Sanju Kunwar, PhD (she/her/hers)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida
Quincy, Florida, United States
Ozgur Batuman, PhD
Associate Professor
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida
Immokalee, Florida, United States
Lauren Fessler Mathews (she/her/hers)
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Florida
Fort Myers, Florida, United States
Ana Redondo, n/a
Research Coordinator
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida
Immokalee, Florida, United States
Fernando Alferez
Associate Professor
University of Florida
Immokalee, Florida, United States
Ute Albrecht
University of Florida
Immokalee, Florida, United States
Ioannis Ampatzidis
University of Florida
Immokalee, Florida, United States
Huanglongbing (HLB), a century-old disease putatively caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) and transmitted by Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), has defied most management strategies and threatens citrus production in Florida and worldwide. Since 2016, our research team has been engaged in multiple projects, supported by federal and state agencies in the US, to develop practical solutions for citrus growers to combat HLB. In the absence of a cure, we have devised strategies incorporating multiple effective ‘tools’ that are increasingly being adopted by Florida growers. These strategies include the use of individual protective covers (IPCs) at planting, trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to mitigate disease severity, and applications of brassinosteroids (Brs) and plant defense inducers (PDIs) to safeguard new shoots from reinfection. In addition, HLB-tolerant interstocks and an automated trunk injection system are being developed and evaluated. Field studies have demonstrated IPCs' efficacy in preventing CLas infection, OTC's effectiveness in reducing CLas titers and fruit drop, and the role of Brs and PDIs in enhancing tree productivity and protecting new shoots from ACP-mediated CLas reinfections and citrus canker. Our findings indicate that these integrated pest management (IPM) tools collectively offer a viable approach to managing HLB in commercial citrus orchards and sustaining citrus production under endemic conditions. Results from ongoing field trials integrating these tools into comprehensive IPM programs will be presented.