Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research
Project Number: 6034-22320-007-017-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2020
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
Funds provided to University of Florida are for collaborative work on the following objectives: 1) Field and greenhouse evaluation of citrus therapeutic treatments to alleviate the negative impacts of citrus greening disease on tree health and yield; 2) Conduct extension/outreach activities that include demonstration field plot and field days to show growers the new therapeutic treatments and their effectiveness.
Approach:
An Assistant Professor, University of FL will lead Florida extension efforts. He will develop content for academic and industry contracts in California, Texas, and Florida to inform growers about the ideas and research progress. He will co-author extension articles and present at grower and professional meetings. Activities will include demonstration and trial plot development, grower panel meetings to discuss new technology and get feedback during product development, grower field demonstration events, and presentations at grower meetings and trade shows. Social media content and outreach will be conducted (especially with student project support) to develop citrus industry and consumer feedback to new technologies. Outreach will be adapted as commercializable technology priorities are identified. Assistant Professor, Institution of Food and Agriculture Services (IFAS), University of Florida will lead the research on citrus horticultural response to therapeutic treatment in both greenhouse and field plot evaluations. He will look at overall plant productivity but focus on root health, plant photosynthetic response and crop yield.
