Citrus Growers Forum

A.T. Hagan · Posted: Wed 15 Jul, 2009 3:43 pm

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/24/field-trials-started-on-citrus-trees-resistant/

Field trials started on citrus trees resistant to canker, greening

By LAURA LAYDEN Naples Daily News
Originally published 01:00 a.m., June 24, 2009
Updated 11:10 a.m., June 24, 2009

LABELLE Southern Gardens Citrus, based in Clewiston, has planted its first trees that could be resistant to canker and greening.

Canker and greening are the most deadly and damaging diseases facing the citrus industry today.

The trees, which showed resistance to canker and greening in the lab, were planted in small plots in Hendry County to see how they will do in a commercial grove.

These field trials are an important milestone both in our own proactive programs dealing with disease and in the industry-wide efforts to save Florida citrus, said Rick Kress, president of Southern Gardens Citrus.

The citrus trees were produced using biotechnology developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. After the trees showed promise in the laboratory, Southern Gardens secured a field trial permit from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Biotechnology Bioregulatory Services.

There are federal regulations and very stringent protocols that we must follow to ensure the safety and integrity of these field trials, including strict access control, Kress said.

Southern Gardens Citrus is one of the largest citrus producers in the state. It has three groves in Southwest Florida, all of them infected with greening.

Millet · Posted: Wed 15 Jul, 2009 8:21 pm

Southern Gardens Citrus, is a very large grower, with over 2 million citrus trees in the ground. Their business is Orange Juice production. This is an excellent example of industry leadership, and University knowledge attacking the problem. We wish them well. - Millet (1,282-)

dauben · Posted: Sat 18 Jul, 2009 3:40 am

I wonder if the trees are something that can be used as a rootstock to protect the cultivar that's growing on it or if each cultivar has to undergo the "biotechnology" work to be protected. Anyway, it will be interesting to hear the results. So far . . . knock on wood, I'm still a few blocks outside of the quarantine area for greening.

Phillip