FDACS approves citrus greening treatment

Bio platform company Invaio Sciences has announced that its citrus health solution to suppress citrus greening in oranges has received approval from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Community Services (FDACS) under section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

According to the group, its citrus health solution treats citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), which is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid and has been a thorn in the side of Florida growers for nearly two decades.

The solution will deliver ArborBiotic through Invaio’s application technology, Trecise. Invaio explained that, unlike conventional injection treatments, the minimally invasive system required 90 per cent less active ingredient as it delivered directly into the tree’s vascular system.

“Invaio’s Trecise technology offers a real breakthrough in the fight against citrus greening, a disease that has devastated the industry for more than 15 years,” said Ignacio Martinez, founding CEO of Invaio.

“This is the first of many Invaio technologies that will benefit growers, crops and the environment.”

Trials of the solution showed an average yield increase of 30 per cent after just one treatment as well as increased in brix and a reduction in fruit drop, the company outlined.

“I’m really excited about what Invaio is doing,” said Ned Hancock, a fifth-generation Citrus Grower. “This is probably the first time in my lifetime our industry has seen truly new technology. I see this as potentially revolutionising the way we manage citrus.”

Invaio said that the Trecise system had several key advantages for growers and applicators.

These advantages included the fact that Its 120-day pre-harvest interval was 60 days shorter than conventional injection treatments, and that there was no need for drilling which made it suitable for young trees that had few treatment options available.

Because it applied active ingredients directly in the conductive tissues of the tree, the solution needed lower rates for equivalent efficacy, reducing the risk of misapplication and residues, and cutting the risk of exposure to workers and the environment, the group noted.

“We’re excited to launch our Trecise system and are optimistic about the future of Florida’s citrus industry,” said Dave Gerrard, head of commercial US.

”With our initial focus on treating young and non-bearing trees, we hope to show that growers can get trees to bearing age with minimal disease symptoms and build confidence for replanting.

“This is just the first step,” he added. ”We’re committed to delivering further solutions to help Florida citrus growers regain their pre-HLB yields.”