Citrus canker discovered at University of Florida research center
Citrus canker discovered at University of Florida research center
The Florida citrus industry was delivered yet another blow June 30 when canker disease was discovered in trees at the University of Florida citrus research grove at UF's Indian River Research & Education Center near Fort Pierce.
It is the very place where research and study is conducted on ways to stop the disease.
The find means that more than 10,000 citrus trees on approximately 100 acres will be cut down and burned to prevent further spread of canker spores.
As far as plagues go, Florida citrus canker will likely be written into history as the worst affliction to ever affect U.S. citrus crops, and it seems to get continually worse for those involved in Florida citrus, a $9 billion-a-year industry.
This time last year, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service's eradication process was well underway. The majority of citrus industry professionals felt that the worst of canker disease was behind them, and they were looking forward to good quality and volume for the 2004-05 season. But it wasn't to be. In August and September, four hurricanes passed through the state, wreaking massive damage and devastation in the state's citrus groves.
If it were only a matter of cleaning up the debris mess, pruning trees back to remove damaged branches and limbs, and accepting that the crop figures would be down considerably for the season compared to normal years, it would have been bad enough. But the storms had even more devastating effects as the winds and rains that accompanied the hurricanes caused canker spores to spread widely.
Since the hurricanes, canker has been discovered in six counties in the state that were previously canker-free. New infections have also been found in areas that had undergone the eradication process and were considered completed.
The find at the research center is also devastating because the facility conducts research efforts that include working on ways to end canker disease in the state.
Brian Scully, director of the center and a professor of horticulture with UF's Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, said that citrus research efforts at IRREC emphasize plant breeding, entomology, pathology and virology, soil and water science, plant nutrition and irrigation and post-harvest physiology.
"It is difficult to quantify the loss in terms of time, monetary value and the potential impact that our research findings have on the statewide citrus industry," said Mr. Scully. "Currently, six IRREC faculty and their collaborators from other UF/IFAS facilities are conducting more than two dozen experiments in the research groves, some using trees planted 30 to 50 years ago.
"We are conducting our normal eradication protocol at the research center, said Denise Feiber, public information director for the division of plant industry for FDACS. "All exposed trees within the 1,900-foot range of a canker find will be removed. We know that the area completely encompasses the research site acreage, as well as some trees located outside of the center's land. We don't know yet how far outside of the center the eradication process will reach. Our department is assessing the area now.
Ms. Feiber added that this canker find is particularly disheartening because it is a research area where ways to curb or stop the disease may have been found. Despite its disappointment, officials are already searching for a canker-free area to set up a replacement research center. The FDACS, Ms. Feiber said, will do whatever it can to help facilitate a new site and to get it running.
It is the very place where research and study is conducted on ways to stop the disease.
The find means that more than 10,000 citrus trees on approximately 100 acres will be cut down and burned to prevent further spread of canker spores.
As far as plagues go, Florida citrus canker will likely be written into history as the worst affliction to ever affect U.S. citrus crops, and it seems to get continually worse for those involved in Florida citrus, a $9 billion-a-year industry.
This time last year, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service's eradication process was well underway. The majority of citrus industry professionals felt that the worst of canker disease was behind them, and they were looking forward to good quality and volume for the 2004-05 season. But it wasn't to be. In August and September, four hurricanes passed through the state, wreaking massive damage and devastation in the state's citrus groves.
If it were only a matter of cleaning up the debris mess, pruning trees back to remove damaged branches and limbs, and accepting that the crop figures would be down considerably for the season compared to normal years, it would have been bad enough. But the storms had even more devastating effects as the winds and rains that accompanied the hurricanes caused canker spores to spread widely.
Since the hurricanes, canker has been discovered in six counties in the state that were previously canker-free. New infections have also been found in areas that had undergone the eradication process and were considered completed.
The find at the research center is also devastating because the facility conducts research efforts that include working on ways to end canker disease in the state.
Brian Scully, director of the center and a professor of horticulture with UF's Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, said that citrus research efforts at IRREC emphasize plant breeding, entomology, pathology and virology, soil and water science, plant nutrition and irrigation and post-harvest physiology.
"It is difficult to quantify the loss in terms of time, monetary value and the potential impact that our research findings have on the statewide citrus industry," said Mr. Scully. "Currently, six IRREC faculty and their collaborators from other UF/IFAS facilities are conducting more than two dozen experiments in the research groves, some using trees planted 30 to 50 years ago.
"We are conducting our normal eradication protocol at the research center, said Denise Feiber, public information director for the division of plant industry for FDACS. "All exposed trees within the 1,900-foot range of a canker find will be removed. We know that the area completely encompasses the research site acreage, as well as some trees located outside of the center's land. We don't know yet how far outside of the center the eradication process will reach. Our department is assessing the area now.
Ms. Feiber added that this canker find is particularly disheartening because it is a research area where ways to curb or stop the disease may have been found. Despite its disappointment, officials are already searching for a canker-free area to set up a replacement research center. The FDACS, Ms. Feiber said, will do whatever it can to help facilitate a new site and to get it running.
