Somatic hybrids in rootstock improvement
Diseases, including citrus blight (a disease of unknown
etiology) and quick-decline caused by citrus tristeza virus
(CTV), kill millions of citrus trees annually worldwide.
More recently, the Diaprepes root weevil/Phytophthora
complex has become an important problem in Florida
(Grosser et al. 2003, 2007). Rootstocks have a significant
impact on tree productivity and survivability, and improved
rootstocks can greatly improve the profitability of citriculture.
The primary objective of our rootstock breeding
program is packaging the necessary biotic and abiotic
resistances together with wide soil adaptation, productivity,
and the ability to control tree size. In Florida, smaller trees