“Citrus” is a term applied to a variety of popular and nutritious fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. Citrus breeders are tasked with improving the varieties, which takes decades. Still, great progress has been made in fruit improvement. However, over the last twenty years a disease called Huanglongbing, or “HLB” (also known as “citrus greening”) has emerged in the USA and threatens the citrus industry. Today the focus is how to grow improved citrus varieties that can survive this insidious disease. Dr. Fred Gmitter is a seasoned citrus breeder that has produced improved fruit varieties, but also is working to identify new varieties to combat HLB. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/ # TALKING BIOTECH Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq The Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.