Recent research showed that individual protective covers (IPCs) proved highly effective in reducing Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations and thereby preventing HLB infection in three mandarin cultivars. However, overall tree response varied. The research was published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. The authors are Saoussen Ben-Abdallah, Susmita Gaire, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, Jawwad Qureshi and …
Study Sheds Light on the Use of Ascorbic Acid With OTC
Growers have always been innovators, testing new production practices in their groves. When you add a disease like HLB, those experiments get ramped up in the effort to seek solutions. A good example of this was a discussion that began last year among growers that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) might be helpful in extending the effectiveness of the oxytetracycline (OTC) …
Alternatives to Copper Needed for Citrus Canker Management
Florida citrus producers have long used copper as a way to protect against citrus canker. However, it’s time for growers to have other options. That’s a message shared by Ozgur Batuman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor and citrus pathologist at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. He spoke on this …
Growers Can Stay Productive in the Face of HLB
Despite declaring there will be no silver bullet for HLB, Ozgur Batuman in a Jan. 21 virtual seminar said growers using integrated pest management (IPM) tools “can stay productive.” However, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor also warned that producing citrus juice in Florida “will not be easy or cheap.” Oranges are by far …
Amending Oxytetracycline With Ascorbic Acid
By Lauren Fessler Mathews, Ana Redondo and Ozgur Batuman Trunk injections of oxytetracycline (OTC) have been proven to give huanglongbing (HLB)-affected citrus in Florida a boost in productivity and quality. However, previous studies have shown that even just six hours of exposure to heat and humidity in the grove can lead to OTC injections that no longer adequately suppress CLas …
SAR Sprays Protect Against Psyllids, HLB and Canker
Recent research has shown that systemic acquired resistance (SAR) sprays can protect young citrus tree flushes from Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) feeding, HLB and citrus canker. ACP is the vector that spreads HLB disease from tree to tree. Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Bayer Crop Science report that SAR sprays can …
HLB Management Requires an Integrated Approach
At the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, Ozgur Batuman reminded seminar attendees there is no silver bullet for HLB management. Instead, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher proposes that growers integrate several tools for the management of HLB. These tools include a variety of ways to control HLB-spreading psyllids; oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection; …
Recommendations for Oxytetracycline Injections
Three University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers recently issued the document Suggested Use Pattern of Injectable Antimicrobials for Huanglongbing (HLB) Management. The authors are Ute Albrecht, associate professor of horticulture; Ozgur Batuman, associate professor of plant pathology; and Megan Dewdney, associate professor of plant pathology. The antimicrobials for Florida citrus are ReMedium TI and Rectify; …
Bridging the Gap to the Tree of the Future
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center hosted an OJ Break seminar on May 14. The speakers provided updates on developing a gene-edited citrus tree with resistance to HLB and how growers can use existing tools to mitigate the disease. Nian Wang, UF/IFAS professor, provided an update on the status of …
Stay Vigilant About Virus Threat
By Ozgur Batuman and Amit Levy Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was first reported on lemon and sour orange trees in Pakistan in 1988. Since then, the disease has been primarily restricted to Asian countries. However, CYVCV was more recently detected in dooryard citrus in California in 2022. While there is no indication that the virus is present in …
Oxytetracycline Efficacy Impacted by Exposure to Field Conditions
By Lauren Fessler Mathews, Sanju Kunwar, Ana Redondo and Ozgur Batuman Based on numerous research studies conducted by scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), it has been proven that injections of oxytetracycline (OTC) can help to alleviate symptoms caused by huanglongbing (HLB) disease. This treatment is now widely practiced and crucial for preventing …
Australian Lime Interstocks to Combat HLB
By Ozgur Batuman, Sanju Kunwar and Ana Redondo In a promising effort to protect citrus from huanglongbing (HLB), University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are exploring the potential of Australian lime as an interstock graft for Valencia scions with Swingle rootstock. The interstock technique uses various limes, known for their natural HLB-tolerant peptides, between the …
Phytophthora Increasing; HLB Complicates Control
Phytophthora incidences are increasing in Florida citrus groves, plant pathologist Ozgur Batuman reported during a May 21 presentation. Phytophthora diseases include foot rot of trunk and limbs, root rot and brown rot. Batuman, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor, said these diseases led to yield reductions of 3% to 6% per year even prior …
Diseases Easier to Prevent Than to Control
Plant pathologist Ozgur Batuman recently warned that two citrus viral diseases not currently in Florida are highly suited to the state’s climate and would likely impact production if found there. They are citrus leprosis and citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV). Batuman, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor at the Southwest Florida Research and …
Trunk-Injection Suggestions
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professors Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman and Megan Dewdney recently wrote Suggested Use Pattern of Injectable Antimicrobials for Huanglongbing (HLB) Management (April 2024). They emphasized that the document is not an official UF/IFAS recommendation but is based on the labels for antimicrobial products ReMedium and Rectify. Some key suggestions in …
Tips for Trunk Injection of Oxytetracycline
By Ute Albrecht and Ozgur Batuman Follow these important tips for proper trunk injection of oxytetracycline as a citrus therapeutic. APPLICATION TIMING INJECTION TECHNIQUE ADDITIONAL ADVICE Ute Albrecht (ualbrecht@ufl.edu) and Ozgur Batuman (obatuman@ufl.edu) are associate professors at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. Sponsored ContentTake the Sting Out …
Prolong the Health of Young Citrus Trees
By Fernando Alferez, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, Jawwad Qureshi and Saoussen Ben Abdallah Individual protective covers (IPCs), which are psyllid-exclusion mesh bags, are increasingly being adopted to efficiently protect newly planted citrus trees from huanglongbing (HLB) infection. However, IPCs typically must be removed after two to three years due to tree growth. Early evidence indicates that brassinosteroids (Brs), a relatively …
Seeking Injection Alternatives and Additions
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) approved three new projects during its September board of directors meeting. The projects will test the injection of different antimicrobial materials to treat HLB. One project will be managed by Ozgur Batuman, a citrus pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Another will be run by Kranthi …
Diseases Without Borders: Leprosis and Yellow Vein Clearing Viruses
By Ozgur Batuman Plant virus diseases are unusually difficult to manage if introduced into new production sites. Citrus-infecting viruses, particularly those spread by insect vectors, are no exception to this. Florida is regularly challenged by a barrage of invasive pests and pathogen species that could devastate the citrus industry. Viruses causing citrus leprosis and citrus yellow vein clearing diseases are …
Sneak Peek: September 2023 Citrus Industry
The Florida citrus industry has seen more than its fair share of challenges and changes in recent years. But through it all, Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery has been a constant positive presence. This is due to strong leadership from Nate and Anna Jameson and their ability to adapt to changing times. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently …





























