Page 7 - CFAN_Mar2014

What Growers Need to Know: Emerging Greening Tolerant Cultivars, Part I

Citrus varieties researchers, and will soon be able to fill or- shown us that we must change our meth- “
more tolerant of ders for some of these rootstocks. While ods if we want to see a future where the * THERE IS NO

citrus greening the new varieties are more tolerant and are industry still thrives— not just merely sur- “
disease are head- showing positive signs that they will be vives.
SILVER BULLET
ing for large- able to produce fruit longer than existing
scale field trials varieties in commercial groves, it is essen- While the new varieties are not the “silver
as early as 2014.
tial to note that the new cultivars still catch bullet” (as Dr. Jude Grosser would say) to by PHILLIP RUCKS
the disease— which means they will still end greening, they offer a short-term solu- so growers have an option in the meantime
tion so that commercial groves can hold on University of Florida (UF) researchers with these new cultivars.
require the diligent management of any
other variety with citrus greening.
until more promising long-term remedies For those who wish to participate in
have identified 16 rootstocks showing a
are developed. While the federal govern- lower rate of infection and more tolerance the field trials, we will be offering more
Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury ment is coming to the industry’s aid with to greening, also known as Huanglongbing greening-tolerant citrus. Contact us at the
anymore of planting a tree and it produc- $125 million for national citrus greening (HLB). At Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery, nursery for more information or questions
ing fruit for 50 years. Greening has quickly
research, business must go on as usual, and
we have been collaborating closely with
about these new cultivars.

PEACHES
CITRUS
PONGAMIA
EUCALYPTUS WINDBREAKS

• Licensed grower of low chill • Hardy versatile tree that can • New greening- tolerant root • Produce oilseed bearing nuts

peaches on Flordaguard and grow nearly 40 ft in three years
stocks now available
used for bioenergy and animal
MP-29 rootstocks
•Provides crop protection from •Largest screened commercial feed
• Low chill varieties ideal for wind and disease
citrus nursery in US
• Drought resistant and saline

central and south Florida climates
• Reduces soil loss, nutrition loss, • Onsite lab to insures the highest tolerant “drop- in” crop
• Resistant to the predominant agriculture chemical drift and
standard of quality and
• No known major production

root- knot nematodes species
irrigation loss
innovation
related diseases or pests
• Now contracting for 2014- 2015
• Now contracting for 2014- 2015
• Now contracting for 2015
• Grows on under productive land

PHILLIP RUCKS CITRUS NURSERY, INC. 863-635-1948 • rucksnursery@aol.com

Phillip Rucks, Owner
P.O. Box 1318 Frostproof, FL 33843 • www.ruckscitrusnursery.com