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DFEATURE|citrus: from page 16
Despite problems, experts are cautiously hopeful for a long term solution. “I’m very comfortable with the pace of the research and the discovery that’s happening,” says Dr. Harold Browning, chief operating officer of Lake Alfred’s Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). “We’re starting to stack tools that can lead to success with a new planting.”
“We’re optimistic. It’s a new era out there. There are signs that people believe in the future of the industry,” says Andrew Meadows, communications director for the Lakeland- based grower’s cooperative, Florida Citrus Mutual. Phillip Rucks, founder of Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof, adds, “We’re going to work through this. We’ve got to step it up and work through it.”
A tunnel-shaped tent can be pulled by a farmer on his tractor, or the grower can contract to have his trees steamed.
STRATEGY FOR THE GROWING ARSENAL
One of the latest tools to kill HLB involves heat and/ or steam. William Kanitz, president of Scoring-Ag Equipment in Venice, has a tree steamer that can be used on trees up to 15-16 feet tall, for $10.28 per tree. A tunnel- shaped tent can be pulled by a farmer on his tractor, or the grower can contract to have his trees steamed. Treatments are expected to last two years, buying time for more HLB research. For more information about the tree steamer, visit www.scoringag-equipment.com/products.cfm.
Dr. Reza Ehsani, associate professor of agriculture/ biological engineering at Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, has been researching heat therapy. “The heat treatment is very effective in mitigating the progress of disease,” he explains. “This is the most available thing right now.” He has used the therapy on young, small trees. “At some point, it’s too late to do anything,” he says. “For a lot of cases that we have, I think heat treatment could be a very promising technique— till we can find a better solution.” Instead of replacing a tree he suggests, “Why not just try this? If you can return some of those trees back to reproduction, it may be worth trying it.”
Dr. Ehsani points out that injecting steam into the soil to sterilize it isn’t new; it’s been used bystrawberryfarmers. Thetrick is to eradicate the disease without killing the tree.
Dr. Ehsani is attempting to secure $1.5-$2 million in University of Florida and/or federal funding to study injecting steam into the ground to kill the disease in the roots. He expects to know in a year if this will work. Dr. Ehsani points out that injecting steam into the soil to sterilize it isn’t new; it’s been used by strawberry farmers. The trick is to eradicate the disease without killing the tree.
Larry Black, general manager of Peace River Packing Company in Fort Meade, who has been participating in the research, is encouraged. “We were able to retain a high percentage of the fruit crop. That was a surprise to me,” says Black, president of Florida Citrus Mutual.
Black also has been increasing grove densities, sometimes up to 303 trees per acre or double the traditional number. The first crop is three years old and they are “very encouraged by the progress,” he says.
ON THE PRECIPICE OF CHANGE
Another area of promise involves the use of anti- microbials. Dr. Browning says researchers are looking into “repurposing” antibiotics used on other crops, or utilizing plant essential oils to kill bacteria. “You’re trying to actually kill the bacteria that is in the plant,” he explains. “The challenges for us are multiple. We know that several of these materials will kill the bacterium.” Because they already are in use in agriculture or are already regarded as safe, it would be easier to gain approval. Bio-pesticides to kill the psyllid also would be easier to approve. “If we get results,” he continues, “they could be in use as early as next year. We’re kind of on the precipice.”
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FloridaAgNews.com
“WE’RE STARTING TO stack tools that can lead to suc- cess with a new planting.”