Could Spinach Help Save Florida Citrus?
What does spinach have to do with saving Florida's citrus industry? Potentially quite a bit.
A new treatment for citrus greening disease, developed using compounds found in spinach, has received federal registration from the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the breakthrough follows more than 15 years of research involving Texas A&M, the University of Florida, and private industry.
Researchers discovered that compounds found in spinach can help fight the bacteria responsible for citrus greening.
The treatment uses a modified citrus virus, introduced through grafting, to help trees produce those protective compounds without changing their genetic makeup.
And Florida growers could be first in line.
Silvec Biologics, the company commercializing the technology, expects to begin working with Florida growers through the state's Citrus Research and Field Trial program in late 2026.
For an industry that has spent decades battling citrus greening, it's another potential tool to keep trees healthy and productive.
