Explore responses from Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, over concerns that citrus trunk injects injure trees due to low pH.
Many Florida citrus growers have completed their second year of Oxytetracycline (OTC) injections and have gotten approval for a third year of injections. Some are expressing concerns that OTC trunk injections cause citrus tree injury due to the low pH of the formulation being injected. Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, shared the research done on the pH of the injections in a Citrus Industry article. See the details below.
Trunk Injection pH Research Q&A
“Q: Some are suggesting that oxytetracycline injections may be creating tree injury due to low pH. What have you learned about this from your ongoing research?
A: A substantial amount of research has been conducted by TJ BioTech to determine the safety of injection of a water solution that has a reduced pH with the use of muriatic acid. For example, 5-year-old Valencia trees were injected with a 1.8 pH solution of water and muriatic acid with no other active ingredients. This injection was evaluated through tree vigor rating, phytotoxicity ratings and other evaluations. The ratings were essentially the same as an untreated tree. In other words, the treatment did no damage but also produced no specific benefit to the tree. This testing has been done with other citrus varieties as well, with no damage noted.
Q: Why should growers reduce the pH of the injection with the active ingredient of ReMedium TI®?
A: I have been involved in agriculture product formulating for over 30 years. If you want an active ingredient to move in the plant, the liquid formulation must accomplish three objectives:
- Solubilize
- Stabilize
- Mobilize
For the injection purpose, the pH reduction accomplishes these three parameters without producing injury to the tree. The formulation preparation for ReMedium TI® is safe for a citrus tree when used according to label instructions.
There are other factors that may produce tree injury, such as impurities, but the pH reduction as per the ReMedium TI® label is safe.”
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