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As citrus growers continue searching for varieties that can perform under huanglongbing (HLB) pressure, researchers are looking beyond tree survival. Fruit quality, flavor and consumer acceptance are becoming increasingly important parts of the equation. A new study evaluated several HLB-tolerant mandarin hybrids and identified selections that combine disease tolerance with traits that could make them attractive for fresh-market production. An …
Citrus greening disease continues to loom over the cold-hardy citrus region. While the industry expands in South Georgia and North Florida, the threat of the disease (also known as huanglongbing, or HLB) remains a focal point of citrus meetings, including on July 28 at the Southeast Georgia Citrus Update in Lyons. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and …
Representatives from Fundecitrus participated in a recent roundtable discussion about the challenges of combating citrus greening. The roundtable was part of the 44th São Paulo Congress of Phytopathology in Brazil. Participants included Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi, Technology Transfer Manager Ivaldo Sala and board member Luiz Fernando Girotto, who is an agricultural director at a citrus company. The participants discussed an …
Freeze protection is a vital part of university research in the cold-hardy citrus region. Growers in South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida only have to look back to last season to see temperatures that dropped to dangerously low levels for citrus production. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed freeze-protection measures at the …
When citrus growers think about viruses and viroids, symptoms above ground — such as tree decline, leaf issues and poor fruit production — often receive the most attention. A new study shows that what happens below the soil surface may also provide important clues about how citrus rootstocks respond to these pathogens. The study, “Root Traits Responses of Citrus Rootstocks …
By Jamie D. Burrow and Tripti Vashisth Florida citrus production continues to change, and staying up to date is vital. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo seminars are an opportunity for growers to hear the latest updates from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researchers. A mix of panel discussions and presentations is scheduled to …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently announced that the enrollment window for citrus packinghouse and nursery equipment grants is open and will remain open through Sept. 1. FDACS is offering 70% cost-share funding to support equipment purchases, equipment refurbishment and related infrastructure repairs for eligible packinghouses and commercial citrus nurseries in Florida. PACKINGHOUSE COST-SHARE FDACS …
For years, conversations surrounding Florida citrus have often centered on challenges: HLB, hurricanes, freezes and shrinking production. But today, there is a different feeling taking hold across the industry. That renewed sense of optimism will be on full display at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Aug. 12–13 in Fort Myers, where the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is returning …
A part of Georgia’s citrus crop lies in the southeastern part of the state. Aubrey Shirley, University of Georgia (UGA) Tattnall County Extension coordinator, believes that portion is continuing to grow. The main threat to that growth is citrus greening disease. “If we get greening really bad and it starts to hinder production, I think the industry is so young, …
The Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA) recently submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding EPA’s Draft Endangered Species Act Fungicide Strategy. The MCFA is a national coalition that represents growers, shippers and processors of specialty crops to advocate for science-based government pesticide and regulatory policies. The letter to EPA acknowledged improvements over previous endangered species proposals. At the …
A new research platform may help scientists identify potential treatments for citrus greening disease faster, potentially speeding up the search for solutions. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), is caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). The disease disrupts the tree’s ability to transport nutrients, leading to symptoms such as blotchy leaves, small and misshapen fruit, poor juice …
The Citrus Industry section of the August issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine features practical production advice, a new variety resource, citrus marketing insights and more. The section opens with a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) article explaining crop load management and alternate bearing in citrus. Fernando Alferez and Muhammad A. Shahid discuss why citrus …
Many people throw away citrus peels because they are too bitter to eat raw, but this outer layer of the fruit’s skin is a rich source of many sought-after beneficial compounds. The peel is in demand for companies seeking to use those compounds for health and pharmaceutical products. Christina Dorado, lead scientist and chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture …
Huanglongbing (HLB) has already taken a heavy toll on U.S. citrus production, but growers in Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley face an additional and compounding challenge — a persistent drought. Current irrigation practices relying on the Rio Grande River as the sole source of water are no longer sufficient to meet the year-round water needs of citrus trees. That is …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette When Thomas E. Hogan arrived in Vero Beach in January of 1920, he could hardly have imagined that his name would one day be tied to one of the county’s most enduring agricultural legacies. A native of Suwannee County, Hogan and his wife came south from the small town of Wellborn, settling along the hammock lands …
Shannon Shepp, Florida Department of Citrus executive director, recently discussed the renewed sense of optimism being felt in the Florida citrus industry due to recent positive developments. INCREASED CITRUS PRODUCTION One of the reasons for optimism is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final citrus forecast for the 2025–26 season. Despite weathering another challenging season, including damaging freezes, Florida orange production …
In Florida, the soilborne phytophthora pathogens — primarily Phytophthora nicotianae and Phytophthora palmivora — are the leading causes of root rot, crown rot and foot rot. Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers recently wrote about phytophthora management in cold-hardy citrus. The authors are Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Muhammad Shahid and postdoc Carlos Aucique-Perez, …
Like the Florida citrus industry, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) welcomed the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) update of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice (OJ). The action marks the first significant revision to the standard in more than 60 years and takes effect Aug. 19. The FDA reviewed consumer sensory data during its rulemaking process …
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program has awarded a €2.5 million grant to Israel’s Nanovel. The company is developing autonomous robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for harvesting dense-canopy citrus orchards. The award also includes eligibility for an equity investment of up to €4.3 million, intended to anchor a planned funding round of approximately €8 million. Nanovel will utilize …
A newly published study suggests that the use of individual protective covers (IPCs) followed by monthly applications of homobrassinolide (HBr) after IPCs are removed is beneficial. The two-step approach can help young mandarin trees stay healthier longer and produce more fruit in Florida’s HLB-endemic environment. The study, “Combining Individual Protective Covers and Homobrassinolide Treatment Prolongs Tree Health and Increases Fruit …
