By Clint Thompson What was once a disease that feasted mostly on squash in South Florida has quickly taken more of a liking to one of its fellow cucurbits – watermelons. Pamela Roberts, vegetable plant pathologist at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, discussed at last week’s Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo how powdery mildew disease has …
USDA AMS Revises Standards for Watermelon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the U.S. Standards for Watermelon to provide a common language for trade. AMS is establishing a total tolerance for anthracnose and decay in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 grades; adjusting the range of average weight from 20-to-42 to 10-to-34 pounds to align with current marketing …
Citrus Imports: USDA Revises Conditions of Fruit Coming from Australia
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently expanded the production areas in Australia authorized to import fresh citrus fruit into the United States and revised the conditions under which citrus from Australia may be imported. APHIS authorized three additional areas of Australia to export citrus to the continental United States: the …
New Viruses Detected in Florida Melons
IMMOKALEE, Fla. — Florida’s watermelon producers face two new viruses. But it is important to remember that finding a disease is the first step to managing it, says a University of Florida scientist who helped diagnose both diseases. “Now that it is known that there are additional (watermelon) viruses in the mix, efforts can be made to determine their impacts …
Water Quality Concerns in Florida Stir up Citrus BMP and Phosphorus Questions
Growers call for more research on appropriate rates before new rules are imposed.
Hemp Research: Flowering Behavior Provides Guidance for Florida Growers
APOPKA, Fla. — New UF/IFAS research emphasizes two important factors for Florida growers to consider before planting hemp; variety selection and factor day length. Hemp needs sufficient time for vegetative growth to occur before the photoperiod begins, which causes the plant to flower. If a grower plants a hemp crop that is too late or a variety that is incompatible …
Weed Management with Fumigants
By Nathan Boyd Fumigants are the cornerstone of pest management programs in most high-intensity plasticulture production systems. They are used to manage soil-borne pathogens, nematodes and weeds. Fumigants have been broadly adopted because they reduce pest populations prior to crop establishment and provide a means to control pests for which there are no other viable alternatives. In addition, fumigants enable …
Plant Breeding Remains Key to Fusarium Wilt Management
By Clint Thompson The key to eliminating fusarium wilt disease’s impact on watermelons in the Southeast is developing disease-resistance cultivars, says Nick Dufault, University of Florida/IFAS plant pathologist. “Where we stand is we’re trying to work with breeders and get new lines of resistance out there,” Dufault said. “We’re gaining a new understanding of the pathogen. I think we made …
Sweet Results for Georgia’s Peach Crop
By Clint Thompson Cool weather this past winter combined with mild temperatures this summer added up to almost perfect conditions for Georgia peach production this year. The results speak for themselves. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, said the crop produced was about 80%. “When we say 80% of …
How Citrus Tree Nutrition Has Changed During the HLB Era
Q&A with 2021 Citrus Achievement Award winner Larry Black yields his take on fertilizer programs, psyllid control, and the family co-op.