What may be the closest thing yet to a timely silver bullet for HLB was discussed October 26 at Lake Alfred’s Citrus Research and Education Center. Josh Steinbronn, director of research and development at TJ BioTech, said trunk injection of his company’s ReMedium TI oxytetracycline product suppresses Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of HLB. He added that injection of the product significantly reduces fruit drop, improves fruit quantity and quality, and improves tree health.
Unlike many promising HLB solutions, this one isn’t far down the road. Steinbronn expects ReMedium TI to be registered and commercialized for Florida citrus very soon. More than 60 citrus growers and others listened attentively to Steinbronn’s presentation. Many asked questions. One question was about the overall cost per acre to use the product, but Steinbronn said he isn’t allowed to discuss pricing at this point.
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