ASHS 2015 Annual Conference

Objective(s):
The purpose of this workshop is to review the therapeutic methods that are being employed for different emerging diseases in citrus and other horticultural crops. This workshop will encourage and facilitate the mutual exchange of ideas and information concerning the use of therapeutic methods for diseases in horticultural crops and how these approaches can be adopted in citrus. Currently, citrus industry is threatened by a disease called “Huanglongbing, (HLB)”. HLB, also called citrus greening is one of the most destructive disease of citrus and one of the greatest limitation on production in every citrus producing region where it is present. HLB-infected trees often display multiple disease and mineral deficiency symptoms, poor fruit set, high fruit drop, low fruit quality, and low overall yields. At present there is no cure for this disease and therefore poses a big threat to entire citrus industry of America. It is anticipated that this workshop on use of different therapeutic approaches such as nanoparticles, RNAi, etc. will generate a discussion on how similar approaches can be employed in citrus to combat HLB and other diseases. The specific objectives of this workshop are: (a) Increase our knowledge about the therapeutic methods that are being or have been used for suppressing/curing diseases in horticultural crops; (b)To have a better understanding about what type of therapeutic approaches are being used for diseases like citrus greening or canker; (c)How the approaches from other horticultural crops can be adopted for citrus.

The purpose of this workshop is to review the therapeutic methods that are being employed for different emerging diseases in citrus and other horticultural crops. This workshop will encourage and facilitate the mutual exchange of ideas and information concerning the use of therapeutic methods for diseases in horticultural crops and how these approaches can be adopted in citrus.

Currently, citrus industry is threatened by a disease called “Huanglongbing, (HLB)”. HLB, also called citrus greening is one of the most destructive disease of citrus and one of the greatest limitation on production in every citrus producing region where it is present. HLB-infected trees often display multiple disease and mineral deficiency symptoms, poor fruit set, high fruit drop, low fruit quality, and low overall yields. At present there is no cure for this disease and therefore poses a big threat to entire citrus industry worldwide. It is anticipated that this workshop on use of different therapeutic approaches such as nanoparticles, RNAi, etc. will generate a discussion on how similar approaches can be employed in citrus to combat HLB and other diseases.

The specific objectives of this workshop are:

1. Increase our knowledge about the therapeutic methods that are being or have been used for suppressing/curing diseases in horticultural crops.
2. To have a better understanding about what type of therapeutic approaches are being used for diseases like citrus greening or canker.
3. How the approaches from other horticultural crops can be adopted for citrus.