implemented method. Its strategic use helps reduce psyllid resistance and collateral damage to non-target organisms, including beneficial organisms needed …
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Noor Basar, Alisheikh Atta, Muhammad Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Alan Wright Citrus trees in Florida impacted by HLB have limited nutrient uptake largely due to limited root mass, compromised physiology and extremely sandy soil. The state’s current nutrient management guidelines were developed based on data prior to the spread of HLB, when trees had dense canopies and …
By Sarah Strauss One of the keys to good cover crop germination, and thus the potential benefits to soil health, is timing planting with summer rains. As cover crops are planted to improve soil health and are not harvested for profit, you want them to require as little effort on your part as possible. Relying on rain for irrigation can …
By Jawwad A. Qureshi All citrus pests in Florida have natural enemies, although some are more effective at biological control than others. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have been studying the activity and impact of natural enemies on pest infestations in traditional open production systems and protected systems such as citrus under protective screen …
By Megan Dewdney The Florida rains have finally come this summer, just in time for early-season fruit to start the maturation process. This means there is some risk of brown rot in early sweet oranges and grapefruit. Much of Florida has been getting summer storms, wetting the soil. While this is excellent in general, the downside is that it allows …
By Muhammad A. Shahid and KeAndre Leaks Silicon (Si) is an emerging powerhouse in citrus production, offering wide-ranging benefits for plant health, fruit quality and stress resilience. While not traditionally considered essential, silicon was officially recognized as a “plant beneficial substance” in 2012 by the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials. Its inclusion as an approved input by the …
By Lamiaa Mahmoud and Manjul Dutt Utilizing tolerant rootstocks to combat HLB is a long-term management strategy that can help sustain productivity and enhance tree survival, especially when implemented alongside other HLB management approaches. Australian limes are tolerant to HLB, and their DNA can be incorporated into HLB-susceptible citrus using conventional breeding methods to enhance tolerance to HLB. Over the …
By Tripti Vashisth, Maricielo Postillos and Taylor Livingston In recent years, many citrus growers in Florida have begun using gibberellic acid (GA) to enhance tree growth and productivity. Initially, the recommendation was to apply GA monthly from September to January for Valencia oranges to maintain canopy health, reduce fruit drop and improve yields. However, some growers are hesitant about applying …
By Ramdas Kanissery As the summer season of weed control kicks off in citrus groves, now is the perfect time to make sure your spray rigs are set up for success. Effective weed control depends on: In many cases, poor herbicide performance is caused by two main issues: spraying at the wrong time and using incorrect application techniques. We’ve already …
By Ute Albrecht, Gabriel Pugina, Caroline Tardivo, Jasmine de Freitas and Deived de Carvalho The month during which oxytetracycline (OTC) injections are performed can have a considerable impact on fruit size, juice quality and OTC fruit residues. Citrus fruit development can be divided into three overlapping stages: If injections are performed during Stage I, they promote cell division, which increases …
By Megan Dewdney Every summer, a low rumble about algal spot reaches my ears. And every year, someone discovers it in their Florida grove for the first time. While this is a disease that is not always at the top of mind for growers, when you see it for the first time, it can be dramatic. DISEASE SYMPTOMS Algal spot …
By Lauren Diepenbrock Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), commonly referred to as fire ants, are found throughout Florida. This pest infests a broad range of habitats, including urban regions, natural areas and production fields. In citrus, there are a range of impacts from this pest — from human health to both direct and indirect tree impacts. From a human …
By Jawwad A. Qureshi Several insect pests and mites colonize citrus crops in traditional open orchards. Most pests are localized and are suppressed by predators, parasitoids and entomopathogens to levels that are not economically damaging to the crops. The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the primary vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Despite biological and chemical control of ACP, growing a …
By Lauren Diepenbrock Snail management is becoming a more common discussion in Florida citrus with the arrival of a newer species in the Southeast. The snail of concern is Bulimulus bonariensis, previously referred to as Bulimulus sporadicus (Figure 1). Over the past three years, the first emergence of newly hatched snails was noted in late April through early May. The …
By William Mitchell, Taylor O’Bannon and Michelle Danyluk Biosolids, sometimes referred to as sewage sludge, are a primarily organic solid product produced by wastewater treatment processes. These organic solids are often used as an inexpensive soil amendment to enhance soil quality. KNOW THE RULES AND RISKS The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) prohibits the use of …
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Kondwani Kamsikiri and Alisheikh Atta Water scarcity is one of the major constraints in Florida citrus production systems, primarily due to erratic rainfall patterns and the low water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the predominantly sandy soils. The state’s soils contain more than 95% sand and have low organic matter (<1%) and very low water-holding capacity. These challenges …
