This Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (CFDA 10.309) provides $1,124,354 to the University of Florida to mitigate citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening. The research aims to create a portfolio of HLB resistance genes for transformation and gene editing approaches. Key activities include identifying citrus proteins that interact with HLB pathogen...
This $6,172,615 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program aims to expedite the release of non-transgenic, genome-edited citrus varieties resistant to Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The key products and services to be delivered include: Assessing previously generated transgenic citrus plants for HLB resistance, fruit quality, and yield. Accelerating screening and evaluation of target genes for non-transgenic genome editing...
The University of Florida (UF), through its Division of Sponsored Research, has been awarded a $928,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program (CFDA 10.309). The funding will support research to develop citrus varieties that are resistant or tolerant to Huanglongbing (HLB) or "citrus greening" disease, which poses a critical threat to the U.S. citrus industry. Specifically, the project aims to rapidly create...
The University of Florida (UF) was awarded a $1,364,478 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (CFDA 10.309) program, effective September 15, 2023 through September 14, 2026. The grant supports research to develop citrus scions (fruit-bearing branches) that are tolerant to Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, a major threat to the U.S. citrus industry. Key objectives include verifying HLB tolerance in...
The University of Florida was awarded a $1,499,123 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Research Initiative (CFDA 10.309) program. The grant supports research and development of commercial citrus varieties, both rootstocks and scions, with genetic resistance to Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Key activities include utilizing traditional breeding techniques and gene editing to develop HLB-resistant citrus, as well as consolidating screening efforts to identify...
The University of Florida (UF) was awarded a $974,182 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program to develop a novel method for delivering antimicrobials into the phloem of citrus trees to combat citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing or HLB). The key objectives of the project are to: 1) synthesize glucose-conjugated versions of the antimicrobials oxytetracycline and...
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the University of Florida $8,589,573 under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) federal grant program on September 15, 2022 for a project set to conclude on September 14, 2027. The project aims to develop, evaluate, and deliver citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) management approaches by targeting its nature as a pathogen-triggered immune disease. Key products and services include developing integrated horticultural approaches to...
This $4,115,736 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (CFDA 10.309) program supports research and extension activities to address critical challenges for the citrus industry related to Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The primary objectives are to: 1) rapidly select, assess and deliver new HLB-resistant/tolerant citrus cultivars (rootstocks and scions) for fresh...
This $1,499,445 federal Project Grant award was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program (CFDA 10.309). The award aims to address the critical challenge of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening, which is endemic in commercial citrus in Florida and Texas. The key objectives are to: 1) develop and test high-volume trunk injection methods to improve...
This federal Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (CFDA 10.309) program provides USD 1,125,000 to the University of Florida to research genetic pathways regulating disease tolerance in citrus crops. The key objectives are to 1) identify genetic markers associated with elevated basal callose levels that correlate with Huanglongbing (HLB) disease tolerance, 2)...