SCOUTING FOR POSTBLOOM FRUIT DROP
FEATURE | e d u c a t i o n
POSTBLOOM FRUIT DROP (PFD) has not been a huge issue in Florida citrus groves since 2016, but a recent UF/ IFAS Tip of the Week maintained that conditions were favorable in late 2021 and that PFD buttons, or persistent calyces, were observed in groves in 2022 before the weather turned cold. Essentially, this means that the fungal inoculum is present and growing. If weather conditions turn favorable, then a PFD outbreak could develop quickly. As a result, it’s time for Florida citrus growers to start scouting for postbloom fruit drop.
Know The Optimal Conditions
Postbloom fruit drop is mainly caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. The fungus is always present in Florida citrus groves, but it needs favorable weather conditions to grow and infect a tree’s flowers. The ideal weather conditions are temperatures between 72 and 79 degrees and periods of leaf wetness of more than 16 hours—usually from rain. However, Longer periods of leaf wetness amid cooler or warmer temperatures can also lead to infection. Florida citrus growers should pay attention to the Citrus Advisory System, which identifies if there is an increased risk of PFD in your area during the main bloom.
Scouting for PFD Symptoms
PFD symptoms can be tricky to spot before the major bloom period, but it’s important to know if your grove has a PFD infection brewing because the fungus can spread quickly during optimal weather conditions. Tips for scouting for PFD include: • Scout early on popcorn and opened flowers because they are the most susceptible to the disease. • Look for peach to pinkish brown lesions on flower petals. • When conditions are ideal for PFD, whole flower clusters will show lesions. • PFD-affected flowers turn into fruitlets that will become chlorotic and fall off. • Fallen fruitlets leave behind PFD buttons, or persistent calyces, that are hard to remove. • Naturally falling fruit will also leave behind buttons, but the difference is these buttons are easy to remove. If you know you have symptoms of PFD in your grove, or you grow a highly susceptible cultivar, like Navel or Valencia, then you can start treatment before weather conditions become ideal and PFD gets out of hand.
by MIKE ROBERTS This column is sponsored by Griffin Fertilizer Co., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers. BIO: Mike Roberts is the Vice President of the Frostproof, Florida-based Griffin Fertilizer Co. Roberts joined the company in November 2011. He has spent the majority of his career in the fertilizer/agchem industry. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in citrus production from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information, visit griffinfertilizer.com.
12 | CFAN
Setting a Path For the Future Scarlett Jackson Works to Establish Ag Education Standards by PAMELA PALONGUE
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WHERE DO THE FARMERS of tomorrow learn the skills needed for contemporary agriculture, which may involve business management skills and even the analysis of complex data to ensure the most productive crop? It starts with awareness of farming as a highly skilled profession in the primary grades and continues with agriculture classes in grades 6 through 12. Scarlett Jackson, Director of Admissions at Warner University in Polk County and a Polk County Farm Bureau board member, has seen the difference a good ag education in middle and high school can make when a student enters the university to major in ag professions. “They have firsthand experiences,” she says, “They’ve learned leadership skills, and they’re way ahead.” Jackson, who taught ag education in middle and high school for several years,
has seen remarkable differences in ag curriculums from school to school. It’s something she hopes to change. “The Farm Bureau has advisory programs that ensure standards for growing citrus, or beef, so why not an advisory committee to ensure that the foundational goals of ag education are being met in our schools?” Jackson has been working with ag industry professionals in gathering information to determine what the current standards are CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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