By Alissa Hevesh Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. A minimum score of 70% is required to receive credit. Pesticides are regulated to ensure the safety and well-being of the …
Mechanism of Resistance to HLB Identified
A research team led by Jian Ye from the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified the first mechanism of citrus resistance to HLB. Results of the study were published in Science. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), the team has also developed antimicrobial peptides that offer a promising therapeutic approach to combat the disease. This discovery addresses …
PIECES OF THE PAST: A Lakeland Citrus Story
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was recently at the opening of the Lakeland History and Culture Center’s new citrus exhibit called “From the Groves, Lakeland’s Citrus Story,” located in the Lakeland Public Library by Lake Morton. Lakeland was once called the “World’s Citrus Center,” so this exhibit is long overdue. It’s been two years in the making by LuAnn Mims, …
Bill Seeks Citrus Alternative Crops
A bill passed unanimously by the Florida Senate and awaiting House approval would fund a $1 million Florida A&M University (FAMU) research project to identify alternative crops for former citrus lands. While the legislation authorizes the study, it is contingent on funding approval. The $1 million budget allocation for the FAMU project is part of a larger agricultural relief effort …
Another Above-Average Hurricane Season Expected
Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers are predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in their initial 2025 forecast report. The CSU team is predicting 17 named storms during the season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers forecast nine to become hurricanes and four to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3, 4 or 5) with sustained …
Florida Southern College’s Malcolm Manners to Retire
Malcolm Manners, Florida Southern College (FSC) professor of citrus science and coordinator of the citrus and horticultural science program, will soon retire after 44 years at the college. Manners’ fascination with plants and horticulture started at a young age. “My parents were always gardeners, and I’ve had an interest in plants my whole life,” he said. After earning a bachelor’s degree …
Brix Bill Introduced in Senate
U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, both from Florida, recently introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act. They said the act supports American growers by changing the standard of sugar levels for pasteurized orange juice from a 10.5% Brix standard to 10%. The bill would have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make the Brix change. Currently, …
Gene Plays Role in Boosting Citrus Cold Tolerance
A pioneering study has uncovered the role of a key gene, PtrPAT1, in boosting cold tolerance in citrus plants by regulating the accumulation of glycine betaine (GB). This breakthrough deepens understanding of how plants cope with cold stress and opens the door to developing cold-resistant citrus varieties. Citrus plants, traditionally cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, are highly vulnerable to …
Citrus Crop Forecast Shows Changes in All States
The April 10 citrus crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) showed increases for most citrus-producing states. FLORIDA In Florida, grapefruit and tangerine/mandarin crops climbed 8% and 14%, respectively. The Florida grapefruit crop increased by 100,000 boxes, to 1.3 million boxes. The tangerine/mandarin crop rose by 50,000 boxes, to 400,000 boxes. Florida’s orange crop …
Senate Bill Would Prohibit Fresh Citrus From China
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida on March 31 introduced the United States Citrus Protection Act, which would prohibit the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit from China. Scott stated the bill would further protect American jobs, ensure the integrity of domestic agriculture and reduce reliance on goods produced by regimes that pose a threat to the United States. …
Florida Citrus Commission Updated on Marketing Campaigns
Representatives of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and its marketing agency, Padilla, reported on various marketing campaigns at the March 26 meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission. Tina Charpentier of Padilla said the FDOC is on track to meet or exceed its attributed sales goal of $25 million for the year, achieving 65% of that level as of March …
Strong Interest in CRAFT Foundation Projects
By Steven Hall The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation received applications in Cycle Six for almost 10,000 acres of New Tree Planting (NTP) proposals and applications for nearly 47,000 acres for inclusion in Cycle Three of the Existing Tree Therapies (ETT) program. WAITLIST ESTABLISHED This demand exceeded the funding available for both programs. The selected applicants have received …
Consumer Perceptions of Citrus Biotechnology Are Critical
Scientists see genetic editing — and in particular CRISPR technology — as a potential way to rescue Florida citrus from HLB disease, but consumer perceptions of the technology are key. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Bachir Kassas is working to assess consumer acceptance of biotechnology. Kassas is an assistant professor in the UF/IFAS Department …
Grants for Texas Growers Suffering Water Shortages
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have announced $280 million in grant funding relief for Rio Grande Valley producers not receiving promised water deliveries from Mexico. TDA stated that the funding “will provide essential economic relief to eligible farmers and producers in the Rio Grande Valley who continue to endure Mexico’s ongoing failure to …
Florida Senate Proposes $200 Million for Citrus
A Florida Senate committee on March 26 proposed $200 million for Florida’s citrus industry in 2025–26. The citrus funding is a priority of citrus grower and Senate President Ben Albritton, who declared, “Mark my words, Florida citrus is not going down on my watch.” The proposal came from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government. “To those …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Polk County Roots Run Deep
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was honored this year to be part of the Vero Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum’s “Deeply Rooted” event, which was the kick-off for Indian River County’s Centennial Celebration. It made me think of this year’s Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees. They all have something in common with deep roots — Polk County! …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Programs Benefit Nurseries
By Peter Chaires The 2024–25 citrus season is another challenging one for Florida’s valued citrus nurseries. Uncertainty has been the consummate challenge for nurseries trying to anticipate grower needs. One large nursery grower recently interviewed believes that door-yard propagations are now nearing commercial propagations. Who would have ever thought we would see this happen? However, after a dismal 2022–23 propagation …
Oranges Linked to Lower Depression
Eating an orange a day may lower a person’s depression risk by 20%, according to a study led by Raaj Mehta, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. Mehta is also a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mehta said a postdoctoral student he was working with found a 2016 paper pointing to the possibility that citrus lowers the risk …
Will Weather Set Florida Free From the Threat of PFD?
By Megan Dewdney Despite being in a transition from a La Niña to a neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation phase, Florida has not had warmer than average temperatures in the last two weeks from March 3. Looking at historical trends, temperatures for the last two weeks of February were in the normal range for this time of year. When looking …
Florida Foliar Disease Outlook for 2025
By Megan Dewdney As I write this article in January 2025, the world is a chilly place, and it is hard to imagine warm and wet weather in Florida. The predicted weather pattern from now until flowering is moving from La Niña toward neutral. This is predicted to bring above-average spring temperatures with reduced rainfall. This is a hopeful sign …





























