Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (FFSP) has signed a licensing agreement with New Varieties Development and Management Corp (NVDMC) to introduce six promising citrus varieties that show improved tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. This initiative, developed in collaboration with UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), is part of a broader effort to support the recovery of Florida's citrus industry, which has battled HLB for nearly two decades.
The licensed varieties include 'N14-10' Hamlin, noted for its HLB tolerance and improved Brix and soluble solids. The sweet orange selections 'OLL-DC-3-40' and 'OLL-DC-3-36' also show tolerance to HLB, along with enhanced Brix, color, and juice quality. The mandarin hybrids 'C4-10-42' and 'RBA 13-18' are considered useful for processing and blending into not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice, with improvements in Brix and color. The 'Orange 14' rootstock has shown strong performance under HLB pressure, including in areas affected by Diaprepes root weevil and Phytophthora.
Patents have been filed for all six varieties, which join 45 other UF/IFAS citrus varieties licensed for propagation and sale to Florida growers since 2009. Although none of the new varieties are resistant to HLB, they offer improved tolerance and contribute to ongoing efforts to develop long-term solutions for the citrus industry.
John Beuttenmuller, Executive Director of FFSP, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that the goal is to quickly get these new varieties into the hands of growers. The six selections were developed at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred by Drs. Frederick Gmitter Jr. and Jude Grosser. Grosser emphasized that these new scion and rootstock selections can improve the quality of NFC orange juice and support a sustainable and profitable citrus industry in Florida.
Frederick Gmitter Jr. noted that while more performance data is desirable, the urgency of the situation calls for action. He described the selections as among the most promising currently available for trial in commercial groves.
Industry leaders have welcomed the move. Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, praised the collaborative effort and expressed optimism about the varieties' potential to expand growers' options and revitalize the industry. Peter Chaires, Executive Director of NVDMC, highlighted the importance of quickly getting improved plant material to growers and acknowledged the efforts of FDOC, UF/IFAS, FFSP, and other partners involved in the process.
Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus, echoed these sentiments, noting that partnerships like this are vital to the future of Florida's citrus industry. She said the initiative represents a critical step in getting promising varieties into the hands of growers and helping the industry move toward sustainability and profitability.
For more information:
Emily Hartung
Florida Foundation of Seed Producers
Tel: +1 850 594 1068
www.ffsp.net