Speech by Vicente Puchol, CEO and technical director of EDYPRO, at CITRUSFORUM-I International Citrus Forum

• Ensuring quality is key to competing in demanding markets in central and northern Europe
• Fertilization and fruit set in complex varieties and fruit fattening in highly productive varieties are the most prominent challenges

Vicente Puchol, CEO and technical director of EDYPRO, He presented biotechnological solutions to the main challenges in obtaining excellent citrus harvests. His scientific presentation took place this morning within the framework of CITRUSFORUM, the 1st International Citrus Forum, which has been taking place since yesterday at the ADDA auditorium in Alicante.

During his presentation, Puchol explained that Spanish citrus farming must guarantee its excellence and high quality to compete in demanding markets such as those in central and northern Europe. “These are consumers who demand high-quality, flavorful citrus fruits produced sustainably. In Spain, we can offer these products, but we need to produce more harvests with these characteristics to obtain competitive prices,” he noted.

In this sense, working with biotechnology to achieve excellence in harvests is a fundamental tool to reach these objectives.“And this is achieved by analyzing what problems we have and providing solutions.”Puchol has identified the fertilization and "fruit set" in complex and low-yielding varieties, as well as fruit fattening in highly productive varieties, as one of the most outstanding challenges facing citrus farming.

Vicente Puchol explained the flower characteristics that determine successful fruit set: good levels of fertile pollen, optimal morphological configuration of the ovary, the thickness of the peduncle and the disc, the activity of the latter, and the sink effect. The goal for achieving a good harvest is to ensure these characteristics.

In low-yielding varieties such as Orri, Oronul, or Navel Powell, the application of biotechnological solutions, such as FECUNDATOR, It directly influences the optimal morphological formation of flowers and is a precursor to post-fertilization fruit differentiation. This effect allows for selective cultivation, targeting the first flowers and eliminating second and third blooms when they are unnecessary.

Furthermore, a study conducted by EDYPRO, A study conducted in collaboration with the University of the Balearic Islands on gas transfer and CO2 uptake in the Orri variety concludes that increased transpiration leads to a greater consumption of carbohydrates by the tree to rebalance itself daily and restore its physiological stability. This excessive carbohydrate consumption depletes the supply to the fruit through the "sink effect," causing dehydration in many of them. The first consequence is the death of the cells in the disc that connects the calyx to the fruit, causing the fruit to detach and remain attached to the tree. Therefore, it is important to correct imbalances in stomatal opening that affect CO2 uptake in order to maintain the tree's photosynthetic capacity.

Regarding fattening, the CEO and technical director of EDYPRO, has shown how the application of biotechnology with MAXIMUM QUALITY It has a positive influence on varieties such as Tango, Sanguinelli, Orri, and Oro Nules. Vicente Puchol has demonstrated the results of this management approach. MAXIMUM QUALITY To enhance fruit growth. This product, applied during the first phase of fruit development (from fertilization until physiological fruit drop), increases the supply and accumulation of metabolites and carbohydrates in the fruit by the tree through photosynthesis. It influences the fruit's external morphological configuration, increasing and standardizing its size and bringing it to the optimal morphological characteristics of the variety, giving it its genetically predetermined shape. Furthermore, it activates cell division in the rind, thus ensuring quality in subsequent stages.

The use of biotechnology in the second growth phase directly promotes the activation of genes responsible for increasing the size of pulp segments and the thickness of the central axis. It also enhances the development of the locules, which contain the juice vesicles, and increases the size of the vesicular peduncle, which determines density and specific weight. Inside the fruit, it accentuates the organoleptic characteristics of the variety by increasing the size of the oil vesicles and accentuating the contrast between sugars and acidity.

About CITRUSFORUM

EDYPRO It is a platinum sponsor of CITRUSFORUM, the 1st International Citrus Forum, which was held in person on June 21 and 22 in Alicante and will have an online session on June 23.

The event featured more than 40 presentations from citrus professionals who presented the latest advances and innovations in the sector.