UF Names Interim Director For Citrus Research And Education Center

Posted by Frank Giles|September 30, 2014

The University Florida named Michael Rogers interim director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Rogers has a doctorate in entomology from the University of Kentucky and specializes in citrus integrated pest management. His research has focused on the Asian citrus psyllid, which is the insect that carries the bacterium that causes citrus greening.

Photo courtesy of UF/IFAS

“Currently, the survival of the Florida citrus industry is threatened by citrus greening disease, and time is something many growers don’t have,” Rogers said. “The Florida citrus industry is looking to the research and Extension programs of UF/IFAS to develop and deliver the solutions needed to continue production of Florida’s iconic crop.”

Although current methods to control the spread of citrus greening are limited to the removal and destruction of infected trees, UF/IFAS researchers are working to defeat it on a number of fronts, including trying to eradicate the insect that carries the bacteria, breeding citrus rootstock that shows better greening resistance, testing laboratory treatments that could be used on trees and harnessing steam to treat trees.

Rogers takes the place of Jackie Burns, who becomes UF/IFAS’ dean for research. Both start their new jobs Nov. 1.