Biotech Updates

US EPA Approves Wider Testing of Spinach Defenses Against Citrus Greening

May 20, 2015

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has approved Southern Gardens Citrus' application for an Experimental Use Permit under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The permit allows Southern Gardens to move forward in its development of the possible use of a spinach protein to help control the devastating citrus greening disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB).

Research conducted by plant pathologist Dr. Erik Mirkov at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center has resulted in the production of proteins that appear to provide effective control of citrus greening disease. The permit authorizes large scale tests of citrus plants with the protein derived from spinach, developed from Dr. Mirkov's patented discoveries.

For more, read the news release from the Texas A&M AgriLife website.