THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE — Tucked behind twists and turns of dusty roads and acres of groves at UC Riverside’s agriculture research station are hybrid trees with golf-ball-size fruit that offer hope in the fight against a disease threatening California’s iconic citrus industry.
Since 2013, UCR scientists have been trying to breed citrus varieties that resist Huanglongbing or HLB — also known as citrus greening disease — which has ravaged Florida oranges and spread widely among Inland Empire backyard trees.
At the same time, scientists are trying to develop fruit with a taste that appeals to consumer palates.