hlb

Uncovering How HLB Acts Inside a Citrus Tree

Dan Citrus, Research

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 tree’s phloem. Phloem is very small, …

texas

Texas Research Should Help With HLB

Dan Citrus, Research

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 his team …

hlb research

UF/IFAS Collaborates on HLB Research

Dan Citrus, 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 the University …

agriculture

Agriculture, Environmental Funding Pitched

Dan Economy, Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will ask state lawmakers for $75 million next year to fund a depleted program that helps shield agricultural land from development. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will propose spending $21 million to help struggling citrus growers reeling after Hurricane Irma. “They have one crop a year. With all the wind and the rain, it …

alabama

Citrus Greening Plant Disease Detected in Alabama

Dan Alabama, Citrus

A plant disease that presents a serious threat to the U.S. citrus industry has been detected in Alabama. Federal and state plant health officials have confirmed the identification of citrus greening (CG), also known as Huanglongbing or HLB, which is caused by the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. This is the first confirmation of citrus greening in Alabama despite biannual …

citrus

Citrus Growers ‘Still Fighting’ Amid Tough Season

Dan Citrus, Industry News Release

News Service of Florida A leader of Florida’s struggling citrus industry offered a positive view after getting a slight increase Friday in the decades-low harvest forecast for the current growing season. Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, expressed some optimism after the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast Friday that growers in Florida would produce enough oranges …

citrus greening

Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: Citrus Greening

Dan Citrus, FL Commissioner Report

    On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam talks about Citrus Greening, a disease that is impacting Florida’s signature crop – citrus.     You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Discover more by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com.