Science
Florida citrus growers plant gene-edited trees to combat greening disease
NPR reports that growers are field-testing EPA-approved CRISPR rootstocks to rescue decimated fruit harvests.
The short version
- Florida growers are planting newly developed gene-edited trees to counter deadly citrus greening disease.[NPR]
- The Environmental Protection Agency approved the modifications earlier this year following severe harvest declines since 2005.[NPR]
- Tampa-based biotech firm Soilcea engineered the CarriCea T1 rootstock using CRISPR to boost natural tree immunity.[NPR]
- Full commercial effectiveness remains unproven until the modified trees reach maturity over a ten-year cycle.[NPR]
Key facts
- Citrus growers in Florida are planting new trees modified with gene-editing technology to fight citrus greening disease.[NPR]
- The Environmental Protection Agency granted regulatory approval for the genetic modifications earlier this year.[NPR]
- Citrus greening disease first arrived in Florida in 2005.[NPR]
- Florida citrus shipments fell from roughly 300 million boxes per season before the disease arrived to just over 15 million boxes in the season ending in June.[NPR]
- Tampa firm Soilcea used CRISPR gene editing to create the CarriCea T1 rootstock designed to keep the immune systems of citrus trees functioning against greening.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- Soilcea CEO Yianni Lagos acknowledged that long-term tree performance will not be fully known until trees reach ten years of age.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.