Bayer joins forces with non-profit to fight citrus greening

Posted on August 21, 2017 by rhallberg

In Southeast Farm Press

Bayer and the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, a non-profit organization in Florida supporting citrus growers, have signed a research collaboration agreement to find solutions to citrus greening disease, which currently threatens the global citrus production and juice industry.

Currently no effective treatment against the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter, the causal agent of citrus greening, is available. Under the long-term research agreement, Bayer will provide access to its disease control know-how and will coordinate public and private research to find novel solutions for citrus greening in Florida and beyond. CRDF is organizing the financing of this project, combining public funds with contributions from the citrus growers and the juice industry. The partnership is financially supported by PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company, two leaders in the juice industry. Continue reading →

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Citrus greening confirmed in Alabama

Posted on June 27, 2017 by rhallberg

In Southeast Farm Press

by Cary Blake

The feared citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB) – a.k.a. citrus greening – has been confirmed in Alabama, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI).

HLB was found in leaf and insect samples from a residential property on Dauphin Island in Mobile County. Dauphin Island is a town located on a barrier island with the same name at the Gulf of Mexico. Continue reading →

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Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE)

Posted on April 17, 2017 by rhallberg

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (CDRE) is authorized in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R. 2642) to award grants to eligible entities to conduct research and extension activities, technical assistance and development activities to: (a) combat citrus diseases and pests, both domestic and invasive and including huanglongbing and the Asian citrus psyllid, which pose imminent harm to United States citrus production and threaten the future viability of the citrus industry; and (b) provide support for the dissemination and commercialization of relevant information, techniques, and technologies discovered pursuant to research and extension activities funded through SCRI/CDRE and other research and extension projects targeting problems caused by citrus production diseases and invasive pests. Continue reading →

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Researchers discover protein that aids in spreading citrus greening

Posted on March 6, 2017 by rhallberg

In Southwest Farm Press

Since the introduction of Huánglóngbìng (HLB—yellow dragon disease—better known as citrus greening disease) onto U.S. soil in a Florida citrus grove in 2005, the disease has been a major threat to commercial citrus production across the country.

Before arriving in North America, HLB had already carved a path of destruction across the Far East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula, and was discovered in July 2004 in Brazil. In its wake it left citrus growers around the world astounded at the inevitable and long-lasting risks the disease poses to the global citrus industry. Continue reading →

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New sensor detects citrus greening before symptoms appear

Posted on November 14, 2016 by rhallberg

In Growing Produce

by Paul Rusnak

Nearly two years ago, news arose that University of Florida researchers had developed a tool to help growers combat citrus greening: an electronic sensor. Today, a new study shows the time-lapse polarized imaging system may indeed detect greening before the plant’s leaves show symptoms.

For the study, Won Suk “Daniel” Lee and Alireza Pourreza were seeking to know how early citrus leaves with greening can be detected while they are pre-symptomatic. So they inoculated plants with the greening disease and put those leaves through a time-lapse imaging system.
There, they found starch in the leaves, an early sign of greening, said Pourreza, a former post-doctoral researcher in the UF/IFAS Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department. In their study, UF/IFAS researchers detected greening about one month after they infected the trees, he said. Continue reading →

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Time-lapsed imaging may help growers detect citrus greening

Posted on November 4, 2016 by rhallberg

in Southeast Farm Press

by Brad Buck, University of Florida

A time-lapse polarized imaging system may help citrus growers detect greening before the plant’s leaves show symptoms, which should help growers as they try to fend off the deadly disease.

For the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows, Won Suk “Daniel” Lee and Alireza Pourreza wanted to know how early citrus leaves with greening can be detected while they are pre-symptomatic. So they inoculated plants with the greening disease and put those leaves through a time-lapse imaging system. Continue reading →

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Two postdoc positions at University of California

Posted on August 12, 2016 by rhallberg

The University of California at Riverside has two openings for postdocs working with invasive insects, specifically European grapevine moth and Asian citrus psyllid.

Spatial analysis of an invasive insect in California vineyards

An opening is available for a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology at the University of California – Riverside to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) invasion. The researcher will leverage an existing dataset of moth distribution toward understanding the factors that contributed to moth establishment and spread, and to evaluate the efficacy of regulatory procedures. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in ecology, entomology, geography or a related field with a focus on invasion biology or landscape ecology. Experience with GIS, spatial statistics, and statistical modeling is required. The position is available September 1st, with the potential for being located at UC Riverside or UC Berkeley. To apply, send a cover letter, CV, list of professional references, and a writing sample to Matt Daugherty (mattd@ucr.edu). Continue reading →

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