Posts Tagged: citrus
Floriculture and Nursery Workgroup members share knowledge in Watsonville
In mid-October, the University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) hosted their annual California Nursery Conference in Watsonville, an opportunity to share research, discuss challenges impacting nurseries and greenhouses, and network with industry leaders. It was their first gathering of this kind since 2019.
Organized by UCNFA and the Western Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society, and co-sponsored by the Plant California Alliance, the conference attracted nearly 100 attendees from across California.
As a statewide partnership of researchers and educators, growers, floriculture associations and allied industries, UCNFA coordinates and implements outreach for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources' Floriculture and Nursery Workgroup. UCNFA's main goal is to provide essential information to growers and educate them on how to use their knowledge effectively to maximize production, improve resource use efficiency and ensure regulatory compliance.
“This support for growers is essential given the diversity of California agriculture and the rapid changes in methods, technology and regulatory pressures,” said UCNFA co-director Loren Oki. Oki has been co-directing UCNFA alongside David Fujino, executive director of the California Center for Urban Horticulture, since 2009.
UCNFA relies heavily on the expertise of UC Cooperative Extension advisors, specialists and other academics to provide education and technical training for nursery and greenhouse growers in California.
Oki explained that UCNFA allows workgroup members to share information and support each other's programs. "More seasoned members can support newer members, but the newer members also contribute their expertise to the workgroup,” he added.
New advisors leverage networking opportunity to identify programmatic goals
Serving areas ranging from San Diego to Sacramento, UC Cooperative Extension academics in attendance at the conference included Grant Johnson, UCCE urban agriculture technology advisor for Orange and Los Angeles counties; Chris Shogren, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Orange and Los Angeles counties; Johanna del Castillo, UCCE assistant professor and plant pathologist at UC Davis; and Aparna Gazula, UCCE small farms advisor for Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Haramrit Gill, who became UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Tulare, Kings, Fresno and Madera counties this year, expressed gratitude for the guidance she's received from seasoned colleagues like Bruno Pitton, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Placer and Nevada counties; Gerardo “Gerry” Spinelli, UCCE production horticulture advisor for San Diego County; and Don Merhaut, UCCE specialist for nursery and floriculture crops based at UC Riverside.
“This kind of mentorship is really needed, because it's helpful to see how others manage their research programs and move forward in their career,” said Gill.
Unlike Gill's rural terrain, Jessie Godfrey is a UCCE environmental horticulture and water resources management advisor for Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. Although her research program is still in its early development stages, Godfrey used the opportunity to present at the conference to discuss the connection between nurseries and urban tree planters.
“Particularly given that many of us are stepping into previously unfilled roles in our counties and there's a lot of unfamiliarity with urban clientele, I think regional events like this are a critical opportunity to introduce clients to their UCCE network and peers,” Godfrey said.
Attendees engage in live demos and tour of local nurseries
The conference also offered live demonstrations to teach attendees how to manage plant nutrition, irrigation, diseases and pests. At one table, Ana Pastrana, UCCE plant pathology advisor for Imperial, San Diego and Riverside counties, set up sanitation mats with disinfectant to demonstrate effective cleaning practices that prevent plant diseases.
On another table, Eric Middleton, UCCE integrated pest management advisor for San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, placed leaves under magnifiers to demonstrate how insect identification apps work.
Other demonstrations included measuring container capacity and water content in different substrates, electrical conductivity (EC) contribution of fertilizers, estimating nitrogen in liquid feed from EC measurements and more.
“I learned a lot from the talks and demonstrations, and the opportunity to present my work led to valuable conversations with nursery growers. The insights I gained will inform my program planning and outreach to nurseries in my counties,” said Joanna Solins, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties, who presented on California's recent urban water conservation legislation and the need for more climate-ready landscape trees.
To conclude the conference, participants toured nurseries in Watsonville, including Driscoll's, Griggs, Los Arroyos and Four Winds Growers. Each nursery welcomed the group and focused on highlighting unique aspects of their operation.
At Driscoll's, participants learned about plant tissue culture and clean stock procedures as part of a larger effort to produce virus-free plants. Four Wind Growers showcased their greenhouse, where the mother plants of their citrus trees remain planted in the ground. They shared their need for USDA-certified pest exclusion facilities to protect plants from Asian citrus psyllid, which vectors huanglongbing (citrus greening) disease.
Considering participant feedback, UCNFA's administrative committee is looking forward to planning next year's conference and leveraging the new generation of advisors. “It's wonderful that we have so many new people who are young and energetic,” said Merhaut. “We need them. They're going to carry the torch when us old people can't anymore,” he said jokingly.
Learn more about UC NFA here: https://ucnfa.ucdavis.edu/
Lindcove REC offers fruit display and tasting Dec. 13-14
You are invited to Lindcove Research and Extension Center for its annual fruit display and tasting on Dec. 13 and 14.
On Friday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, growers are invited to meet UC researchers to discuss low-seeded citrus varieties, new varieties, pest and disease management issues and horticultural issues. They may also take tours of Lindcove REC facilities and fields.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Lindcove REC opens the free event to the public from 9 a.m. to noon to taste and see more than 100 citrus varieties grown at the center. Citrus enthusiasts can have their citrus horticulture and pest management questions answered at the UC Master Gardener booth as well as by UC Cooperative Extension scientists.
“We will have bagsof freshly picked citrus for sale for $10,” said Jasmin Del Toro, Lindcove Research and Extension Center business officer.
Fruit display tables will be set up outdoors for both days.
Lindcove REC fosters research, education and outreach programs focused primarily on citrus crops, but also has projects on avocado, olive and pomegranate. The staff support research projects by University of California academics as well as local and regional partners' projects that address critical needs in horticulture, pests and diseases and breeding new crop varieties.
Lindcove REC is located at 22963 Carson Avenue in Exeter.
For more information, contact Del Toro at zdeltoro@ucanr.edu.
Lindcove REC displays citrus fruit for tasting Dec. 9
Lindcove Research and Extension Center invites the public to their citrus fruit display and tasting. On Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, they will be hosting their annual free event where visitors can taste and see more than 100 citrus varieties grown at the center.
Citrus enthusiasts can have their citrus variety, horticulture and pest management questions answered by UC Master Gardener volunteers and UC Cooperative Extension experts.
Bags of freshly picked citrus will be available for $5. Visitors can choose from cara caras, navels, mandarins or assorted citrus from four bins.
Lindcove Research and Extension Center is located at 22963 Carson Ave in Exeter.
Lindcove REC fosters research, education and outreach programs focused primarily on citrus, but also has projects on avocado, olive and pomegranate. It supports research projects by University of California academics as well as local and regional partners that address critical needs in horticulture, pests and diseases and breeding new varieties.
For more information, contact Jasmin Del Toro, (559) 592-2408 Ext 1151 or jzdeltoro@ucanr.edu.
UC ANR partners with Citrus Research Board to hire citrus IPM advisor
UC ANR and the Citrus Research Board are co-funding a new citrus IPM advisor position to be headquartered at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center. The CRB has pledged $750,000 to cover half the cost of the advisor's salary and benefits for 10 years.
The new IPM advisor will conduct a multicounty extension, education and applied research program and provide research-based technical and educational assistance to the citrus industry. The new advisor will report to the director of the Lindcove REC, with input from the Statewide IPM Program director.
"CRB's partnership with UC ANR for this position continues to strengthen the commitment towards citrus research and IPM best practices. This is a win-win for all Californians." said Greg Gibbs, UC ANR director of major gifts.
The citrus IPM advisor will help fill the role of retiring UCCE citrus entomology specialist Beth Grafton-Cardwell. The 30-year citrus IPM veteran has also served as the director of Lindcove REC since 2006.
Human Resources is finalizing the position vacancy announcement for the new IPM advisor and will open recruitment in the coming weeks.
ANR has resources for protecting citrus from ACP and huanglongbing
The incurable citrus tree disease huanglongbing, or HLB, has been detected in Los Angeles and Orange counties and most recently in Riverside. The citrus disease is spread from tree to tree by Asian citrus psyllids, the insects that move the bacteria that cause huanglongbing.
Citrus trees infected with huanglongbing develop mottled leaves and produce fruit that is misshapen, stays green and tastes bitter. There is no known treatment for the disease, which usually kills the tree within three to five years, according to UC Cooperative Extension specialist Beth Grafton-Cardwell.
Huanglongbing, which is also known as citrus greening, has already devastated the citrus industries in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas.
You can help prevent this disease from destroying California's citrus as well as your own trees.
Look for yellowed leaves on citrus trees. Nutritional deficiencies can also cause citrus trees to have yellow leaves so it is important to know the difference. Nutrient deficiency causes a similar pattern of yellowing on both sides of the leaf. HLB causes blotchy yellow mottling and is not the same on both sides of the leaf.
To identify the Asian citrus psyllid and the disease symptoms of HLB, see the fact sheets, videos in English and Spanish and other resources at http://ucanr.edu/acp.
If you see any trees that display symptoms of huanglongbing, contact your local agriculture commissioner.
To learn about the latest research, visit UC ANR's new Science for Citrus Health website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/scienceforcitrushealth.
More resources on Asian citrus psyllids and huanglongbing:
- Asian citrus psyllid Science for Citrus Health http://ucanr.edu/sites/scienceforcitrushealth
- ACP/HLB Distribution and Management http://ucanr.edu/acp
- UC IPM Pest Note http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74155.html
- Newest Detection of Citrus Greening (HLB) is in Riverside //ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24776
- UC has boots on the ground in an unrelenting search for Asian citrus psyllid //ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24752
- Detecting Asian citrus psyllid video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQXL4bwnXI
- Check your citrus trees for Asian citrus psyllid video https://youtu.be/UhqwUQm0zpk.