Will You Be Ready for Postbloom Fruit Drop?

Abstract

Again in 2016, post bloom fruit drop (PFD) caused widespread problems in Florida groves. There were multiple factors that contributed to the outbreak in 2016. The primary factor was likely the extended bloom that many saw because of a combination of tree stress caused by huanglongbing (HLB) and the very warm winter.

Bloom in some groves was observed from late November to April. This allows for inoculum to build up in a grove and be present for the major bloom. Growers also experienced a very wet two weeks in the middle of the major bloom from mid-March to the beginning of April. With the inoculum that was already present, it was difficult to get fungicide applications on in a timely manner, and the disease became explosive.