UF Unveils Six Citrus Greening-Tolerant Varieties for Growers

Citrus growers will soon have access to six new citrus greening-tolerant varieties, developed by University of Florida researchers Jude Grosser and Fred Gmitter at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. Citrus greening, or Huanglongbing (HLB), has plagued the citrus industry since 2005.

These new scion and rootstock selections aim to boost not-from-concentrate orange juice quality while offering a more sustainable path forward for growers.

Although not resistant to HLB, the varieties have shown strong tolerance and are considered among the most promising options currently available. A collaborative effort by the Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP), New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC), Florida Citrus Mutual, and the Florida Department of Citrus is expediting their availability. Patents have been filed, and nurseries are encouraged to contact NVDMC for propagation licenses. These releases join 45 other UF/IFAS varieties licensed since 2009, as ongoing research continues to seek long-term solutions for HLB. For more information, visit www.ffsp.net.