Y. Erner, B. Artzi, E. Tagari and M. Hamou
The Volcani Center, Institute of Horticulture, Department of Fruit Trees, Israel
Potassium plays a critical role in citrus trees and it affects many phenomena, both visible and invisible. The requirement for K in trees is next to that for nitrogen and ranges from 0.5 to 2% of dry matter. Adequate yield, for the fresh fruit market can be achieved only when the level of K is in the optimum range.
Shafiya Rafiq, Rajkumari Kaul, S.A. Sofi, Nadia Bashir
Department of Food Science and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chatha,Jammu, J&K 180009, India
Fiza Nazir
Division of Post Harvest Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Shalimar, Srinagar J&K 190025, India
Gulzar Ahmad Nayik
Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal 148106, Punjab, IndiaKing Saud University
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences
Citrus plants belonging to the family Rutaceae which include fruits such as orange, mandarin, lime, lemon, sour orange and grapefruit appear as a well known promising source of multiple beneficial nutrients for human beings. Processing of citrus by-products potentially represents a rich source of phenolic compounds and dietary fibre, owing to the large amount of peel produced. These citrus fruit residues, which are generally discarded as waste in the environment, can act as potential nutraceutical resources.
Jakkie Stander
Citrus Research International (CRI)
Citrus orchards are experiencing an intense blossom period, especially in the cooler production regions in the Eastern and Western Cape. Producers are reminded of the importance of the following cultural practices to manipulate the crop to ensure acceptable fruit size and quality.
The period during and immediately after flowering (September to December) is the cell division stage of fruit development. It is the period in which most cells of the fruit are formed. Flowers and fruit are particularly sensitive to water stress, carbohydrate depletion, and mineral nutrient deficiency during this period.
The Citrus Management Committee (CGC), the national association that brings together private exporters, regrets the uncertainty created by the revision of phytosanitary protocols to regulate South African citrus imports to the EU. Shipments have already begun and some are already arriving in European ports and the Commission (EC) has not yet validated the proposal made by this country. After the strong rebound last season in European interceptions of the Citrus Black Spot (CBS) -with up to 24 port refusals- and 14 interceptions of the dangerous Thaumatotibia leucotreta moth, South Africa had to commit to review its control programs for both pests.
http://www.zestfruit.co.za
“A watershed moment for the South African citrus industry” – several citrus traders have used this phrase to describe the rule published by the United States this week to amend regulations regarding importation of citrus from the whole of South Africa into the United States.
Previously only citrus from the Western and Northern Cape, where citrus black spot does not occur, were allowed. Citrus black spot occurs in Florida but not in California and within the United States there has long been a recognition that citrus fruit is not a vector of the fungal disease.
J. G. Williamson
L. K. Jackson
UF | IFAS Extention
University of Florida
Home fruit growers often want to propagate their own citrus trees, or change varieties by top-working an existing tree with one or more varieties of citrus. As with many gardening activities, considerable satisfaction may be gained from growing your own citrus trees. Furthermore, several excellent citrus cultivars (cultivated varieties) are difficult, if not impossible, to buy locally and are most easily obtained by propagating your own. Moreover, dooryard citrus trees from local retail outlets are sometimes mislabelled as to cultivar and/or rootstock. With patience and a little practice, home fruit growers can master the art of growing their own trees.
Mongi Zekri
Thomas A. Obreza,
Robert Koo
UF | IFAS Extention
University of Florida
Florida has the highest citrus fruit quality standards in the world. The most important quality factors for Florida citrus growers, production managers, processors, and packers include fruit juice content, soluble solids and acid concentrations, soluble solids-acid ratio, fruit size, and color. Florida citrus growers discern between quality factors for the fresh and processing markets. For example, fruit size, shape, color, and maturity date are most important for fresh fruit, but high juice content and soluble solids are desired for processing fruit.READ MORE
Tacy Callies
http://www.growingproduce.com
As inputs become more costly, site-specific crop management (precision agriculture) is slowly becoming more widely adopted in Florida citrus production. Used properly, precision ag can contribute to reduced waste, increased profits, and protection of the environment.
“Precision agriculture is not a single technology, but rather a set of many components from which growers can select to form a system that meets their unique needs and operation size,” says Reza Ehsani, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). “In citrus production, a small change in increasing the efficiency of the input materials or yield could significantly affect the bottom line.”