Understanding and Manipulating the Interaction of Rootstocks and Constant Nutrition to Enhance the Establishment, Longevity and Profitability of Citrus Plantings in HLB-Endemic Areas

Understanding and Manipulating the Interaction of Rootstocks and Constant Nutrition to Enhance the Establishment, Longevity and Profitability of Citrus Plantings in HLB-Endemic Areas

Report Date: 02/05/2018
Project: 15-013   Year: 2018
Category: Plant Improvement
Author: Jude Grosser
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

Objective 1. (Greenhouse experiment): Another round of PCR samples were taken from every tree and sent to the Southern Gardens diagnostic laboratory to determine HLB status – results are just back and are now being analyzed. Leaf nutritional samples were sent to Waters Lab for analysis, results are back and are now being analyzed and interpreted. Most trees, even though infected, are growing exceptionally well, except for treatment #3, where trees are not showing much growth and are beginning to yellow. Objective 3: To evaluate the effect of complete, balanced and constant nutrition on HLB-affected mature trees (composition, delivery and economics). The nutrition treatments have been applied for 2 year now. The third year first quarter applications of all the treatments have been completed and third year tree health parameters have been collected. The fruits at both the locations have been harvested and evaluated. Currently, we are in process of data analysis and interpretation. The results from year 2 nutritional trial will be presented at OJ Break on May 15th, 2018 Ojective 5. (funded by Lee Groves, using donated fertilizer products): Alligator Vernia/Rough Lemon Enhanced Nutrition Experiment � Treatments: 6 tree plots (randomized), 2 plots per treatment � treatments 2 times per year. Positive results will be presented at ASHS meeting this summer, and we initiated preparation of a journal manuscript to present the results to the scientific community.


Your browser does not support pdfs, click here to download the file.