- Author: Peggy Mauk
Red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, has been reported as a pest in Florida where the fire ants girdle young citrus trees (Diepenbrock) https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2021/2021_jan_fireant.pdf Florida researchers found that RIFA girdled the trees and killed them. In the summer of 2022, we discovered newly planted avocado trees being girdled and killed in Riverside. Upon closer examination we discovered the girdling was from the activities of a fire ant. Dr. Dong-Hwan Choe, Professor of Extension – Entomologist at UC Riverside, identified it as Solenopsis sp. Figure 1 show the initial damage to an otherwise healthy avocado tree which weeks later was completely girdled and dead. Fire ants were controlled using a bait. This took 2 applications. Fire ant mound is evident in Figure 1B but is not the typical mound that is associated with fire ants so growers need to be watching for ant activity and treat proactively. The fire ants were very aggressive to both the tree and the people working the trees.
- Author: Ben Faber
POLLINIZERS, WORLD MARKETS, ALTERNATIVE-MARKETING:
STAYING PROFITABLE
Speakers:
Travis Wolfe - Bee Leaf USA - CEO at Bee Leaf USA Inc.
email: BeeLeafUSA@gmail.com
Dr. Gary Bender - Farm Advisor-Emeritus - Pollinizers Presentation
A Panel Discussion on Alternative Marketing Led by Greg Alder - Master Gardener
email: andrew@dickinsonfamilyfarms.com
email: david@limelightgroves.com
Click here for June Seminar/Webinar Recording
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- Author: Ben Faber
Meeting Announcement. The release of Luna UCR™ (‘BL516')
Eurosemillas (Green Motion) has organized an in-person meeting to announce the release of the “B” Hass-like variety Luna UCR™ (BL516) for Tuesday, June 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the UCCE Ventura County Extension Office at 699 County Square Drive, Ventura. A tour to Brokaw Nursery to view Luna UCR™ trees will be held following the meeting. The meeting is open to all interested parties. For further information or to RSVP for the meeting contact Santiago Suris Salsas at ssuris@eurosemillas.com.
The University of California, Riverside's (UCR's) avocado scion breeding program began in the 1950's and continues today under the guidance of Dr. Mary Lu Arpaia, Professor of Extension, Subtropical Horticulture. It has been a model avocado varietal breeding program worldwide and maintains one of the largest avocado germplasm collections in the world. UCR has patented and released eight new scion varieties since the 1980's, most notably, ‘3-29-5' (often referred to as “GEM”) in 2003 and ‘Lamb Hass' in 1996.
UCR will officially release the ‘BL516' avocado scion cultivar in June 2023, the second avocado cultivar released by UCR in the last twenty years. With its slender upright growth habit, ‘BL516' offers avocado growers a next generation tree better adapted to the increasingly popular high-density plantings . It is a “B” flower type so it can serve as a pollinizer variety for ‘Hass', '3-29-5' and other type “A” flower varieties. It matures slightly later than ‘Hass' and during ripening, the fruit turns from an emerald green color to glossy black, similar to ‘Hass' and in line with current consumer preferences, according to Arpaia.
'BL516' is pending protection in the United States for US Plant Patent and Plant Variety Protection (PVP). Luna UCR™ is the trademark and brand used in commerce associated with this promising variety. 'BL516' was developed at UCR by Gray Martin, B.O. “Bob” Bergh, David Stottlemyer, Eric Focht, and Mary Lu Arpaia.
'BL516' avocados - unripe vs ripe.
In 2020, UCR partnered with Eurosemillas, S.A. to sponsor the UCR avocado breeding programs to help the university deliver the most promising and advanced avocado scions and rootstocks in its collection to market. ‘BL516' is the first scion cultivar to be released under this partnership. As the worldwide master licensee of 'BL516', Eurosemillas is positioned to lead the global commercialization of the variety, under Green Motion, an international platform established to accelerate the commercialization of UCR's most promising and advanced avocado scions and rootstocks cultivars with partners in 15 countries.
Support for UCR's avocado scion breeding program from the California avocado industry via the California Avocado Commission (CAC) dates to the 1950's and has provided millions of dollars in the scion breeding efforts through 2016. Keeping this in mind, California growers will receive a reduction in royalties paid for planting and production of ‘BL516', giving them an advantage over international avocado growers. Furthermore, all eligible California growers will be granted a sublicense upon request and agreement of a sublicense from Eurosemillas, ensuring widespread availability of ‘BL516' within the State.
Looking ahead, UCR's avocado breeding program remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. With ongoing research efforts and the Green Motion platform, UCR aims to streamline the commercialization process for its avocados, ensuring that future varieties continue to captivate markets and consumers alike.
For more information: ucrotp.ucr.edu
- Author: Ben Faber
You are invited to Avocado Growers Workshop, Laurel Wilt-Ambrosia Beetles and Phytophthora Root Rot
When: Jun 8, 2023 09:00 AM-12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
This is a hybrid meeting – meaning, you can join us in-person at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL 33031; tel: 305-246-7000 or join us on Zoom.
If joining by ZOOM, you MUST register in advance for this meeting:
https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAlceuvpjwuGtMCBdYi0BKWBwGc4mbplaY7
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Time |
Speaker |
Title |
9:00AM |
Jeff Wasielewski, Commercial Agent Tropical Fruits |
Welcome and introduction to phytophthora root rot and laurel wilt of avocado |
9:20AM |
Daniel Carrillo, Entomologist-Tropical Fruits |
Update on ambrosia beetles that transmit the laurel wilt pathogen |
9:50AM |
Romina Gazis, Dir. Plant Diagnostic Clinic |
Phytophthora root rot affecting commercial avocado orchards in Florida |
10:20AM |
Monica Navia-Urrutia, Postdoctoral Research Plant Pathology |
Can propiconazole soil drenches control laurel wilt? |
11:00PM |
Bruce Schaffer, Ecophysiologist |
Update on effect of laurel wilt on avocado scions and rootstocks |
11:15PM |
Jonathan Crane, Tropical Fruit Crop Specialist |
Comments on LW and PRR control and information |
12:00PM |
In-person and online survey |
- Author: Ben Faber
WAC (World Avocado Congress) Comes to California
Speakers from our April 25, 2023 CA Avocado Society/CA Avocado Commission/UCCE
Webinar Reporting on the WAC meeting in Auckland, NZ in 2023
Ali Montazar - Water Adviser for the University of California Cooperative Extension
Water Management Updates
Mary Lu Arpaia - Subtropical Horticulturist at the University of California Cooperative Extension
Genomics and Varieties
Peggy Mauk - Director of Agricultural Operations Professor of Extension
Disease from WAC
Nathan Lurie - President of the California Avocado Society
Latest Technology
Consuelo Fernandez - International Relations/ R&D Manager at Brokaw Nursery
Rootstock and Propagation Updates
Tom Roberts - Entomologist; PCA “Integrated Consulting Entomology”
Pests
Derek Knobel - Asst. V.P. Farming Operations at Leavens Ranches. Past California Avocado Society President
Themes of WAC 2023/ Sustainability
Etaferahu Takele Extension Economist, Area Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension
Some Lessons Learned at the 10th WAC/ Economics and Markets
Click here for April Seminar/Webinar Recording
Click on the "show more" at the end of the text below the video and you can watch the individual speaker's videos.
And there's more
Check our previous recordings on YouTube