Grant Information
| Knowledge Area | Subject of Investigation | Field of Science | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest) | 920 - Orange | 1080 - Genetics (excludes breeding) | 40% |
| 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants | 910 - Grapefruit | 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics | 30% |
| 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 1160 - Pathology | 30% |
During the first year of the project, trees with Valencia sweet orange or other commercial scions will be produced by a commercial citrus nursery on each of twenty-four new hybrid rootstocks (12 from USDA and 12 from University of Florida), as well as five standard rootstocks that will be used for comparison (Swingle, Sour orange, US-897, US-812, and US-942). These trees will be planted into six field trials in the fall of 2015. Commercial grower cooperators will be identified and six specific trial locations will be selected to cover a range of production situations. One trial site will be at the USDA, U.S. Horticultural Research Lab research farm in Ft. Pierce, where there is a very high level of endemic Las infection in surrounding trees. Control of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) will be intentionally withheld in this test block for the first six months after planting so that trees are exposed to Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) infected ACP immediately after planting. During 2015, a second set of twelve new USDA rootstock selections and twelve new University of Florida rootstock selections will be chosen based on superior performance in field trials, and used to propagate a similar set of trees for six additional field trials to be field planted in 2016.