FSU released a rootstock that keeps the tree from being infected. They don't know how but are doing trials in several Florida locations according to Fox News.

WOW!!! What Great news, please keep us posted on progress.

If the rootstock works out, FSU will surely patent it and will make a fortune. BUT Because the psyllid infects the tree through sucking the juices in the leaves, I believe the tree will still be infected by HLB. - Millet

It's hard to sneak one past 'ole Millet! True that a tree on a resistant rootstock will still be infected by HLB but the disease would be a non-issue if that tree's roots were not affected by the bacteria. It's my understanding that HLB initially reduces the production potential and ultimately kills citrus trees by a killing the tree's root system. Once infected, the tree's root system diminishes resulting in discolored leaves, ugly & bad tasting fruit, fruit drop, and firewood in the end.

Hopefully the rootstock is a success. That would be a great start. I'd love to hear of an inoculate that would protect trees that have yet to be infected.

Groves currently infected with greening are goners anyway for all intents and purposes. Eventually those blocks will get pushed - probably no way around that.

Best,

Skinn30a

I believe HLB kills the tree by stopping the flow in the conducting tissues. At the moment I don't recall if it is the xylem or the phloem. - Millet

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/10/15/florida-counts-on-experimental-trees-to-fight-orange-plague/

Ok. I know we are skeptics but I found the Fox News article that I was talking about. I sure hope they are on to something. I do agree this is different from everything I have heard and read in the past.

Here's a presentation with some information on the rootstock breeding that they are doing down in Florida for greening:

http://flcitrusmutual.com/files/4cbb1e3c-1e1f-4b04-a.pdf

I recently spoke with a representative from Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., about recent and future citrus releases from the University of Florida. I was told that all of these new releases are going to be patented varieties and will be exclusively licensed to New Varieties Development & Management Corporation. They will sub license to Florida nurseries that have protocols in place to prevent greening and canker spread. Currently these trees will only be available to Florida growers. I was also informed that these new varieties had not been tested nearly as long as what was done with previous releases. Their reason for fast tracking these varieties and keeping them in Florida is that UF is trying to help save the industry.

This grouping is commonly called by the name "The Big Three". University of Florida (UF), Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the Food & Agricultural Sciences Service. These three unites, are for all practical purposes just one - The University of Florida. All plant releases by UF , including just about everything grown agriculturally, for example, citrus, apples, cherries, strawberries, cantaloupe, peanuts, plums and so on, will be first patented and royalties added, and only then sent to their select pre-approved customer base, or in other words, primarily the Florida's commercial growers associations. I'm not saying that all the above is bad, nor an attempt to generate more monies for UF, or even a way to keep their products out of the hands of gardeners and hobby growers. After all, the UF and its subsidiaries, have done all the work, have done all the research, all the trials, and provided all the effort to bring these agricultural products into the market. - Millet............(BUT -with the tax payers money)

I can completely understand any negative sentiment in regards to this new way of doing things, but in comparison to the era of non-patented plants there is very little taxpayer money going into the breeding programs unless it is requested from USDA grants. The majority of the USDA grants end up being multifaceted where the money gets divided between four or more departments (or sometimes universities). Most of the normal taxpayer money now goes into non-agricultural programs such as the development of new pharmaceuticals, new lame ass liberal arts programs, studies involving another continent, or into the pockets of the university's bureaucrats. In some of these schools the money from royalties is gradually depleted through the hierarchy and the funds end up being reduced to pennies on the dollar that make it back to the original program.

As far as a "pre-approved customer base", I can't blame them for some of their actions. With the amount of vagrant propagation out there, something has to be done to protect the investment. On plants not restricted by quarantine, any person is eligible to request information on obtaining a license. The only other exceptions are where a business was granted exclusive rights for a certain territory. In the case of the recent citrus releases, New Varieties Development & Management Corporation has these rights in both the U.S. and internationally. Once the industry in Florida makes a rebound, these plants should be made available outside of Florida.

NVDMC's board of directors is made up of growers that are appointed by the different citrus growers association in Florida to help preserve both new and old varieties. It was formed in response to HLB. Here is a presentation outlining the program for new varieties: http://www.nvdmc.org/d/fast_track_grower_sessions_july_2013_v_3.pdf

This progress in citrus greening case, if true, is in fact double-edged sword.
So far exporters from EU or US benefit from decimated asian citrus industry, but if there is the way how to fight the citrus greening, it defacto means reborn of asian citrus industry in future.

It would be great if a root stock could be prefected to prevent greening, i have my doubts.