Nutrition Boost Cuts Citrus Disease, Enhances Mandarins

New research shows supplemental nutrition can help reduce HLB symptoms and improve fruit quality in Florida mandarins.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:36am

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New research from the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center demonstrates that supplemental nutrition strategies can help reduce visible HLB symptoms in mandarins, while also improving fruit quality and extending shelf-life. The study focused on two mandarin varieties, 'LB8-9' (Sugar Belle®) and 'Tango,' and found that foliar K and B nutrition helped mitigate some HLB symptoms, leading to larger, more marketable fruit with good postharvest quality.

Why it matters

This research highlights the importance of nutrition management as part of an integrated approach to sustaining citrus production in HLB-endemic regions like Florida. While supplemental nutrition is not a cure for HLB, it can provide meaningful improvements in tree performance, fruit quality development, and postharvest longevity for citrus growers.

The details

The study found that foliar K and B nutrition helped mitigate some HLB symptoms, leading to larger, more marketable fruit with good postharvest quality. Calcium was shown to help with firmness and storage decay but did not improve commercial quality traits like size or color. Fruit harvested from treated trees also had higher overall quality, including improved size, firmness, and juice characteristics. Shelf-life was also extended, offering potential benefits to growers, distributors, and consumers.

  • The research was conducted at the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center.

The players

Tripti Vashisth

Associate Director of the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida, Associate Professor of Horticultural Science, and Citrus Extension Specialist.

University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center

The research institution where the study on supplemental nutrition strategies for mandarins was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“My research program conducts applied research to improve citrus productivity, fruit quality, and tree health under Huanglongbing (HLB) conditions. Based at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) at the University of Florida, my work focuses on citrus nutrition, root health, canopy management, plant growth regulators, and stress physiology.”

— Tripti Vashisth, Associate Director, Citrus Research and Education Center

The takeaway

This research demonstrates that targeted nutrition strategies can help citrus growers in HLB-affected regions like Florida mitigate the impacts of the disease and improve the quality and shelf-life of their mandarin crops, providing benefits throughout the supply chain.