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