Two new detections of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) have been confirmed in rural residential citrus trees in the city of Visalia in Tulare County, California. The detections resulted from an ongoing survey and sampling activities conducted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). CYVCV had previously been confirmed in August in the city of Tulare; learn …
Trunk Injection Not a Silver Bullet for HLB
Although trunk injection of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) has received much recent press for its promise in managing HLB, there is still no silver bullet for the devastating disease. That was part of plant pathologist Ozgur Batuman’s message at a Dec. 10 seminar addressing HLB and other citrus diseases that may exacerbate HLB’s effects on trees. “There is no single effective …
Citrus Breeding Program Funded in California
New federal funding of $1 million will establish a citrus breeding program in California. The program will be at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) field station in Parlier. It will identify new citrus varieties that are best suited for changing climatic pressures such as drought, consumer taste preferences, and resistance to pests and diseases such …
COVID-19 Prevention Regulations for California
California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board on Dec. 15 voted to adopt non-emergency COVID-19 prevention regulations. These regulations will take effect once they are approved by the Office of Administrative Law in January 2023. They will remain in effect for two years after the effective date, except for the recordkeeping subsections, which will remain in effect for three years. …
Leafminer Management Helps Fight Canker
Brazilian citrus association Fundecitrus has alerted growers that proper management to combat citrus canker in orchards begins with leafminer control. The leafminer is a pest that has been present in Brazilian citriculture since 1996. According to Fundecitrus researcher Franklin Behlau, the leafminer does not spread citrus canker disease from one plant to another or even to different parts of it. …
Diaprepes in Florida Citrus: Past, Present and Future
By Lukasz L. Stelinski, Lauren Diepenbrock and Larry Duncan Given the focus on HLB in citrus management for more than a decade, important additional pests of citrus have sometimes not received the attention they may deserve. Trees with HLB are weakened and prone to succumb to the effects of the disease when challenged by secondary affliction(s), including infestation by diaprepes …
Cover Crop Considerations for Citrus
By Amir Rezazadeh Cover crops protect the soil from sunlight, wind and heavy rain, which enhances soil microbial populations and improves soil structure, water infiltration and root penetration. A reduction in soil crusting, erosion, runoff and nutrient leaching are additional advantages. Through improved nitrogen cycling and nutrient retention, cover crops increase soil fertility. ORGANIC MATTER SOURCECover crops offer an inexpensive …
Sneak Peek: January 2023 Citrus Industry
Past management, a perennial problem for citrus growers, is the primary focus of the January issue of Citrus Industry magazine. An old pest is posing new concerns for Florida growers. The recent resurgence of diaprepes root weevil is the subject of the cover story by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers Lukasz Stelinski, Lauren Diepenbrock …
Hoffman to Direct Government Affairs at Florida Citrus Mutual
Landon Hoffman will become director of government affairs for grower organization Florida Citrus Mutual on Jan. 9, 2023. Hoffman joins Mutual from Congressman Neal Dunn’s office, where he served as campaign manager for this year’s reelection. Prior to that, Hoffman was Dunn’s district director. In that role, he oversaw district operations and served as staff for the congressman on the U.S. …
Pair of Problems for Louisiana Satsumas
Plant Diagnostic Center Director Raj Singh at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSA AgCenter) recently addressed two stresses that impact yields in Louisiana citrus — internal dry rot and puffy fruit. INTERNAL DRY ROTMature fruit affected by internal dry rot may look healthy on the outside, but peeling the fruit reveals dry, discolored flesh. This internal dry rot is …
All In For Citrus Podcast, December 2022
The December All In For Citrus podcast includes a discussion with Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center, about ongoing efforts growers are making to rehabilitate citrus groves after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Rogers also addressed some longer-term research being conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to develop trees that …
Guide Prepares California Growers for HLB Detection
California’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) has developed a guide, Response for a Confirmed Huanglongbing Positive Detection in a Commercial Grove, to prepare growers for a finding of the disease. The guide is intended to educate growers about the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) huanglongbing action plan. The devastating citrus disease spread by the Asian citrus …
Sustainable Citrus Group Meets in Brazil
Researchers, professors and representatives of institutions participating in a sustainable citrus project recently visited Brazil’s Fundecitrus for a progress meeting. The project is Sustainable Citrus Culture Through the Controlled Release of Antibacterial Compounds From Formulations Based on Microgels. The project aims to develop sustainable technologies for the protection of citrus and as an alternative to copper, which is recognized as …
Hurricane Aid Sought for Florida Citrus Industry
The Florida citrus industry has an urgent need for disaster aid in the wake of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, 17 members of Florida’s congressional delegation advised the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. In a Dec. 8 letter, the U.S. representatives stated that Hurricane Ian impacts caused an estimated $675.5 million in preliminary damages to the industry. They reported that damage …
Brownsville Mexfly Quarantine Removed in Texas
Federal and state agriculture officials on Nov. 14 removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. The quarantine was removed after three generations elapsed with no additional detections in the area. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). …
Seeing Success With Louisiana Citrus Grown Indoors
A three-year Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) study is investigating the pros and cons of growing citrus inside or in containers. “So far, we are finding that the pros are outnumbering cons,” said Anna Timmerman, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. Early results of Timmerman’s research show that growing citrus indoors produces a high-quality …
CUPS Weather Hurricane Ian Well
In the search for ways to survive citrus greening, some growers have chosen the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) system as their solution. While CUPS can be costly to construct, it has proven to effectively prevent the deadly disease. But some have asked if the structures would hold up in extreme weather and adequately protect the trees. Hurricane Ian helped …
Fundecitrus Researchers Attend Citrus Congress
Researchers from Brazil’s Fundecitrus participated in the 14th International Citrus Congress held in Mersin, Turkey, Nov. 6–11. The event brought together participants from public and private research institutions, as well as the production and commercial sectors of citrus. Representatives from 28 countries participated in the congress, including the United States, South Africa, Australia, Israel and several countries in Europe. Fundecitrus …
Unraveling the Relationship Between the HLB Bacterium and Trees
At the heart of the HLB threatening the Florida citrus industry is a complex exchange between the citrus tree and an insidious bacterium. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers continue to study the bacterium that causes HLB. They are learning more about how it works within the citrus tree in an effort to find viable …
Researchers Study Relative of HLB Pathogen
Sometimes the most niche plant pathogen packs the greatest punch. Such is the case for the Florida citrus industry, which has seen a 70% decline in its orange production since the introduction of HLB in 2005. HLB is also known as citrus greening disease. The bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus cause this disease, which spreads via a flying insect. When the …