- Author: Therese Kapaun
- Editor: Beth Grafton-Cardwell
Annual CTV testing of all trees at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center was completed in April. Four hard-working field staff sampled 11,000 trees by blotting the cut ends of four stems per tree onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were bulk processed with DAS-ELISA in the Lindcove Plant Pathology Lab. Samples found to contain the virus were further tested for strain type using RT-qPCR. Trees that were found to be positive will be removed to protect the research program and foundation trees at Lindcove.
Therese Kapaun, LREC Staff Research Associate, used TaqMan probes to determine that samples were infected with the T30 strain, which is the common asymptomatic strain in the Central Valley. Further, she tested all positive samples for presence of MCA13 reactivity, as trees can be co-infected with multiple strains. Fortunately all trees were negative for this epitope, as this is the strain that reveals potentially virulent isolates, which are found in low incidence in this area.
- Author: Roberta Barton
The Lindcove Research and Extension Center partnered with the Tulare Public Library on March 28 to present a special Kids' Citrus Farmers Market at the Library. The event incorporated the Library's ag-themed motto, "Come Grow with TPL," into a fun-filled afternoon of citrus tasting, citrus trivia and educational citrus activities to kick off National Library Week. Other participants included the International Agri-Center and the Fresno County Ag Detector Dog Luna.
- Author: Roberta Barton
Second and third grade students at Snowden Elementary School in Farmersville learned all about citrus this month. Roberta Barton, ANR Community Educator, teamed up with Grilda Gomez, Tulare County CE Nutrition Educator, to visit 125 students in nine classes. Lessons focused on citrus varieties grown at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center and promoted healthy eating and physical activity. Students viewed samples of pummelo, mandarin and citron fruit and then participated in a citrus tasting after a nutrition and exercise session. The presentations were given during National Nutrition Week and to highlight agriculture in the weeks leading up to National Ag Week.