Florida Citrus Tissue Culture Lab Opens To Great Expectations

It goes without saying that survival, recovery, and resurgence of Florida’s citrus industry will utilize skills and technologies that are cutting edge — or at the very least, new to Florida citrus. Such will be the case in the nursery, grove, and packinghouse. Investment is needed, and needed now. This article will focus on one such investment, a new AgroMillora tissue culture (TC) citrus rootstock production facility recently unveiled in Wildwood.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony took place in early April. AgroMillora’s staff hosted a large group of industry leaders, local government officials, Florida citrus nurseries, and representatives from the University of Florida, Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc., and USDA for a presentation and tour.

Leading the presentations for AgroMillora were Carles Sumarroca (AgroMillora Group President) and Dr. Mireia Bordas (Research Manager). Dr. Bill Castle (Professor Emeritus, UF) was a guest speaker.

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Labworkers at AgroMillora's new tissue culture facility in Florida

Lake County’s workforce is getting a boost as local employees will be trained to run the lab.
Photo by Peter Chaires

Location, Location, Location

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The project came together rather quickly, starting construction in July 2015, and completing the facility in December 2015. The new location was selected because of its distance from commercial citrus production and its proximity to the crossroads of I-75 and the Florida Turnpike.

Additionally, the inland locale is hoped to provide less risk from hurricanes. To seal the deal, Sumter County came through with tremendous support through its Economic Development Program. Adding to its local appeal, AgroMillora has elected to train local employees to run the facility. The initial staff includes 10 people, but will shortly increase to 15.

AgroMillora has 11 subsidiaries (14 production centers; in Spain, there are four locations), eight of which have TC labs (Barcelona, Chile, Brazil, Australia, Morocco, Turkey, Oregon, and Florida). AgroMillora produces by TC: prunus rootstocks, citrus rootstocks, apple rootstocks, other fruiting plants and trees (blueberries, blackberries, and pomegranates), walnuts, pistachio, hazelnuts, forest trees (pawlonia), and ornamentals.

The Wildwood facility will focus on commercial production of rootstock liners for nurseries. Scion production will not be an immediate focus of the lab, but AgroMillora may offer its knowledge and expertise toward the development of protocols for scion production down the road.

AgroMillora's new tissue culture facility in Wildwood, FL

AgroMillora expects to produce about 500,000 rootstock plants in the first year at its new tissue culture facility in Wildwood, FL.
Photo by Peter Chaires

Rootstock Ramp-Up

As with all TC operations, the first year will be largely dedicated to increasing stocks. The company expects to produce roughly 500,000 rootstock plants in the first year, then about 2 million plants per year for the next three to five years. Rootstock selections will include traditional varieties still in demand (X-639, US 942), as well as more recent selections released by UF/IFAS and USDA. It will focus exclusively on citrus rootstocks until completing the first expansion/block of greenhouses. When it starts the (separate) second block of greenhouses in three to four years, production of other crops may be considered. There already is expressed interest for shipment of citrus rootstocks to Texas and possibly later berries and peaches to Georgia and South Carolina. However, for the time being, the focus remains on supplying rootstock liners to Florida citrus nurseries.

New Varieties Development & Management Corp. is continually asked about the drought tolerance and stability of rootstocks grown from TC. Dr. Bordas has found the root system of TC plants is perfectly functional for anchorage and nutrient uptake. She adds that “such plants produce a profuse and viable root system and quickly adapt to field conditions. The use of containers in the nursery does not maintain intact the dominant tap root system. The roots, no matter what type of system is used, develop in the area where water and nutrients are available. In the new plantings, irrigation is required to get profitable production, and the roots colonize the wet bulb. A dominant tap root system is not a guarantee that the roots will grow deeper and provide greater stability. AgroMillora has produced in 30 years more than 300 million plants by TC and stability has never been an issue. The modernization of the cultivation in all fruit species has been through the clonal multiplication of their rootstocks.”

This is a positive development for Florida citrus. Florida now has four functioning TC facilities supporting the industry, each with increasing production capability. Some citrus growers are planting, others are leaving the industry, and others are on the sidelines waiting for some combination of factors or tools.

Ben Bolusky, Executive VP/CEO of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, put it best when remarking that “AgroMillora’s new facility is yet another indication of Florida’s citrus nurseries stepping up to the plate to meet the demand for expanded production in this transitional journey through HLB and coming out the other side.”

Make It A Date

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2016-2017 UF/IFAS Variety Display events.

  • Nov. 9, 2016 CREC, Lake Alfred
  • Dec. 13, 2016 CREC, Lake Alfred
  • Jan. 26, 2017 Havert L. Fenn Center, Ft. Pierce (Day 2 of the Florida Citrus Show)
  • Feb. 14, 2017 CREC, Lake Alfred (focus on oranges, grapefruit, and late mandarins)

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Avatar for Ray Strunk Jr. Ray Strunk Jr. says:

I have been looking for a tissue culture source for years. I am starting back in plant production and sales with little to work with! I need small starters to put into flats of 72 or so. Tropical, flowering, ornamental, and desirable, profitable early development to chosen point of sale. Please help me to make the correct choice in culture!

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