Interest in growing blood oranges in Arizona has been increasing in recent years, especially for producing fruit for sale in roadside stands. The Arizona Cooperative Citrus Registration Certification Program now has four selections from which to choose: 'Moro', 'Tarocco', 'Sanguinelli', and 'Ruby'. Each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making a selection.

A variety of insecticides have been tested during the last three years to keep pace with the ever-present demand for effective materials to control mites and thrips on citrus. This need is particularly acute with the recent loss of dicofol (Kelthane), which for years was an industry standard for mite control. Some of the more promising new compounds include Avermectin and NC 21314. Comments are included concerning the registration status of some of the compounds we tested. Cautions are given concerning the development of resistance to compounds which are soon to be available.

The control of citrus thrips is a major concern for citrus growers in the Yuma area. Five materials were evaluated for control of citrus thrips on Lisbon lemons at the Yuma Mesa Agricultural Center during July and August of 1985. Although there was no statistically significant differences between treatments, Mavrik appeared to provide the best control of the materials tested. Dimethoate (Cygon) and formetanate hydrochloride (Carzol) were not tested.

Pkvtophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica cause gummosis and root rot of citrus trees in Arizona. A disease survey was initiated to determine the relative distribution of each pathogen within the citrus acreage of Maricopa and Yuma Counties. Both pathogens were recovered at the same time from 75% and 17% of orchards containing Phytophthora in Maricopa and Yuma County, respectively. P. citrophthora alone was found in 15% of the groves containing Phytophthora in Yuma County, while P. parasitica alone was detected in 25% and 68% of the citrus plantings containing Phytophthora in Maricopa and Yuma County, respectively. This survey will be continued for another year. The potential value of this information for improved disease control is discussed.

The relative virulence of Phytophthora parasitica recovered from citrus and other plants to rough lemon was investigated Isolates of Phytophthora parasitica from citrus were highly virulent to rough lemon seedlings, causing crown rot and significant reduction of root weight. Isolates of the pathogen from noncitrus hosts caused slight damage to rough lemon, with no crown rot and only minor reduction of root weight. Evidently, isolates of P. parasitica from several noncitrus hosts do not pose a serious threat to citrus groves.

No description available.

This study was initiated to evaluate and compare the effect of root and soil treatments with sodium tetrathiocarbonate (STTC) (Enzone), metalaxyl (Ridomil), and fosetyl-Al (Aliette) on subsequent development of Phytophthora root rot on citrus. Disease development was significantly reduced on rough lemon seedlings treated with STTC or metalaxyl compared to untreated plants when this citrus rootstock was inoculated with sporangia of P. citrophthora or P. parasitica. Growth of rough lemon seedlings in soil naturally infested with P. parasitica that was treated one week before planting with STTC or metalaxyl was equivalent to that obtained in sterilized orchard soil STTC applied as a soil drench at 2,450 ppm was lethal to P. citrophthora and P. parasitica on colonized leaf disks of lepton buried in soil, whereas a similar treatment with metalaxyl at 10 ppm or fosetyl Al at 3,000 ppm did not appreciably affect pathogen viability. Sporangium production on leaf disks of lemon colonized by P. citrophthora and P. parasitica and buried in soil was reduced at least 90% compared to the untreated control six days after treatment of soil with 2,450 ppm of STTC, 10 ppm of metalaxyl, or 3,000 ppm of fosetyl AL These studies demonstrate the potential usefulness of sodium tetrathiocarbonate as a fungicide for control of Phytophthora root rot of citrus. Only fosetyl-Al (Aliette) and metalaxyl (Ridomil) currently are registered for control of Phytophthora diseases on citrus.

Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of temperature on development of Phytophthora gummosis and root rot of citrus as well as the influence of temperature on sporulation of Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica. Maximum production of sporangia by each fungus occurred at 25 C, while slight or no sporangia production occurred at 10, 15, and 35 C. Minimal growth of lesions was observed when stems of rough lemon were inoculated with P. citrophthora or P. parasitica and incubated at 5 and 30 C or 10 and 30 C, respectively. The inhibitory and stimulating effect of certain temperatures on sporulation and disease development could be useful for determination of optimum times for application of fungicides or other disease control measures.

For 24 consecutive months, root pieces were collected from field -grown Lisbon lemon trees established on Citrus aurantium (sour orange), C. jambhiri (rough lemon), and C. volkameriana rootstocks. Root segments were wounded, inoculated with Phytophthora citrophthora or P. parasitica, and incubated for 96 hr in moist chambers. Smaller lesions developed during Jan -Feb than during Jul-Oct on root pieces of all tested rootstocks inoculated with P. citrophthora as well as root pieces of C aurantium inoculated with P. parasitica. Apparently there is a seasonal variation in the susceptibility of citrus rootstocks to colonization by Phytophthora. This information could be useful for more effective timing of fungicide applications.

Since 1973, Yuma County has had three apparently unrelated infestations of California Red Scale (CRS). The Yuma County citrus Pest Control District (YCCPCD) was successful in eradicating the first two in 1980 and 1984, respectively. We are continuing our spray program on the third, but our detection methods indicate that this infestation has now also been eradicated.