- Author: Therese Kapaun
Dr. Frank Byrne is an Associate Researcher with the Dept. of Entomology, UC Riverside. He is conducting neonicotinoid uptake research trials at Lindcove REC, to test the efficacy of these systemic pesticides as a control measure for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid can be applied directly to the soil, injected into irrigation drip lines, sprayed onto tree trunks, or placed as slow-release tablets into greenhouse pots as shown here. The tree takes up the insecticide and moves it into new leaves, which is important for killing nymphal stages of the psyllid. This project is in its third year of testing and includes leaf collections from outdoor and indoor trials to determine the efficacy of the treatments, as well as nectar collections during bloom to determine the impact of neonicotinoids on bees. Dr. Byrne is assisted by Richard Aubert (left) and Tim Roose (center), also from UC Riverside.
- Author: Therese Kapaun
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) testing is complete at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. Every tree at the Center is tested annually for presence of the virus, and infected trees are removed. This year we are using a new technique for half of our 12,000 trees; a direct tissue blot immunoassay (DTBIA-ELISA) with guidance from Dr. Ray Yokomi at USDA in Parlier. For the remaining trees we are collecting leaf samples for submission to the Central California Tristeza Eradication Agency in Tulare, where testing is performed there using an ELISA technique. CTV is transmitted from tree to tree by phloem-feeding cotton aphids, and has caused losses to California citrus growers when trees are grown on susceptible rootstocks. We remove the infected trees at Lindcove REC in order to protect the citrus research projects and the Citrus Clonal Protection Program Foundation Block trees.
- Author: Therese Kapaun
Dr. William Cheung is a chemist working for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC Davis. In this photo he is sampling a navel orange tree at Lindcove REC that is infected with Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV). He is using a device that utilizes Differential Mobility Spectrometry (DMS) to detect diseased plants that appear healthy. Stressed or diseased plants release unique volatile organic metabolites resulting from host-plant interactions, which can be detected by DMS. The device fits into the small metal case pictured here, and is connected to a laptop PC. Dr. Cheung’s group is currently testing a similar DMS device to detect Huanglongbing (HLB) in Florida citrus. The group hopes to develop a robotic platform that will automatically move the device throughout an orchard, sampling each tree as it moves along.
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
In the 1990s, the Citrus Research Board gifted a Sunkist electronic fruit grading system to Lindcove REC, that greatly expanded our postharvest research capabilities. We recently upgraded the citrus fruit grading system at LREC with a Compac line, thanks to another generous gift from the Citrus Research Board. Dan Hostetler, Chair of the Plant Sciences and Technology Department at Cal Poly Pomona, heard that we were replacing the Sunkist line and contacted us to see if we could pass it on to his department. We are pleased to say that the Sunkist grader is on its way down to the Cal Poly Pomona campus where it will be used to train students in techniques of electronic grading and sorting of fruit. A wonderful collaboration between Universities and the citrus industry and a great use of this equipment!
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
The photo shows an 8-year-old Tango mandarin tree at Lindcove that is being harvested. Dr. Mikeal Roose (UC Riverside Botany and Plant Sciences) is conducting research in this plot to look at various lines of Tango on differenct roostocks to see how they behave long-term.