avocado tree News
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New method may help detect avocado pathogen earlier
University of Florida researchers have found an algorithm to help them detect laurel wilt, the deadly pathogen that threatens Florida’s $100 million-a-year avocado industry. Reza Ehsani, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, said the algorithm finds laurel wilt-infected avocado trees before symptoms are visible to the naked eye. About 500 growers produce ...
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The problem expands for avocado growers: 9 beetle species carry deadly fungus
Many people love their avocados – not to mention guacamole dip. So it was bad enough when scientists said a beetle was ravaging avocado trees in South Florida. Then scientists found out that the redbay ambrosia beetle — originally determined to transmit laurel wilt — is rare in avocado groves but that six other beetle species could carry the laurel wilt pathogen. That’s ...
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Repellant could keep dangerous beetles away from avocado trees
Using some pleasant-smelling chemicals, avocado growers may soon be able to repel beetles that inject a potentially deadly fungus into their trees, saving fruit and money, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers say. When they’re infected with the laurel wilt fungus, redbay trees – a close cousin to the avocado — emit methyl salicylate to ...
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Smart farming recoups IoT investment
In the United States, California avocado farmer Kurt Bantle experimented with Internet of Things (IoT) connected technology to see if costly water consumption could be reduced in growing his 900 avocado trees. He spent US$8,200 for LoRa stations with soil moisture sensors, valve controllers, LoRa gateway and cellular backhaul. Cellular backhaul refers to a gateway that connects the farm to the ...
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New UF/IFAS-developed avocado app helps guide irrigation
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty have developed a new app for avocado growers that provides an irrigation schedule so users save an estimated 20 to 50 percent on the water they apply to their orchards. “Weather changes daily, and the app takes into account these changes in the irrigation schedule it provides,” said Kati Migliaccio, an ...
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Drones and Dogs Deployed In Battle to Save the Guacamole
With the killers hiding in the trees, heat-sensing drones are launched into the air. When their whereabouts are narrowed, the dogs are sent in. When it comes to protecting the world's supply of guacamole, no weapon can be spared. On subtropical farmland in South Florida, researchers are doing battle with the deadly fungus, laurel wilt, which is spread by a tiny beetle and has the potential to ...
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A tree for a child in Haiti - FAO asks public to buy fruit trees for school yards
FAO is asking people to lend a hand to children in Haiti by donating a fruit tree that they can plant in school yards across the country. The UN food agency's Director-General, Jacques Diouf, will launch the 'Fruit Trees for Haiti' initiative at a symbolic tree-planting at a school in the town of Croix des Bouquets, outside of Port-au-Prince, which while untouched by the earthquake is now ...
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UF/IFAS research may give new hope to expanding avocado production
Findings from new University of Florida research may lead growers to produce avocados in the Indian River region of Florida, an area where the citrus industry has fallen on hard times. The research comes from a dissertation by Cristina Pisani, who recently completed her doctorate in horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center near Fort Pierce. ...
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Crop consultants from Chile visit BioAtlantis
A group of crop consultants from Chile who advise on fruit tree production for avocados, cherries, citrus, nut and stone fruits recently visited the BioAtlantis facility in Tralee, County Kerry. The visit began with a tour of the state-of-the-art facility which produces natural compounds. The Chilean consultants had the opportunity to view the in-house research and development facilities that ...
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Agdia Releases New Molecular Test for Avocado Sunblotch Viroid
Agdia, Inc. (Elkhart, IN) has commercialized a Nucleic Acid Hybridization Assay for Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). ASBVd is found in avocado growing regions worldwide. Trees that are infected with ASBVd can result in a loss of yield and / or production of unmarketable fruit. However, symptoms are not always present making pro-active testing a critical disease control measure. Agdia's ...
By Agdia, Inc.
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