See facts about NuCitrus, the new citrus developed by UF scientists that has a strong tolerance to citrus greening.
“Working with the UF/IFAS Crop Transformation Center, NuCitrus was developed by adding a gene to citrus that boosts its own natural defense system,” shared a UF/IFAS blog while quoting Eric Triplett, Ph.D., a professor and chair of microbiology and cell science at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Triplett is a co-lead author on the new paper about the development. See the details of the new citrus below.
NuCitrus Facts
The article shared these facts about NuCitrus:
- “It’s based on a protein called Arabidopsis NPR1. This new citrus shows strong tolerance to citrus greening, but not resistance.”
- “NuCitrus plants not only tolerate disease attacks, they produce high-quality fruit.”
- “The added gene in NuCitrus produces a natural protein that is common in many foods such as broccoli and cauliflower.”
- “It’s not toxic to humans, and, if eaten, is rapidly digested in the stomach, just as it is with other vegetables that contain it…”
- “The added protein is not even toxic to the microorganism that causes citrus greening disease.”
- The “team is working to propagate lots of NuCitrus plants from the existing ones for large-scale field testing and to obtain federal approval to use NuCitrus for high-quality orange juice in the future.”
Triplett said in the article, “I expect NuCitrus lines to become an important tool in the toolbox in the battle against the disease. I expect these lines to work well in well-managed groves where the latest nutritional advances and psyllid-control measures are in place.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.