1. Please state project objectives and what work was done this quarter to address them:
The research objective is to determine if synthetic Plant Defense Inducers could provide additional benefits after a second year of applications for season long suppression of HLB following OTC injections or improve yield and quality of harvest in infected trees. These foliar applications could potentially protect trees during the months where OTC injections are not allowed and provide resistance management for OTC with a different mode of action. In addition to disease assessments, determination of citrus vigor, yield and fruit quality will be important to provide growers with tools for sustainable citrus production under Florida conditions.
– Research trial plot maintenance continues on a monthy basis.
– PCR leaf data from the December 2025 sample date has been received from the HLB testing lab.
– Data analysis continues for the 2025 season to date.
– In March, citrus yield was collected from both trials. For the larger trees at the Avon Park location, Juice quality was evaluated in addition to fresh weight harvest.
2. Please state what work is anticipated for next quarter:
– In field trial work has been completed. Data analysis and a summary report will be completed by May 2026.
3. Please state budget status (underspend or overspend, and why):
– Quarterly budget of $20,875.00 according to funding schedule.
4. Please show all potential commercialization products resulting from this research, and the status of each:
– Researcher is not involved in the commercialization details of the project.
5. Have commercialization partners been determined for any discovery, patent or product resulting from this research?
– Researcher is not involved in the commercialization details of the project.