Three lemon cultivar selection trials are being conducted at the Yuma Mesa Agriculture Center in Somerton, AZ. Data from these trials suggest that ‘Limonero Fino 49’ selections may be a suitable alternative for the varieties most commonly planted in Southwest Arizona today. ‘Cavers Lisbon’ and ‘Villafranca’ might also be planted on an experimental basis

Four 'Lisbon' lemon selections, 'Frost Nucellar', 'Corona Foothills', 'Limoneira 8A' and 'Prior' were selected for evaluation on Citrus volkameriana rootstock. 1994-2002 results indicate that the 'Limoneira 8A Lisbon' and ‘Corona Foothills Lisbon’ are superior in yield and fruit size. Results for 2002-03 indicate that these cultivars as well as ‘Frost Nucellar’ have superior yield.

In a rootstock evaluation trial planted in 1993, five rootstocks, ‘Carrizo’ citrange, Citrus macrophylla, ‘Rough Lemon’, Swingle citrumelo and Citrus volkameriana were selected for evaluation using 'Limoneira 8A Lisbon' as the scion. 1994-2002 yield and packout results indicate that trees on C. macrophylla, C. volkameriana and ‘Rough Lemon’ are superior to those on other rootstocks in both growth and yield. C. macrophylla is outperforming C. volkameriana. For the second year in a row, ‘Rough Lemon’ trees performed similarly to C. macrophylla and better than C. volkameriana. ‘Swingle’ and Carrizo’ are performing poorly. In two other rootstock evaluation trials, both planted in 1995, C. macrophylla and/or C. volkameriana are outperforming other trifoliate and trifoliate-hybrid rootstocks under test.

This experiment was established in January 2000 in a block of ‘Washington’ navel orange trees at Verde Growers, Stanfield, AZ. Treatments included: normal grower practice, winter low biuret (LB) urea application, summer LB urea application, winter LB urea application plus winter and spring potassium phosphite, winter LB urea application plus summer potassium phosphite, and normal grower practice plus spring potassium phosphite. Each treatment was applied to approximately four acres of trees. For 2000-01, yields ranged from 40 to 45 lbs. per tree, and there was no effect of treatments upon total yield, and only slight effect upon fruit size, grade and quality. For 2001-02, there was a slight effect of treatment upon yield as LB urea led to improved yield, while potassium phosphite led to reduced yield. Normal grower practice was intermediate between these two extremes. For 2002-03, we noted a large increase in yield, however the yield data was lost when the block was inadvertently harvested. For 2005, there was no effect of treatments upon total yield.

Four 'Lisbon' lemon selections, 'Frost Nucellar', 'Corona Foothills', 'Limoneira 8A' and 'Prior' were selected for evaluation on Citrus volkameriana rootstock. 2004-05 results indicate that the 'Limoneira 8A Lisbon' and ‘Corona Foothills Lisbon’

Two orange cultivar trials have been established in Arizona, one at the Yuma Mesa Agricultural Center, Yuma, AZ and one at the Citrus Agriculture Center, Waddell, AZ. For the navel orange trial in Yuma, all the selections had improved yields in 2004-05. ‘Fisher’ navel continues to have the greatest yield, but is quite granulated. Of the rest in the Yuma trial, ‘Lane Late’ had the best quality and yield. For the Waddell trial, the fourth year data has been collected, and suggests that ‘Fisher’, ‘Beck-Earli’, ‘Chislett’ and ‘Lane Late’ are outperforming the other cultivars tested to date.

Three lemon cultivar selection trials are being conducted at the Yuma Mesa Agriculture Center in Somerton, AZ. Data from these trials suggest that ‘Limonero Fino 49’ selections may be a suitable alternative for the varieties most commonly planted in Southwest Arizona today. ‘Femminello’ and ‘Villafranca’ might also be planted on an experimental basis.

In a rootstock evaluation trial planted in 1993, five rootstocks, ‘Carrizo’ citrange, Citrus macrophylla, ‘Rough Lemon’, Swingle citrumelo and Citrus volkameriana were selected for evaluation using 'Limoneira 8A Lisbon' as the scion. 1994-2004 yield and packout results indicate that trees on C. macrophylla, C. volkameriana and ‘Rough Lemon’ are superior to those on other rootstocks in both growth and yield. C. macrophylla is outperforming C. volkameriana. For the second year in a row, ‘Rough Lemon’ trees performed similarly to C. macrophylla and better than C. volkameriana. ‘Swingle’ and Carrizo’ are performing poorly. In two other rootstock evaluation trials, both planted in 1995, C. macrophylla and/or C. volkameriana are outperforming other trifoliate and trifoliate-hybrid rootstocks under test.

Bioassay with Dimethoate, Carzol, Danitol, Baythroid and Success were conducted on citrus thrips collected from the Yuma Mesa to determine if insecticide resistance to these insecticides occurred. Low to moderate levels of resistance were detected for Dimethoate, Carzol and Danitol, and one population exhibited a high level of resistance to Baythroid. No resistance was evident for Success. Susceptibility to Success was much higher for the Yuma populations relative to populations previously reported in California.

In a rootstock evaluation trial planted in 1993, five rootstocks, ‘Carrizo’ citrange, Citrus macrophylla, ‘Rough Lemon’, Swingle citrumelo and Citrus volkameriana were selected for evaluation using 'Limoneira 8A Lisbon' as the scion. 1994-2005 yield and packout results indicate that trees on C. macrophylla, C. volkameriana and ‘Rough Lemon’ are superior to those on other rootstocks in both growth and yield. C. macrophylla is no longer outperforming C. volkameriana. ‘Swingle’ and Carrizo’ are performing poorly.