Two citrus growers recently explained the benefits to be gained from research at the Indian River Research and Education Center’s (IRREC) Millennium Block in Fort Pierce, and a scientist discussed a grapefruit study there. The IRREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) facility. The 20-acre block was planted in 2019 to help growers find …
Groundcovers Promote Water-Use Efficiency and Pest Management
By Sandra M. Guzmán, Larry Duncan, John Santiago and Lorenzo Rossi The implementation of pest management technologies might have an impact on other management areas in the grove. Landscape fabric groundcovers, for example, have been used for pest management in citrus production. Groundcovers also recently have been used to promote the homogeneous availability of water for uptake by roots, better …
CRDF Funds CRAFT and Pest Projects
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) was able to hold its September board of directors meeting just prior to Hurricane Ian. During the meeting, CRDF awarded funding for Cycle Four of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program. This will allow for another round of investments in grower-led research projects. “Kristen Carlson, Tamara Wood, the Technical Working Group …
CRDF Reviews Audit and Analyzes Budget
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors gathered for its August meeting. Its first order of business was a review of an auditor’s report. “I’m pleased to report there were no findings. A clean audit is always good news,” said Rick Dantzler, chief operating officer of CRDF. The board dedicated time to the budget, analyzing funds available …
What to Do About Three Florida Citrus Pests
Entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock discussed control of three pests — lebbeck mealybug, Bulimulus sporadicus snails and diaprepes root weevils — at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher described the mealybug and snails as “new pest challenges” and diaprepes as the resurgence of an old pest. LEBBECK MEALYBUGLebbeck mealybug was …
Groundcovers Influence Citrus Yield and Water Use
By Sandra M. Guzmán In Florida citrus, black fabric mulch groundcovers have been used for the control of the invasive Diaprepes abbreviatus (root weevil). However, these groundcovers can also serve as a best management practice (BMP) to optimize tree water uptake and maintain nutrients around the root system. A three-year University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …
CRDF Board Acts on Research Recommendations
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors spent much of its monthly meeting in July considering recommendations from the foundation’s research management committee (RMC). TRACKING TREESThe RMC recommended that a request for proposals be put forth to create an inventory of all germplasm existing in field trials from the plant breeding programs CRDF has helped to fund. …
Forum for Growers Sparks Conversations
By Ajia Paolillo Florida citrus growers are undoubtedly under pressure while they work daily to maintain tree health and produce quality fruit that is profitable. Growers are constantly switching gears to budget increasing production costs, address labor issues and, of course, fight HLB and other problems in the grove. Growers are fighting HLB from many different directions, including enhanced nutrition, …
Use Physical Barriers for Root Health
By Larry Duncan Citrus trees in Florida soils infested with diaprepes root weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus) or sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus) frequently contend with devastating damage to their root systems. This is made even worse by root loss due to huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Where soil conditions are conducive to the insect or nematode, it is very difficult to prevent major economic …
Sneak Peek: April 2022 Citrus Industry
Increased attention on nutrition has become part of the overall strategy for managing HLB. The April issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes several articles on nutrient management designed to help growers keep trees productive in the HLB era. Mandarin growers will want to take note of new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research on how …
Soil Is Key to Setting Up Trees for Success
By Brad Turner As I started my regenerative journey five years ago, it conjured up memories of walking the family groves in the 1970s with my freshly sharpened eye hoe. I would follow the tractor as it pulled the offset chopper, crisscrossing between the widely spaced trees in all directions. The native grasses and broadleaf plants — including legumes like …
Pest Management: A New Approach to an Age-Old Challenge
By Brad Turner From a family with deep Florida roots, I have over 40 years of experience in commercial citrus production. I learned the industry from the ground up by working in the family groves while studying citrus production at Florida Southern College. I have owned a citrus nursery, my own groves and a citrus caretaking business. I have also …
Groundcovers, Water Use and Yield
Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) scientists are evaluating whether fabric mulch groundcovers can reduce water use in groves without compromising yield. A recent video shot during lemon harvest in a Scott Citrus Management Grove describes the research. IRREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) facility in Fort Pierce. The researchers are evaluating …
Research on Rootstocks: More Than HLB
Plant breeders Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser report on their efforts to develop rootstocks that perform well in Florida from several perspectives. In addition to seeking tolerance to HLB, they are working on rootstocks that might control tree size, deal with other diseases and pests and perform in a range of soils. Gmitter and Grosser are University of Florida Institute …
Monitoring Citrus Root Weevils
By Larry Duncan Soilborne larvae that feed on citrus roots are the damaging life stage of Diaprepes abbreviatus and Pachnaeus spp. (bluegreen) root weevils. Newly developed adult weevils, which emerge throughout the warm months of the year, also occur in soil. A peak emergence of adults occurs at some point each spring or early summer. Less frequently, a smaller emergence …
Growers Discuss Fruit Drop and More
Fruit drop, drought, fruit quality, production costs, deer and Diaprepes root weevil were among problems that bothered Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) members in the 2020-21 season. Those were the issues raised by panelists at a PRVCGA grower roundtable luncheon on May 4 in Hardee County, Florida. “The fruit drop has been the biggest problem this year,” …
Managing Citrus Root Pests
Nematologist Larry Duncan discussed efforts to control the root pests sting nematode and Diaprepes root weevil in his presentation during the virtual April 6 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute. Duncan works at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. The sting nematode and Diaprepes are especially concerning in the age of HLB, …
Fire Ant Management in Citrus
By Lauren M. Diepenbrock While there are many species of ants in Florida, the invasive fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is the one most people are familiar with. These ants can be pests in agriculture, landscapes and structures. The pest’s ability to use a variety of habitats and resources makes it challenging to manage. In citrus groves, fire ants can be …
Genetics and Nutrition Are the ‘Way Forward’
“The combination of improved scion/rootstock genetics and optimized nutrition is clearly the way forward” for Florida’s HLB-stricken citrus industry, Jude Grosser declared in a Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute virtual presentation. Grosser is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant breeder. The Growers’ Institute is normally held in April but was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. …
New Rootstocks in the Citrus Breeding Pipeline
By Jude Grosser, Fred Gmitter and Kim Bowman Two citrus breeding programs have identified several rootstocks that can currently be planted with confidence when combined with appropriate scions, including mid- and late-season oranges, and grown with emerging enhanced nutrition programs. These citrus breeding programs are at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …