Over a span of eleven years, the European Union and KeyPlex have conducted research at the University of Torino, Italy, pinpointing the causes of fruit drop in citrus crops. The study reveals that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, among other fungal pathogens, plays a significant role in this phenomenon, challenging the previous assumption that physiological conditions and huang long bing (HLB) were the primary causes. This discovery is critical for addressing crop losses in oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes, and other citrus varieties.
Dr. Vladimiro Guarnaccia, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Torino, will share the findings and proposed solutions, including agronomic practices and control methods, at the KeyPlex Citrus Symposium in Sebring, Florida. The research underscores the importance of understanding fungal contributions to fruit drop, aiming to equip citrus growers with effective strategies for crop management.
"We started hypothesizing that Glomerella cingulata — the sexual phase of C. gloeosporioides — was the main cause of early fruit drop in citrus, not HLB, as has been long presumed," says Gerald O'Connor, CEO of KeyPlex. The collaboration with Dr. Guarnaccia has been instrumental in advancing this research, promising new directions for the citrus industry.
Source: centralfloridaagnews.com