See what symptoms to look for Postbloom Fruit Drop in early blooms in the UF/IFAS Tip of the Week.
While Postbloom Fruit Drop (PFD) has not been a huge issue in Florida since 2016, according the UF/IFAS Tip of the Week and accompanying Citrus Industry article. However, PFD has been detected in Florida citrus groves as conditions have been perfect for the fungus that causes PFD to spread, namely temperatures around 78 degrees and long periods of leaf wetness. See how to spot PFD to detect it as early as possible, below.
Detecting Postbloom Fruit Drop
Detecting Postbloom Fruit Drop as early as possible is important to treating and stopping the spread of the fungus that causes PFD. Things to look for, according to the article, include:
-“Looking for peach to pinkish-brown lesions on flower petals at the popcorn or opened stages.” It’s advised that “Popcorn and opened flowers are the most susceptible to the disease, so concentrate scouting for symptoms on these stages.”
-Because “flowers and symptoms may develop too quickly to be seen when scouting,” it is advised to “know how to identify PFD symptoms on fruitlets and calyces later in the season.” The article maintains that “Fruitlets that develop from PFD-affected flowers may turn chlorotic and fall off trees. Fallen fruitlets leave behind persistent calyces, also known as PFD buttons,” and that “PFD buttons are not easy to take off trees.”
Growers are also encouraged to utilize the Citrus Advisory System, which identifies periods of increased risk in specific areas.
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.