-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
Parasitic weeds are ruthless freeloaders, stealing nutrients from crops and devastating harvests. But what if growers could trick these invaders into self-destructing? Scientists at University of California, Riverside (UCR) think they’ve found a way to turn the weeds’ own biology against them. This trick is detailed in the journal Science. At its heart lies a class of hormones called strigolactones — unassuming chemicals that play dual roles.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (FFSP) has signed a licensing agreement with New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC) to introduce new citrus varieties showing tolerance to HLB.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
Malcolm Manners, Florida Southern College (FSC) professor of citrus science and coordinator of the citrus and horticultural science program, will soon retire after 44 years at the college. Manners’ fascination with plants and horticulture started at a young age. “My parents were always gardeners, and I’ve had an interest in plants my whole life,” he said. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Anderson College, Manners decided to return to his horticultural roots.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate a halt in federal funds to farmers to help address critical labor shortages and reduce irregular migration from Northern Central American countries. The request was in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
By Fernando Alferez, Divya Aryal and Saoussen Ben AbdallahIn the last few years, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus horticulture team at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee has performed several research trials in commercial farms and at the experimental farm at the SWFREC to elucidate the effect of homobrassinolide on trees affected by HLB.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
Growers use the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production system to protect trees from the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect vector of HLB disease. While grapefruit is most commonly grown in CUPS, statistics support the belief that CUPS can be conducive to other types of citrus. “There’s a need to establish the growing requirements and the needs of other varieties. Most of the CUPS commercially grown is grapefruit.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed five new members to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) and reappointed five members. The new appointees are Emma Ezell, Sean Frielich, Vernon Hollingsworth III, Daniel Hunt and Melanie Ressler. Steve Johnson, Carlos Martinez, William Poulton, Daniel Sutton and John “Patrick” Schirard were reappointed. The FCC is the governing board of the Florida Department of Citrus. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a citrus quarantine expansion in San Diego County’s Valley Center on March 26. The expansion occurred after detection of HLB disease in two citrus trees in residential neighborhoods in the Valley Center area during regular inspections. HLB is a major threat to San Diego County’s $144 million annual citrus crop and can impact residential citrus tree owners.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
By Ramdas KanisseryManaging weeds in citrus groves isn’t just about what you spray; it’s about when you spray. The effectiveness of your weed control program largely depends on the growth stage of both the weeds and the citrus trees in your grove. Getting the timing right can make a big difference in how well your weed control program works and how safely it fits into your grove. The best results are achieved when weeds are targeted early.
-
1 week ago | 
citrusindustry.net | Daniel Cooper
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee hosted a citrus field day on April 10. The event showcased the research being conducted at the center. One of the tour stops featured individual protective cover (IPC) research led by Fernando Alferez, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture.
