Florida Southern College Replants Historic Groves to Combat Citrus Greening

The project represents a partnership between the college and industry leaders, including Rucks Nursery and Citrus Service, Inc. These collaborators provided specialized trees developed for HLB resistance and protective netting to shield young crops from the Asian citrus psyllid, the pest responsible for spreading the disease. By mitigating heat stress and environmental strain, the groves offer a controlled setting for faculty and students to refine production practices.

Dr. Michael Weber, Dean of the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, noted that these groves function as an investment in the future of Florida agribusiness. Students, working under the guidance of Assistant Professor Dr. Shea Keene, are managing the long-term research and maintenance plans. This effort builds upon the college's century-long legacy, which dates back to the establishment of the Citrus Institute in 1947, and reinforces the institution's role in sustaining a vital sector of the state's economy.