Author Topic: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop  (Read 2118 times)

Millet

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4798
    • Colorado
    • View Profile
Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« on: November 14, 2014, 04:40:03 PM »


Spinach has some defensins that provide resistance to the bacteria that causes citrus greening. What has been found is if genes that are in spinach is put into citrus we have citrus trees that are resistant to citrus greening. This could be the  best hope of defeating citrus greening which threatens citrus in Texas, Arizona, California and Florida.No other short term solution has been found. Every researcher in the world familiar with the disease h.as indicated that the ultimate solution will be bio-technology. Southern Gardens Citrus Growers, a major grower and supplier to many citrus juice labels including Tropicana, was one of the first growers with greening infected trees in Florida. It has since lost over 800,000 trees – a quarter of its groves. Citrus Greening the biggest challenge our industry faces right now. Citrus greening is in all 32 commercial citrus-producing counties in Florida. Before citrus greening, Florida was producing 242 million boxes or oranges. The most recent count this fall was 108 million boxes. The devastation has yet to bottom out since it takes as long as three years for the bacteria to kill a tree. In an unprecedented collaboration between the federal government, industry and researchers, work is happening on many fronts to limit the damage. Growers are watching hopefully as new trees infused with the spinach gene are growing in a government-controlled experiment. So far, the newly planted trees are thriving.
What we’re getting now with the latest work is true resistance. The trees don’t become infected at all with the bacteria. Then it has to pass the most important test of all. Will consumers be willing to buy orange juice squeezed from oranges containing a spinach gene?
Hawaii’s papaya crop was saved starting in 1998 when the plant was genetically modified to resist the domestic Ringspot virus which had been devastating the island’s crop.
Millet



jcaldeira

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 998
    • Planet Earth
    • View Profile
Re: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 04:59:30 PM »
That's encouraging news, Millet.  Thanks for sharing.


« Last Edit: November 14, 2014, 05:04:14 PM by jcaldeira »
Applying laws and rules equally to all is a cornerstone of a civilized society.

Daintree

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1209
    • Boise, Idaho - zone 6, with a zone 12 greenhouse...
    • View Profile
Re: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 07:58:25 PM »
Sounds great, but how do you combat the public relations problems due to people thinking they will grow a third arm out of their forehead from eating those citrus?

jcaldeira

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 998
    • Planet Earth
    • View Profile
Re: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2014, 10:13:50 AM »
Sounds great, but how do you combat the public relations problems due to people thinking they will grow a third arm out of their forehead from eating those citrus?

There is something in human nature that tells us to be cautious of change, which overall is probably good.    However, technophobia has been a problem since the dawn of the industrial revolution, with almost every new significant invention having detractors.   Truth becomes more apparent with time, experience and education.
Applying laws and rules equally to all is a cornerstone of a civilized society.

Daintree

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1209
    • Boise, Idaho - zone 6, with a zone 12 greenhouse...
    • View Profile
Re: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2014, 10:40:32 AM »
We are up against the same thing here in Idaho right now, with Simplot and a new potato they have.  It doesn't even have genes from anything else - they just removed the genes that create high starch and acrylamide (a carcinogen).
The farmers want to grow them because they don't bruise and brown as easily, and they are better for you, but McDonalds buys most of their potatoes, and they are refusing to buy these because of public opinion, or who knows, maybe McDonalds is creating the hype and the public is following along.
Round and round it goes.

Blake Branch

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 25
    • Manor, GA, USA USDA zone 8
    • View Profile
Re: Spinach May Save Florida's Citrus Crop
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2014, 12:44:17 AM »
The University of Florida has developed a few improved grapes that have genes from other grapes inserted into them for increased disease resistance.  They have had a hard time getting the USDA to allow them to release these vine outside of a quarantined area, and they were using plants from the same genus.  Since the issue of greening could be considered an epidemic, like the Papaya Ringspot Virus, maybe it will be allowed to go through without any problems.