Hi all! I recently talked to a network member with a large scale citrus grove who does a lot of experimentation with researchers and governmental organizations. As conventional methods continue fail in controlling citrus greening, they have been looking into alternative methods.
He has read a lot about natural chemicals that can be extracted from leaves and wanted to know what plants he can grow for use as potential pesticide in southwest Florida and the best method for extracting the chemicals from the leaf matter.
His intention is to experiment with this on a large scale in his irrigation system that douses the plants. He needs to be able to extract the chemicals and have a really clean product to not plug his system. He said he is willing to use plants that do anything from deterring the insect via taste, repel them, or even kill them.
He is willing to set up a larger scale or a more expensive system, so it can be more ‘lab’ grade methods you recommend.
Questions to answer…
- What plants do you recommend for making pesticide to control, repel, or kill the Asian citrus psyllid (Especially that grow in SW FL)?
- What is the best extraction method at scale for processing it?
In general, I am looking to answer these 2 questions and less interested in other methods involved in controlling greening for this particular chat. Thanks!
try Neem oil with enough dish soap to help the liquid stick to the underside of leaves. Neem trees grow very quickly and ought to take hold okay in Florida.
The oil is easy enough to extract. It can be “at scale” also as it was also used against the locust plagues in east africa and was filling the bellies of spraying airplanes.
We grow Neem trees spaced throughout our citrus Orchards. That seems to work well. Plus it’s easy.
a persistent problem with Neem is that the tree seems, in the roots, to discourage other trees from growing. we get a stand of pure Neem trees because the other species have been killed. do you find that also?
It could be our useage of neem is different than yours. First of all they are pretty scattered out through the orchard with approximately 10 to 20 per acre. Secondly, we have learned they do interfere with the fruit trees if we let them get too large. So every year or at least every two years they get coppiced very low….1 to 2 foot stump. We don’t cut all of them at once but rotationally which means we always have some leaves in the air doing their thing.
I hope that helps.
Thank you all for your thoughts! Neem does grow in Florida, so I will recommend it to him. I also like the “interspersed” planting of it in the orchard.
Does anyone have a particular method they like for extracting the oils or processing the leaves?
Also, still open to other plant ideas as well. Thanks!