Citrus plant protection guide

Summary

This seventh edition of the Citrus plant protection guide provides up-to-date information on all aspects of managing pests and diseases in a citrus orchard.

Biosecurity is always important and an update on managing neglected orchards (page 5), as well as some points about preparing for huanglongbing, the biggest disease threat to citrus (page 18) are included.

This edition includes updates on NSW DPIRD citrus projects, including:

• two new NSW DPIRD salt-tolerant rootstocks that were evaluated as part of the 'Evaluation of new rootstocks for the Australian industry' have been trademarked (page 6)
• W. Murcott canopy management options to improve long-term yield and reduce alternate bearing (page 8)
• developing innovative orchard systems to improve yield and labour efficiency in the competitive citrus orchards projects (page 10)
• the citrus industry IPDM extension program has finished, producing over 46 outputs (page 14), including Pests, beneficials, diseases and disorders in citrus
• the NSW DPIRD climate team looked at the potential effects of climate change on citrus production (page 16)
• an update on the current Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project associated with managing the devastating citrus disease, huanglongbing (page 21).

Citrus varietal evaluation work in rootstocks and scions is an important focus for NSW DPIRD, and an update on the project is on page 24. Additionally, the variety seasonality charts and contacts for variety managers have been revised and are included on page 26.

The Cryptolaemus ladybird beetle is the featured natural enemy for this year (page 58). Cryptolaemus was released and worked effectively to assist mealybug management in demonstration sites at Mareeba in Queensland and also at Griffith in NSW as part of the IPDM extension program work.

This year's guide also has articles on managing resistance in post-harvest fungicides and how growers can prevent this from occurring (page 90).