About the National Clean Plant Network-Citrus (NCPN-Citrus)

Mission

The overall mission of the NCPN-Citrus is to provide reliable sources of high-quality asexual propagated citrus material that is free of graft-transmissible pathogens to the citrus nursery industry and researchers, ensuring the global competitiveness of the US citrus industry.

What Does NCPN-Citrus do?

Introduction of citrus varieties under quarantine to prevent the accidental introduction of exotic diseases of citrus.

Test citrus germplasm for graft-transmissible pathogens.

Eliminate pathogens from infected material through thermal therapy and/or shoot tip grafting.

Establish, maintain and upgrade pathogen-tested foundation blocks for future use and release.

Develop outreach programs to educate and train industry personnel and the public on the importance of using pathogen-tested materials.

Our Promise

- Continue improving and enhancing the current procedures for introducing and releasing citrus varieties from foreign and domestic sources to prevent accidental introduction of exotic citrus diseases.
- Continuous testing of citrus germplasm for graft-transmissible pathogens.
- Establish, maintain, and upgrade the foundation blocks of pathogen-tested citrus germplasm to provide clean propagative material to the industry.
- Maintain working relationships with other international and national certification programs to facilitate the movement of germplasm within the nursery system.
- Develop & promote best management practices for use by the citrus nursery industry to maintain pathogen-tested citrus propagative material.
- Develop and utilize education and outreach resources to educate and train key industry & public stakeholders to ensure successful dissemination of NCPN-Citrus products and services.
- Provide a forum for discussion of enhancement of the system's approach to the distribution of nursery stock and safe exchange & introduction of new citrus varieties and rootstocks.