OVERVIEW: The program is designed to provide partial technical salary support to all faculty at the Citrus Center to ensure continuity of the research. PROGRAM OPERATIONS Horticulture/ Breeding: The funds were used to partially support Sonia del Rio. During the reporting period, she worked on: (1) Testing Texas Red grapefruit selections for fruit quality through the season (2) Screening rootstock seedlings for Phytophthora resistance (some survive under intense infection pressure) (3) Embryo recovery of plants from aborted seed of greening-infected fruit for potential resistance Plant Pathology: The funds were used to support Perla Duberney. During this time she worked on the evaluation of the effect of soil conditioners in improving the effectiveness of Mefenoxam treatment for Phytophthora control. The results showed that (1) Phytophthora propagule counts were suppressed in treated plots after 4, 8 and 12 weeks post application; (2) the use of the soil conditioner had a detrimental effect on Mefenoxam effectiveness; (3) fruit size was increased in treated trees compared to untreated trees; (4) application of soil conditioners promote better absorption of micronutrients. Entomology and Plant Physiology will utilize their portions of the grant in the latter portion of the FY.