The Battle Against Canker And Greening

The beginning of 2007 finds the citrus industry facing some serious challenges resulting from the introduction and establishment of two exotic citrus diseases, citrus canker and greening. Together, these diseases threaten grove health and impact fresh-fruit marketing. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) — along with other research agencies — is establishing a broad base of research to better understand these diseases and to develop strategies to minimize their impact in Florida. Drawing on information available from other citrus regions that have experienced these diseases, UF/IFAS has established research objectives to address both short- and long-term management strategies.

During 2007, IFAS will continue its efforts in partnership with citrus growers to put in practice the approaches to detect citrus canker and greening in groves across the state, and to refine management recommendations. Short-term research projects are underway to improve the management of Asian citrus psyllid, and during 2007, control recommendations will be updated. Research to enhance biological control of this psyllid vector of greening will expand to introduce additional natural enemies to complement the releases of natural enemies made by UF/IFAS in 1999. Combining biological control with chemical control tools is an important strategy in reducing psyllid populations.

In the citrus greening disease cycle, movement of the pathogen from tree to tree relies heavily on psyllid populations, and their reduction can impact rates of disease spread.

Attacking the disease cycle further will require research to provide new information on the bacterial pathogen, how it moves and reproduces within citrus plants, and under what conditions disease symptoms begin to develop. Laboratory, greenhouse, and field research will yield data crucial to developing disease-management strategies.

Finally, we will continue to pursue the development of citrus plants tolerant or resistant to these important diseases. Traditional and novel methods are being employed to develop plant genotypes that may be less susceptible to infection and disease development. Success in this area, likely to be achieved over a longer timeline, would provide another method for limiting the impact of these diseases.

UF/IFAS is committed to working with the industry to solve these challenges, reallocating existing resources, recruiting additional scientific expertise, and developing industry partnerships. Progress in meeting these goals will be regularly communicated, and results will be incorporated into the educational program offered by UF/IFAS Extension throughout the state. We are confident that advances will occur, enabling the industry to respond to these diseases.