A company that recently obtained a patent for a natural peptide solution to treat HLB has received Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) funding to see if the product has efficacy for other citrus diseases. CRDF will fund the company, Elemental Enzymes, for about $61,200, said CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler. Elemental Enzymes proposes to do research “to see …
Brazil’s Orange Forecast: Less Fruit, More Drop
The 2020–21 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt in Brazil is 269.36 million boxes. The updated forecast was published Dec. 10 by Fundecitrus and its cooperators. The decrease of 17.36 million boxes represents a 6 percent decline in crop size from the September forecast update. ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONSExpected production was significantly hindered by …
Four to Join Citrus Hall of Fame
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame will induct four new members in 2021. They are John L. Jackson of Sorrento, Florida; the late Lew J. Prosser of Plant City, Florida; Adam H. Putnam of Memphis, Tennessee; and Steven D. “Steve” Sorrells of Arcadia, Florida. They will be inducted during a luncheon tentatively scheduled for Nov. 5 at Florida Southern College …
Uncovering How HLB Acts Inside a Citrus Tree
Amit Levy with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) describes research he’s conducting into the way the causal agent of HLB interacts with a citrus tree. The causal agent is the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Levy, whose research is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, says CLas is found in a citrus …
Florida’s Natural Growers Get Good Returns
Although COVID-19 whacked away-from-home sales at hotels, restaurants and the like in 2019-20, Florida’s Natural posted record net sales and its growers received strong returns on their fruit. “Our results were better than expected,” said Frank Hunt III, chairman of the nation’s third largest orange juice producer. Chief Financial Officer Chip Hendry pegged the cooperative’s historical high net sales at …
Texas Research Should Help With HLB
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have made a discovery that should help combat fastidious or “unculturable” pathogens, such as Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the HLB causal agent. HLB is also known as citrus greening disease. Kranthi Mandadi, a researcher with Texas A&M, and his colleagues have been working several years on developing new technologies to fight the fastidious pathogens. Mandadi and …
UF/IFAS Collaborates on HLB Research
Several University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty are collaborating with other universities and organizations on research, especially for HLB. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), summarizes the work they are doing on a variety of grant-funded projects. Rogers starts with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded project led by …
Citrus Industry Wants Costa for House Ag Committee Chair
California Citrus Mutual (CCM), Florida Citrus Mutual and Texas Citrus Mutual have voiced their support that California Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) be appointed as the new chair of the House Agriculture Committee. A CCM press release stated that Costa understands the industry’s issues, such as pest and disease, trade, water and immigration. Notably, Costa was instrumental in securing federal funding …
Sneak Peek: December 2020 Citrus Industry
The ability to adapt is essential in growing citrus. John Gose, the cover story subject in the December issue of Citrus Industry magazine, knows this to be true. With nearly 40 years of citrus-growing experience at Lykes Bros., Gose has had to adapt to many changes during his career. Learn how he is adapting to citrus greening and the contributions …
Things to Be Thankful for This Year
By Ruth Borger Despite 2020 being a challenging year with a lot to complain about, there are many things to be thankful for. This is the time of year to take a few minutes to reflect on what we have to be grateful for. Here are just a few things to be thankful for that come quickly to mind. A …
Adjuvants Did Not Improve Delivery of Foliar-Applied Oxytetracycline
In 2016, federal authorities began allowing Florida citrus growers to spray oxytetracycline solutions on their trees to combat citrus greening disease. Since then, researchers have been investigating oxytetracycline delivery methods. In a Citrus Expo presentation, Christopher Vincent, assistant professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, shared …
Joint Culturing Project for HLB?
Four researchers from around the country summarized their work on culturing the causal agent of HLB and agreed to consider a large, joint culturing project. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) hosted the panel discussion on Nov. 5 about culturing Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CRDF organized the presentation after receiving a request for funding of a CLas culturing project …
Sudden ACP Increase in California Worrisome
To the surprise and consternation of growers and officials, 74 Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) have been discovered in Kern County, California, since June. Local and state officials are concerned about the recent uptick in trappings and are working to find how extensively the infestation has spread. The trappings have been equally dispersed in residential and commercial citrus. Staff from the …
Growers Want Aldicarb Again
Citrus growers told Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials why they want the insecticide aldicarb registered for use in Florida citrus, and discussed their problems with citrus greening. EPA cancelled the use of Temik, the Bayer brand name for aldicarb, on citrus at the end of 2011. Mike Aerts of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) said the Oct. 22 …
UF/IFAS Gets $4.5M to Continue HLB Fight
Three teams of scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently received nearly $4.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to study new ways to manage HLB. The funding is part of the $45 million in grants the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program …
USDA Grants $45 Million for HLB Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) recently awarded 12 grants totaling more than $45 million for research to combat HLB. “USDA-NIFA’s Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) brings the nation’s top scientists together to tackle this problem,” said Parag Chitnis, NIFA’s acting director. Following are the 12 ECDRE projects funded by USDA-NIFA …
Enhancing Soil Health With Cover Crops
By Sarah Strauss, Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa, Davie Kadyampakeni, Ramdas Kanissery and Tara Wade Soil health is generally synonymous with soil quality and refers to the capacity of a soil to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality and promote plant health. Soils are complicated ecosystems, and discussions of soil health must consider the links between soil functions and soil-based ecosystem services, such …
Sequencing Brings HLB Resistance Closer
University of Florida (UF) scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop an HLB-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees. HLB is also known as greening disease. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers sequenced the genome from trifoliate orange, in collaboration with scientists from the University …
Commissioner Fried on Citrus 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 …




























