2012 - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2012 - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2012 - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
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Annual Report <strong>2012</strong><br />
July 1, 2011 – June 30, <strong>2012</strong><br />
Bureau <strong>of</strong> Citrus Budwood Registration<br />
Michael Kesinger, Chief<br />
Graft-transmissible diseases <strong>of</strong> citrus are incurable in commercial citrus groves; therefore, the use <strong>of</strong> certified budwood is the only<br />
option for nurserymen to grow productive disease-free trees. The Bureau <strong>of</strong> Citrus Budwood Registration makes certain that<br />
nurseries get a clean start, with outst<strong>and</strong>ing selected stock that has been rigorously tested <strong>and</strong> made available for distribution from<br />
foundation mother trees.<br />
This was a good year for budwood cutting at the Chiefl<strong>and</strong> foundation, as dem<strong>and</strong> continues to increase. Budwood cutting increased<br />
by 34%, to 515,007 bud eyes cut, in this fifth year <strong>of</strong> budwood distribution. Chiefl<strong>and</strong> foundation budwood represents 13% <strong>of</strong> the<br />
industry’s total source material used by citrus nurseries. The customer base includes 34 commercial citrus nurseries <strong>and</strong> 3 research<br />
agencies. Budwood was cut on 121 days for 238 separate customer orders. One hundred forty-two varieties were utilized for<br />
nursery propagation. Revenue from budwood sales at Chiefl<strong>and</strong> amounted to $119,926. A total <strong>of</strong> 1,316,197 bud eyes were cut <strong>and</strong><br />
distributed in Chiefl<strong>and</strong>’s first five years <strong>of</strong> existence.<br />
The Chiefl<strong>and</strong> greenhouses contain 1,105 trees, representing 309 varieties which includes 390 clones. The actual number <strong>of</strong> trees<br />
was reduced this year, as some <strong>of</strong> the closer-spaced trees were removed to allow more growing room. Fifty-four new trees were<br />
planted this year, representing 28 cultivars. Since the greenhouses are reaching capacity, <strong>and</strong> very little room is left for accepting<br />
new varieties, an expansion is planned for next fiscal year. Four <strong>of</strong> the original bows are to be extended 96 feet to the west, in the<br />
summer <strong>of</strong> <strong>2012</strong>. This will add 11,520 sq. ft. to the greenhouses.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> breeders entered 48 new selections into the bureau’s parent tree indexing program, in Winter Haven, for testing <strong>and</strong> shoot-tip<br />
grafting. A total <strong>of</strong> 72 new introductions were received in Winter Haven in 2011-<strong>2012</strong>, sixty-one were released, <strong>and</strong> 19 were sent to<br />
Chiefl<strong>and</strong> for incorporation into the foundation.<br />
The bureau laboratory in Winter Haven ran 27,819 qPCR tests for eleven different citrus pathogens. To date citrus greening has not<br />
been found in any budwood source trees. This is a testimony to the efficacy <strong>of</strong> insect pro<strong>of</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> industry greenhouses, stringent<br />
spray programs <strong>and</strong> detailed inspections. A new robotic system has been acquired for the lab, that will increase efficiency in qPCR<br />
set up. A second robotic h<strong>and</strong>ler is scheduled for purchase in the next fiscal year, which will be programmable for reconfiguring<br />
qPCR plates.<br />
Major improvements were made to the bureau pathogen indexing greenhouses at Winter Haven this fiscal year. Five greenhouses<br />
were connected with an internal entry vestibule that allows employees access to the greenhouses without having to make multiple reentries.<br />
Insect exclusion was also improved by changing ro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>and</strong> sidewalls to polycarbonate. Cooling <strong>and</strong> heating systems were<br />
upgraded as well. All the renovation work was accomplished with a federal Clean Plant Network grant.<br />
The largest number <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> citrus nursery propagations was reported this year since the m<strong>and</strong>atory greenhouse growing <strong>of</strong> nursery<br />
trees began in 2007. Citrus nursery propagation figures increased 25.7% from last year to 3,941,049 trees. The actual number <strong>of</strong><br />
trees that make it to commercial groves is considerably lower, as the propagation figures also represent trees for the homeowner<br />
market. An estimated 6 to 12% <strong>of</strong> the commercial citrus nursery stock is produced for the dooryard market.<br />
The budwood <strong>of</strong>fice processed 937 bud cutting reports, which amounts to an increase <strong>of</strong> 153 reports from the previous year. The<br />
average nursery made over 83 thous<strong>and</strong> propagations this fiscal year. One hundred eighty-two different clones, representing 147<br />
different varieties, were propagated this fiscal year. Although the citrus industry utilizes only a h<strong>and</strong>ful <strong>of</strong> varieties in commercial<br />
plantings, the dooryard (homeowner) market utilizes a larger assortment <strong>of</strong> citrus types.<br />
Sweet orange propagations accounted for 3.1 million trees, or 80.5% <strong>of</strong> the nursery stock produced. Grapefruit accounted for<br />
369,924 propagations, or 9.4% <strong>of</strong> the total production, compared to 7.3% last year. M<strong>and</strong>arins accounted for 287,778 propagations,<br />
or 7.3% <strong>of</strong> the total production. Lemons <strong>and</strong> Limes accounted for 1.5 <strong>of</strong> the nursery stock, with Pummelos at .2%.<br />
Hamlin <strong>and</strong> Valencia were the top two varieties propagated, making up 34.6 <strong>and</strong> 34.2% <strong>of</strong> nursery propagations, respectively.<br />
Midsweet was the third most popular variety, at 7.5% <strong>of</strong> nursery propagations, followed by Ray Ruby grapefruit at 4.6%, Navels at<br />
3%, <strong>and</strong> Ruby Red grapefruit at 2.7%. Orri was the most popular m<strong>and</strong>arin type propagated at 38,731 propagations, followed<br />
closely by Tango at 35,138. This is the first time in years that the traditional m<strong>and</strong>arin types have been replaced by relative<br />
newcomers. Swingle was the most popular rootstock used for budding. This is the 24th year that Swingle has been the top-utilized<br />
rootstock. Nursery trees on Swingle account for 37 % <strong>of</strong> all propagations, compared to 40% last year. Kuharske citrange <strong>and</strong> Sour<br />
Orange were the 2nd <strong>and</strong> 3rd most utilized rootstocks, accounting for 17% <strong>and</strong> 8% <strong>of</strong> propagations, respectively. Carrizo citrange,<br />
along with X-639, were the next most popular rootstocks, at 7.9 <strong>and</strong> 7.6 % respectively, followed by Volkamer at 4.5%, Cleopatra at<br />
3.3% <strong>and</strong> US-802 at 3.1%.<br />
1 Annual Report <strong>2012</strong> (FY 2011-<strong>2012</strong>) Bureau <strong>of</strong> Citrus Budwood Registration