By Robin Koestoyo On Nov. 7, citrus growers will join University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Assistant Professor Flavia Zambon to view new citrus varieties that show tolerance to citrus greening. Zambon will guide visitors at the 2024 Millennium Block Field Day, a walk-through interpreted tour. The Millennium Block is a seminal grapefruit trial on 20 acres …
Brassinosteroids Help Trees After IPC Removal
Associate Professor Fernando Alferez and his team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) learned several years ago that individual protective covers (IPCs) protect newly planted trees from HLB. They do that by excluding the Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) that spread the devastating citrus disease. But multi-county citrus Extension agent Mongi Zekri noted that IPCs …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Get Out and About at Variety Displays and Field Days
By Peter Chaires Each year, citrus breeding and research teams go to great lengths to host variety displays, research reviews, tours and field days. These events not only showcase the collective pursuit of industry needs and priorities, but they afford stakeholders an opportunity to monitor the progress and interact directly with scientists and support staff. This is an investment of …
Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium
Researchers Marcelo Miranda and Haroldo Volpe with Brazil’s Fundecitrus discussed control of the HLB-spreading psyllid during a recent visit to a South African research symposium and accompanying events. During the Citrus Research Symposium in Drakensberg, Miranda discussed studies developed at Fundecitrus on the management of the HLB-spreading psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In South Africa, HLB is caused by a bacteria different …
Frequent Irrigation Benefits HLB-Infected Sweet Orange Trees
By Tripti Vashisth and Mary Sutton Citrus trees affected by huanglongbing (HLB) show significant root dieback. This dieback results in smaller root systems than would be seen in healthy citrus trees. These small root systems are limited in their uptake capacity. In other words, if an HLB-affected tree is given the same amount of water as a healthy tree, the …
Factors to Consider When Planting a New Grove
Growers have numerous things to think about when planting a new grove. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus genetic improvement specialist John Chater discussed this topic during a recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presentation. Following are highlights from his talk on establishing new varieties in a new citrus grove. PESTS AND DISEASES Soilborne pests …
Owari Satsuma Pruning Project Update
By Jake Price The University of Georgia Owari satsuma pruning project is going to be very interesting. With extremely heavy fruit loads this year, I feel sure next year will be an “off” year for satsumas. It will be interesting to see what the fruit yields will be on the pruned trees compared to the unpruned trees. The six trees in this …
Talking Trunk Injection at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
The educational program on the first day of the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo focused on trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) being applied to citrus to treat HLB. Trees have received their second OTC treatment, and growers are hopeful trees will respond with better fruit retention and improved quality. Ute Albrecht, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
PGRs Promote Tree Health
The use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) has been a popular method to treat HLB-infected citrus trees. The materials have continued to be applied in conjunction with trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to improve tree health. Tripti Vashisth, an associate professor of horticultural sciences with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has been studying PGRs …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: What’s on Tap for 2024–25
By Peter Chaires The New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC) has awarded funding to citrus projects for the 2024–25 season. Exciting things are happening in crop transformation, but significant progress is also being made in conventional breeding. The NVDMC board continues to support conventional breeding projects, each with a focus on near-term results, while still setting a foundation for …
What Will the Ideal Grove of the Future Look Like?
Since no cure exists for citrus greening-diseased plants, Brazilian researchers are developing ways to modify orange trees and the environment around groves to make it harder for greening-spreading psyllids to thrive. LOCATION AND LAYOUT The ideal grove envisioned by Fundecitrus researchers, in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council/Polytechnic University of Valencia and Durham University (England), starts with a careful …
University of Georgia Makes Citrus Appointments
The University of Georgia (UGA) announced the appointment of citrus Extension specialist Mary Sutton and peach and citrus breeder Dario Chavez. MARY SUTTON Sutton will focus on maximizing citrus production and improving its efficiency in the face of challenges. Issues important to citrus production in Georgia include: Sutton received her master’s degree in horticulture from UGA in 2019 and her …
Satsuma Pruning and Thinning Trials
University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agents Jake Price and Sydni Ingram recently shared information about UGA satsuma pruning and thinning trials. An edited version of their Cold Hardy Citrus Connection article follows: The percentage of cull fruit in satsumas is very high due to the fruit being too soft, too green or too big. Satsumas are very cold hardy, delicious, …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Strong Support for Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers
By Peter Chaires The citrus research program at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) includes several projects aimed at assisting growers in the cold-hardy citrus region. Let’s take a look at what researchers are working on. EVALUATING SCIONS AND ROOTSTOCKS Presently, the citrus industry in North Florida faces …
Study Looks at Interaction Between OTC and Soil Microbiome
A wealth of observations are being recorded by growers and scientists on the effects of trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). Visually, trees have responded with better canopies. Hopefully, higher yields and quality will continue to follow the applications. But what about below ground? There have been recorded improvements in citrus root mass in treated trees. Sarah Strauss, associate professor of …
Irrigation and Fertilization Advice for Georgia Citrus
Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) county Extension coordinator, recently wrote the following article about irrigation and fertility for Georgia citrus: I don’t think it has rained since my last blog! Make sure to check your irrigation to make sure it’s working properly. In the research plot, it is very common for the microjets to be stopped up or not spraying properly. …
ACP Management in High-Density Plantings
By Jawwad Qureshi The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Figure 1) is the vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease associated with the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Infected trees start to decline and produce poor-quality fruit, which drops prematurely. Consequently, citrus production has decreased dramatically since the advent of HLB in Florida in 2005. There is no cure for the disease yet. …
Seeking a Partner for OTC
Few would dispute that the approval of oxytetracycline (OTC) for use as a trunk-injection therapy to treat HLB is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the nearly two decades of fighting the disease. Most Florida citrus growers believe the therapy has been a net positive and they are committed to continuing the treatment. However, there’s a stipulation in the labels …
Millennium Block Research Shows Promising Results
A recent update of Millennium Block research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce indicates the 5,500 trees in the project are yielding promising results. The four trials within the Millennium Block aim to unlock the genetic potential of new scion and rootstock hybrids never tested …
Some Grapefruit Showing Less HLB Symptoms
A recent update of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Project evaluating multiple grapefruit varieties on different rootstocks reveals that some combinations have less HLB symptoms than others. Jackson has one of the lowest ranks for disease index across the combinations. The healthiest trees in the trial include: At least half of the blocks in the MAC trial …





























