Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (FFSP) is excited to announce the signing of a licensing agreement with New Varieties Development and Management Corp (NVDMC) to introduce a range of new, promising citrus varieties. These varieties have shown improved tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB), the devastating citrus greening disease that has affected Florida’s citrus industry for nearly two decades.
The varieties covered by the agreement include:
- ‘N14-10’ Hamlin – a selection noted to be tolerant to HLB with improved Brix and soluble solids
- ‘OLL-DC-3-40’ Sweet Orange – a selection noted to be tolerant to HLB with improved Brix, color, and juice scores
- ‘OLL-DC-3-36’ Sweet Orange – a selection noted to be tolerant to HLB with improved Brix, color, and juice scores
- ‘C4-10-42’ Mandarin Hybrid – a selection noted to be tolerant to HLB and useful for processing and blending into NFC orange juice to increase Brix and color
- ‘RBA 13-18’ Mandarin Hybrid – a selection noted to be tolerant to HLB and useful for processing and blending into NFC orange juice to increase Brix and color
- ‘Orange 14’ Rootstock – a rootstock selection noted to have performed well under HLB pressure, including an area with heavy Diaprepes/Phytophthora pressure
This collaboration, which also includes UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), aims to accelerate access to these HLB-tolerant varieties for Florida’s citrus nurseries and growers. The goal is to support the recovery of the citrus industry by providing growers with solutions that can better withstand HLB while maintaining fruit quality and yield. Patents have been filed for these six varieties, and they join the forty-five additional UF/IFAS varieties that FFSP has licensed for propagation and sale to Florida growers since 2009. While none of these varieties are HLB-resistant, work continues at UF/IFAS to identify long-term solutions for the Florida citrus industry.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to partner with NVDMC and the FDOC to rapidly get these varieties into the hands of Florida citrus growers,” said John Beuttenmuller, Executive Director of FFSP.
These six varieties were developed at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, FL by Drs. Frederick Gmitter, Jr. and Jude Grosser. “We’re excited to provide our industry with these new scion and rootstock selections that will improve the quality of our NFC orange juice and contribute to a sustainable and profitable Florida Citrus Industry,” said Jude Grosser, Professor of Citrus Breeding and Genetics at the University of Florida.
“Our observations, based on decades of experience with citrus trees and HLB, indicate that these selections are very promising and worthy of trialing in commercial groves. We’d like more supporting data on their performance, but we weigh that desire against the urgency felt by growers for options now. At this time, these are among our best hopes to meet industry needs,” said Frederick Gmitter, Jr., Professor of Citrus Breeding and Genetics at the University of Florida.
“Florida Citrus Mutual extends its deep appreciation for the dedication of UF/IFAS, the FDOC and FFSP to introduce more citrus varieties that demonstrate resistance to citrus greening disease,” said Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “These efforts are vital to the future of Florida’s citrus industry. We look forward to the day when growers can plant, cultivate and trial these new varieties, which hold tremendous potential to expand their toolbox to boost production and revitalize this industry, which has been an integral part of shaping the Sunshine State for generations.”
“NVDMC is pleased to make available this new University of Florida collection of sweet oranges, mandarins, and one rootstock. Though these have not been widely tested, the University of Florida Citrus Plant Improvement Team is encouraged by their performance and has made them available for broader-scale planting and evaluation. NVDMC appreciates the commitment of the FDOC, UF/IFAS, FFSP, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program for their commitment to getting the most promising citrus varieties into the hands of nurseries and growers as soon as there is a reasonable expectation of improved performance. Though true HLB resistance has not yet been achieved, incremental enhancements in disease tolerance and performance can help bridge the industry to profitability and sustainability,” said Peter Chaires, Executive Director, New Varieties Development & Management Corp.
“We are all organizations that serve a struggling industry, and partnerships like this are critical for the future success of Florida citrus growers. We are thrilled to see the process of getting promising plant material into the hands of Florida growers come full circle,” said Shannon Shepp, Executive Director, Florida Department of Citrus.
Florida citrus nurseries should contact NVDMC to obtain a propagation sub-license.
— provided by FFSP