Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419070
Research Project: Identifying Vulnerabilities in Vector-host-pathogen Interactions of Grapevine and Citrus Pathosystems to Advance Sustainable Management Strategies

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Public-private partnership to expand USDA-ARS citrus breeding research at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, CA

Author
item SHINDE, RANJEET - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Wallis, Christopher
item Krugner, Rodrigo
item Perez De Leon, Adalberto

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2024
Publication Date: 10/23/2024
Citation: Shinde, R., Wallis, C.M., Krugner, R., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2024. Public-private partnership to expand USDA-ARS citrus breeding research at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, CA. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Although historically the United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) conducted citrus breeding research in Indio, CA, research efforts to develop and evaluate new citrus varieties concentrated at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL) in Ft. Pierce, FL until recently. However, the California citrus industry identified the need for a federal agricultural research program by the USDA-ARS at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center (SJVASC) in Parlier to develop citrus varieties that met pressures related to global change including climate vagaries, diverse consumer taste preferences, and resistance to emerging pests and diseases. A pilot citrus breeding research project within the Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research Unit (CDPGRU) of the USDA-ARS SJVASC funded by the Citrus Research Board (CRB) initiated this public-private partnership in 2022. Organic growth of the program occurred in 2023 with the first allocation of funds to CDPGRU by Congress through efforts spearheaded by California Citrus Mutual and CRB. The main objective of this research is to develop higher yielding seedless/low seeded varieties of mandarin, sweet orange, lemon, pumelo and grapefruit with extended harvest window, and biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic (salt and water deficit) stress tolerance/resistance. Agile, innovative, and relevant ARS collaboration allows field performance evaluation of next generation citrus scions and rootstocks from USHRL, and tolerance determination of salt and water deficit stresses with other SJVASC scientists. Expected program deliverables include novel, superior citrus varieties that meet the expectations of California growers. This research is partially supported by CRB through agreement no. 21-5200-202A with USDA-ARS.