field

Field-Testing Natural Compounds to Fight HLB

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening, Research

Field tests of numerous antibacterial products and plant-derived compounds are underway with the goal of eliminating the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus and reversing plant damage to restore tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant root biologist Lorenzo Rossi discusses a new research project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of …

Asian citrus psyllid ACP

ACP Monitoring Efforts in Georgia

Dan Citrus, Georgia, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening

The citrus industry is expanding in Georgia. With that growth comes the need to slow the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the vector of HLB disease. Although not yet found in Georgia’s commercial citrus production, there have been confirmed HLB-positive residential citrus trees. The disease has the potential to greatly hinder the state’s citrus industry. Therefore, the University of …

hlb

Huanglongbing (HLB): The Microbiome’s Role

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening, Research

Researchers Caroline Roper and Nichole Ginnan at the University of California, Riverside led a large research collaboration that sought to explore the microbiome’s role in HLB disease progression. Their recent article in Phytobiomes Journal, “Disease-Induced Microbial Shifts in Citrus Indicate Microbiome-Derived Responses to Huanglongbing,” moves beyond the single-snapshot view of the microbial landscape typical of microbiome research. Their holistic approach to …

budget

Homeowner Canker Payments Coming

Dan Citrus, Economy, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening

Approximately 12,000 Lee County homeowners in Florida will receive checks in early January as compensation for citrus trees destroyed in the state’s citrus canker eradication program, according to attorney Robert Gilbert. Gilbert was the lead counsel representing the homeowners in a class action lawsuit for the past 17 years. According to Gilbert, the residential trees that were destroyed by the …

georgia citrus

Georgia Citrus Pest and Disease Update

Dan Citrus, Georgia, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening, Pest/Pest Control

As the Georgia citrus industry continues to grow and prosper, growers should be aware of the potential signs of citrus pests and diseases that could be looming in their groves. Bill Barber, Certified Crop Advisor and owner of Barber Ag Services, delivered a presentation during the 2021 virtual Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. He addressed pests and diseases presently in …

asian citrus

Dormant Sprays for Asian Citrus Psyllid Management

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening

Several studies have documented the positive effects of controlling the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Figure 1) for citrus tree health and sustainability in Florida. The mature blocks established before and after the discovery of huanglongbing (HLB) in 2005 continue to benefit from psyllid control. One psyllid is enough to infect a tree with HLB for life, and repeated infestations negatively …

Asian Citrus Psyllid

Time for ACP Dormant Season Sprays

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening

Pest management is an ongoing effort in Florida citrus. Taking advantage of pest life cycles, whether they are tied to the season or plant phenology, can make management efforts have greater impacts on pest populations. For many citrus growers, managing the impacts of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the vector of huanglongbing (HLB), is part of the annual management plan. As …

Root Bacteria Could Help Defeat HLB

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening, Research

A team led by the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is looking at tiny underground microorganisms for a way to prevent a huge problem — huanglongbing (HLB), a disease with no cure that has decimated citrus orchards worldwide. “Often times, it is thought of as an above-ground disease of the fruits, leaves and stems,” said Caroline Roper, plant pathology professor and director …