The Tropical Fruit Forum

Mr. Texas you could certainly be right. - Millet

I'm not sure what the problem is, but it certainly looks like hail damaged fuit. - Millet - Millet

http://www.ocala.com/article/20140824/APN/308249876

Is there also any damage/dark spots on any of the leaves of this tree? - Millet

luak, a 24" x 14 should be a nice container for a tree growing on Flying Dragon.  Luak, you can do me a favor.  Will you send me an E-mail when he trees around Eureka Springs start turning color.  Thanks (Millet@netecin.net

Looking at the photo of your Mandarin tree with the leaf ends rolled back is exactly what a potassium deficiency looks like. - Mllet

These are very challenging times for Florida's citrus farmers.  Experts forecast Florida will have its smallest orange crop this year in forty-nine years.  Analysts say the citrus greening disease is destroying our orange groves.   University of Central Florida researchers are using nano science, trying to save our oranges.

Citrus greening started killing Florida orange trees in 2005 and it's been spreading all across our state ever since. It is a huge threat to Florida's nine billion dollar citrus industry.

“Once the trees are confirmed infected, then those trees will die eventually,” said Dr. Swadeshmukul  Santra.  He runs the Santra Research Group at UCF's Nano Science Technology Center.  His research team is working in UCF labs, trying to use tiny science to stop two huge problems.  They are citrus canker and citrus greening. 

Dr. Santra says they have to win this battle within three to five years.  He adds, “The reason is about 95 to 98 percent of the groves in Florida have been infected by greening. “

The team creates formulas to kill the bacteria which cause citrus greening and citrus canker.  They use nano science to design particles so small that they are the size of basic proteins, and they can move through the tissue of the orange tree attacking the citrus greening bacteria.

Dr. Santra talked about their strategy.  “So any therapies that we would like to design have to work systemically, that is from within.” Mikaeel Young has been working with Dr. Santra for three years, trying to perfect the best combination of bacteria attacking formulas. Young explains, “Some are metallic based materials that you could use to kill the species. Some are organic based, so they rupture the cell membrane of the bacteria.  Some are a combination of multiple mechanisms.”

Dr. Santra tells FOX 35 News if everything goes well in the laboratories, the products to kill citrus greening and citrus canker could be available in commercial markets within two to three years.

Greg, that's correct.  That is why even in my greenhouse (84-F high) Star Ruby only produces a fair quality fruit.  I also have two Marsh white grapefruit.  They do great. - Millet

Many growers string Christmas lights throughout their citrus trees, even the more cold hardy varieties.  On cold nights the lights are turned on supplying added heat for the trees protection.  Putting a cover over a Christmas lighted tree adds a good amount of protection. - Millet

http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4068599.htm
Millet

Heat plays a role in determining the time of fruit maturity and the level of fruit quality.  The heat requirement is determined by the number of hours that the temperature is above 55-F from the time of bloom to maturity.  In general, grapefruit have the highest heat requirement, about 11,000 heat unites. In contrast Valencia oranges about 10,000 heat unites, and Washington navel about 8,000 heat unites.  Citrus varieties that have lower heat requirements mature earlier than do those with high heat requirements. Also, in general, varieties that mature early in the season require less time between bloom and fruit maturity than do varieties that mature later in the winter or spring. - Millet

If I remember correctly  Anamatsu daidai is a Japanese pummelo variety.  I have seen them sold at the South East Citrus Expo in years past.  I have not actually tasted them, but I heard that the taste is quite good.  It has been years since I have heard of that variety.  However, unfortunately I do not believe that Anamatsu daidai comes true from seed. Therefore, it will be unknown what your seedling will turn out to be. Take Care - Millet

Grapefruit achieves its best quality under conditions of hot days and warm to hot nights, which results in higher sugars and lower acids than grapefruit produced in the cooler night temperatures common in Arizona and California. Therefore, California grapefruit production is regulated to the interior areas of the state such as Riverside where heat unites in the areas of 3200 to 3500 heat unit degrees. - Millet