In Florida, the deployment of Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) has shown effectiveness in safeguarding citrus crops from citrus greening, also referred to as huanglongbing or HLB. Arnold Schumann, a professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, has acknowledged the method's success in mitigating the impact of the disease on the state's citrus production. Schumann highlighted a mere 2% incidence rate of HLB within CUPS over a decade, underscoring the system's efficacy.
The recent UF/IFAS Cold-Hardy Citrus Meeting in Quincy provided a platform for discussing the benefits of CUPS, particularly its role in protecting citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid, the primary vector of HLB. This innovation offers hope not only to Florida's citrus growers but also to those in South Georgia and North Florida, regions yet to face HLB at the magnitude experienced by the rest of Florida. Schumann detailed the proactive approach of removing infected trees within CUPS, a strategy that has proven to be a feasible solution for controlling HLB spread.
HLB poses a significant threat to global citrus production, with symptoms including asymmetrical leaf yellowing, twig dieback, and reduced yields. Affected fruits often exhibit deformities and are not suitable for the market. The disease also leads to increased fruit drop. UF/IFAS's research and implementation of CUPS offer a promising avenue for mitigating the effects of HLB and sustaining citrus production in affected areas.
Source: Citrus Industry