Citrus Nematode and Resistant Rootstocks

Tacy CalliesPests

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor Larry Duncan discussed the citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans) during a recent international webinar on plant parasitic nematodes hosted by ADAMA. T. semipenetrans has a worldwide geographical distribution, making it the most common plant parasitic nematode of citrus. According to Duncan, this pest is regulated by seasonal carbon flux in fibrous …

Boosting Citrus Tree Immunity to Combat HLB

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

By Manjul Dutt, Juliana Soares and Jude Grosser Land plants such as citrus are generally anchored to a specific location by their roots. Owing to their immobile nature and constant exposure to pathogenic microbes, plants are very vulnerable. However, you might be surprised by how much plants can protect themselves and survive against multiple adversities encountered during their lifetime. A …

South African Citrus Exports to Set Record

Ernie NeffExport/Import

South African citrus exports, both globally and to the United States, are expected to reach record levels in 2020, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS). The expected record is based on the pace of exports up to August 2020, increased production, a spike in demand for health reasons and limited logistics disruptions …

Citrus Advisory System Provides PFD Alerts

Ernie NeffDiseases

Beep. Beep. Beep. That’s the sound of an alert telling a citrus grower it’s time to spray fungicide to help prevent fruit from falling off the tree due to postbloom fruit drop (PFD). University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have developed a Citrus Advisory System (CAS) that sends web-based alerts to growers via mobile devices. …

Sneak Peek: November 2020 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

As the new Florida citrus season starts, growers have many things on their minds: the low citrus forecast, the threat of potential freezes, and how best to protect both trees and employees. The November issue of Citrus Industry magazine aims to address these concerns. First up is a complete report on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s initial crop forecast for …

orange

FDOC Offers 2020-21 Citrus Season Outlook

Ernie NeffEconomics

Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economist Marisa Zansler recently broke down the expected utilization of the 57 million boxes of oranges Florida is forecast to produce in the 2020-21 season. She also offered projections for utilization of grapefruit and specialty fruit, and made other economic projections in her outlook for the season. ORANGESAbout 96 percent of the orange crop is …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, October 2020

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Sponsored Content

An exciting development with genome sequencing, timely research in the face of COVID-19 and an update on sting nematode research headline October’s All In For Citrus podcast. Citrus Research and Education Center Director Michael Rogers details the benefits of recent news about the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) mapping the trifoliate orange genome. He says …

Increased Florida Department of Citrus Budget

Tacy CalliesFlorida Citrus Commission

On Oct. 21, the Florida Citrus Commission approved a revised 2020-21 operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) of nearly $19.8 million. The commission voted to sustain the preliminary budget set in June, prior to the October crop forecast, through a box assessment of $.12 on oranges used for processing plus up to $1 million in fund balance. …

Potential Trap Crop for Asian Citrus Psyllid

Ernie NeffHLB Management

Pakistan entomologist Muhammad Arshad reported on work that opens the possibility of further studies to determine the potential of Cordia myxa as a trap crop to manage Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and, ultimately, to reduce HLB disease. C. myxa, also known as Assyrian plum or lasura, is a broad-leaved deciduous fruit tree. In trap cropping, plants are used to attract …

Stem Pitting Could Develop in Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffDiseases

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) stem pitting, which causes severe problems in Asia and other places, could develop in Florida, according to plant pathologist Amit Levy. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher at the Citrus Research and Education Center discussed the disease at this year’s virtual Citrus Expo. Noting that “early detection is essential,” Levy said …

Georgia Citrus Association Updates

Tacy CalliesGeorgia

Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) President Lindy Savelle provided information on the association during the recent Georgia Citrus Update webinar, presented by Fort Valley State University. According to Savelle, the fifth annual GCA Conference is still scheduled for Feb. 22 at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Conference Center. The association’s board of directors will meet later this month to …

citrus

Commissioner Fried on Citrus Forecast

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement on the initial citrus crop forecast for the 2020-21 season released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “When Americans think of wellness and health, their thoughts turn to Florida orange juice and fresh citrus, especially during these unprecedented times. Despite the challenges that Florida’s citrus growers have faced as a …

Soilless Substrate Science Seeks Citrus Industry Input

Tacy CalliesResearch

Citrus growers are beginning to explore the potential of soilless culture. Ample opportunities exist for ever-evolving systems offering improved yield while overcoming a diminishing availability of soil fumigants and increased pest pressure. There is a need for flexibility in a constantly changing world of new production methods and regulations. Soilless culture provides an unprecedented opportunity to rethink how tree fruit …

citrus

Citrus Australia Wants Juice Rating Reconsidered

Ernie NeffInternational, Orange Juice

Citrus Australia says the country’s state governments “will be asked to bring common sense to the Health Star Rating (HSR) system” at a meeting in November. The rating system currently rates diet soft drinks as healthier than fresh Australian juice. Industry bodies have contacted Senator Richard Colbeck, chair of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation, asking …

Advice for Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers

Ernie NeffMarketing

North Florida citrus growers who are new to the industry received some marketing advice and background information recently from Vero Beach grower and packer Dan Richey. He gave a presentation during a virtual annual meeting of the Cold Hardy Citrus Association on Sept. 23. Richey, president and CEO of Riverfront Packing, urged the growers to have a plan and to …

Viroid Found on Georgia Citrus

Ernie NeffDiseases

Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) was found on citrus in Georgia for the first time this year. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension warns that HSVd and other viroids could pose a threat to the state’s growing citrus industry in susceptible varieties. Leaf samples were collected in May and June from 12 different citrus plants in two nurseries in southern Georgia. Nine …

Diversifying Citrus Pest Management

Ernie NeffPests

The use of chemicals for HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) and other pests has raised several concerns, Jawwad Qureshi reported in a virtual Florida Citrus Growers Institute presentation. Those concerns include pest resistance, costs and diminishing biological control of pests, as well as concerns about health and the environment. Qureshi, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …

mandarin

Progress Toward HLB-Tolerant Citrus

Tacy CalliesVarieties

Largely due to the advent of huanglongbing (HLB) disease, Florida orange production has declined by over 70 percent in the last 10 years. According to experts, if the trend is not reversed, processing plants will not have enough fruit to maintain production and profitability, ultimately causing shutdowns. Currently, Florida law requires that orange juice be comprised of at least 90 …