Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research
Project Number: 6034-21000-020-013-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2023
End Date: Sep 14, 2028
Objective:
Objective 1: Select next generation rootstocks from large-scale field evaluations in HLB-endemic regions.
Objective 2: Determine commercial potential of new rootstock selections in major citrus growing regions.
Objective 3: Optimize selection for HLB tolerance/resistance through implementation of genomics-assisted breeding to boost
efficiency of future rootstock breeding cycles.
Approach:
Objective 1. Beginning in 2014 Bowman has collected yearly metrics on tree survival, tree and canopy characteristics, fruit yield and quality, and yield efficiency across 14 replicated trials spanning three locations that will be continued under this project. Each trial contains four common commercial rootstocks for comparison. Rootstock hybrids with performance superior to the current best HLB-tolerant commercial rootstocks will be identified to select a minimum of four new rootstock cultivars for release to growers before the end of 2028.
