ONGOING RESEARCH
Throughout UF/IFAS, our faculty are engaged in multi-disciplinary research covering many different lines of research needed to provide both short-term solutions to living with HLB, and long-term research that will provide the sustainable solutions needed to manage HLB more effectively. Below are some brief highlights of some of the ongoing HLB-related research projects being conducted by the faculty of UF/IFAS. Check back periodically as we add new project summaries and updated results of ongoing studies!
| Economics | ||
| Economics of High-density citrus plantings in Florida | Dr. Ariel Singerman | (Download PDF) |
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Economics of Area-Wide Pest Management |
Dr. Ariel Singerman | (Download PDF) |
| Grower willingness to adopt genetically-modified citrus | Dr. Ariel Singerman | (Download PDF) |
| Grove Management Practices | ||
| Use of plant biostimulants to improve health of HLB-affected trees | Drs. Ute Albrecht and Sarah Strauss | (Download PDF) |
| Evaluation of the effect of Homobrassinolides on HLB in Citrus | Dr. Fernando Alferez | (Download PDF) |
| Evaluation of Individual Protective Covers (IPC) on young trees | Dr. Fernando Alferez | (Download PDF) |
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New methods to reduce Preharvest Fruit Drop |
Dr. Fernando Alferez | (Download PDF) |
| Develop UAV tools for evaluation of HLB infected trees in the field | Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis | (Download PDF) |
| Evaluate CUPS efficacy for HLB protection in young grapefruit trees | Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Effects of glyphosate on health and yield of HLB-affected citrus trees | Dr. Ramdas Kanissery | (Download PDF) |
| Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) | Dr. Arnold Schumann | (Download PDF) |
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Effect of soil pH on health of HLB-affected trees |
Dr. Tripti Vashisth | (Download PDF) |
| Effects of pruning and controlled release fertilizer on HLB-affected trees | Dr. Tripti Vashisth | (Download PDF) |
| Strategies to synchronize bloom of HLB-affected trees | Dr. Tripti Vashisth | (Download PDF) |
| Managing HLB-associated fruit drop | Dr. Tripti Vashisth | (Download PDF) |
| Systemic movement of foliar-applied agrochemicals in citrus trees | Dr. Christopher Vincent | (Download PDF) |
| New Variety Development | ||
| Identifying HLB tolerance in citrus rootstock varieties | Dr. Ute Albrecht | (Download PDF) |
| Identifying markers for disease tolerance in young citrus trees | Dr. Ute Albrecht | (Download PDF) |
| Comparison of nursery trees propagated by tissue culture vs seed | Dr. Ute Albrecht | (Download PDF) |
| Improving seed production and availability of major citrus rootstocks by determining seed viability during maturation and storage |
Dr. Fernando Alferez | (Download PDF) |
| Develop transgenic and gene edited citrus resistant to HLB | Dr. Bill Dawson | (Download PDF) |
| Developing engineered HLB tolerant citrus rootstocks and scions | Dr. Manjul Dutt | (Download PDF) |
| Accelerated production of citrus nursery trees using automated ebb-and-flow subirrigation |
Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Produce new citrus plants that tolerate, or are resistant to, HLB | Dr. Fred Gmitter | (Download PDF) |
| Understanding the genetic control of mechanisms underlying tolerance of HLB in certain citrus varieties |
Dr. Fred Gmitter | (Download PDF) |
| Development of new citrus genome sequence resources | Dr. Fred Gmitter | (Download PDF) |
| ‘Gauntlet’ rootstock screening for HLB Tolerance/Resistance | Dr. Jude Grosser | (Download PDF) |
| Biotechnology-facilitated conventional breeding of HLB tolerant commercial scions |
Dr. Jude Grosser | (Download PDF) |
| Creating citrus varieties resistant or tolerant to HLB | Dr. Zhonglin Mou | (Download PDF) |
| Generating non-transgenic HLB resistant citrus using CRISPR | Dr. Nian Wang | (Download PDF) |
| Nutrient and Water Management | ||
| Management of Root nutritional needs | Dr. Fernando Alferez | (Download PDF) |
| Grapefruit nutrition, irrigation and cultural practices | Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Performance of capacitance sensors to monitor soil moisture and electrical conductivity in sandy soils for precise water and fertilizer management |
Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Determine the plant water uptake of citrus trees grafted on multiple rootstocks propagated by different methods |
Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Enhanced CRF root nutrition to maximize HLB tolerance | Dr. Jude Grosser | (Download PDF) |
| Effect of irrigation rate on HLB-affected citrus | Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni | (Download PDF) |
| Improving nutrient management of HLB-affected citrus | Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni | (Download PDF) |
| Effect of foliar micronutrient application of HLB-affected sweet orange | Dr. Kelly Morgan | (Download PDF) |
| Managing bicarbonate stress on HLB-affected citrus trees | Dr. Kelly Morgan | (Download PDF) |
| Micronutrient and controlled release fertilizer effects on HLB-affected trees |
Dr. Tripti Vashisth | (Download PDF) |
| Identification of ideal suite of nutrients to promote citrus health | Dr. Alan Wright | (Download PDF) |
| Pathogen (Clas) Biology and Management | ||
| Heat therapy for HLB-infected citrus trees | Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis | (Download PDF)) |
| Identification of antimicrobial compounds to suppress or kill Clas in citrus plants |
Dr. Ozgur Batuman | (Download PDF) |
| Use of plant extracts to manage HLB disease | Dr. Liliana Cano | (Download PDF) |
| Identify antimicrobial peptides expressed by CTV to reduce Clas in citrus |
Dr. Bill Dawson | (Download PDF)) |
| Determine if steam-based thermotherapy is a viable management option for HLB |
Drs. Megan Dewdney and Evan Johnson | (Download PDF) |
| HLB movement within the plant and effect on phloem physiology and transport |
Dr. Ed Etxeberria | (Download PDF) |
| New laser technology for ultra rapid detection of HLB and enhanced application of agrochemicals |
Dr. Ed Etxeberria | (Download PDF) |
| Evaluate antibiotic efficacy for HLB protection in young orange trees | Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi | (Download PDF) |
| Develop Zinc oxide based nanoparticles for systemic movement in citrus trees and management of HLB |
Drs. Evan Johnson and Megan Dewdney |
(Download PDF) |
| Understanding the interaction between psyllids, citrus and the HLB bacteria |
Dr. Nabil Killiny | (Download PDF) |
| Understanding the movement of HLB bacteria inside the plant and insect vector |
Dr. Amit Levy | (Download PDF) |
| Culturing Liberibacter provides new insights for HLB control in the field | Dr. Eric Triplett | (Download PDF) |
| Effectiveness of trunk injection of bactericides for HLB management | Dr. Nian Wang | (Download PDF) |
| Post-Harvest Practices | ||
| Development of pre- and postharvest methods to reduce HLB- induced decay and peel disorders |
Dr. Mark Ritenour | (Download PDF) |
| Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Management | ||
| Identifying novel viruses for biocontrol of ACP | Dr. Ozgur Batuman | (Download PDF) |
| Identification of Bt toxins active against ACP | Dr. Bryony Bonning | (Download PDF) |
| Identify and optimize additional ACP-active Bt toxins that suppress ACP populations and develop delivery approaches for citrus |
Dr. Bryony Bonning | (Download PDF) |
| Use of CTV to express RNAi to control psyllids | Dr. Bill Dawson | (Download PDF) |
| Asian citrus psyllid IPM programs | Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock | (Download PDF) |
| Reduce Las transmission in citrus using antimicrobial agents, antisense technologies, and manipulation of psyllid microbiota |
Dr. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski | (Download PDF) |
| Development of a psyllid management plan for organic citrus | Dr. Jawwad Qureshi | (Download PDF) |
| Evaluate the use of Tamarixia radiata in organic and conventional programs for managing Asian citrus psyllid |
Dr. Jawwad Qureshi | (Download PDF) |
| Asian citrus psyllid management | Dr. Phil Stansly | (Download PDF) |
| Understanding movement patterns of ACP | Dr. Lukasz Stelinski | (Download PDF) |
| Insecticide resistance management for ACP | Dr. Lukasz Stelinski | (Download PDF) |
| Effects of grove architecture on ACP populations | Dr. Lukasz Stelinski | (Download PDF) |
| Improving psyllid management with kaolin particle films and synchronization of leaf flushes |
Dr. Christopher Vincent | (Download PDF) |
| Root Health Management | ||
| Development of a noninvasive root mapping technology | Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis | (Download PDF) |
| Interaction of Diaprepes and HLB on citrus root health | Dr. Larry Duncan | (Download PDF) |
| Using cover crops to reduce sting nematode to improve root health of HLB affected trees |
Dr. Larry Duncan | (Download PDF) |
| Soil pH effects on control of Diaprepes using nematodes | Dr. Larry Duncan | (Download PDF) |
| Understanding the effects of HLB on citrus roots and interactions with soilborne pathogens |
Dr. Evan Johnson | (Download PDF) |
| HLB-affected citrus root biology | Dr. Lorenzo Rossi | (Download PDF) |
| Impact of citrus rootstock and propagation method on root microbial communities |
Dr. Sarah Strauss | (Download PDF) |
| Biological soil crusts in agriculture | Dr. Sarah Strauss | (Download PDF) |