A heartening story about how CRISPR is being used to develop citrus trees resistant to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening), carried by the the Asian citrus psyllid.
In 20 years, the disease reduced citrus production in Florida by more than 60%: infected trees can die in as few as 5 years.
If all goes well, in 2027 resistant trees may be planted in commercial orchards.
#CitrusProduction #Florida #Oranges #BacterialDisease #InsectVector #CRISPR
How researchers in Florida are using gene editing to protect the state’s orange groves
Researchers in Florida are testing a new gene-edited tree that they hope will be able to fight off the tiny insects that have devastated the state’s orange groves for years. Colleen Krantz of Iowa PBS reports.