Please note: Recently, new Citrus Regulations and Quarantine Rules were adopted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. These regulations became effective on January 1st, 2020 and apply to anyone propagating and planting citrus nursery stock in Georgia. The current version of these rules is available at this link.
According to the text of the adopted regulations:
“The purpose of these Rules is to minimize the spread of serious graft-transmissible diseases as well as certain other pathogens and nematodes of citrus by: (1) requiring anyone propagating citrus to participate in a mandatory citrus nursery stock program; and (2) outlining established protocols for movement of citrus into the state of Georgia.
The requirements for program participation are established in these Rules. It is intended that there shall be no propagation of citrus nursery stock except as provided in these Rules, and it shall be unlawful to plant citrus nursery stock in Georgia unless that citrus nursery stock has been propagated in compliance with the requirements of these Rules.”
Jonathan Oliver
Dr. Jonathan Oliver is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia. He has a 70% research, 25% extension, and 5% service appointment. Dr. Oliver started in his current position at the University of Georgia in mid-2017 as an extension fruit pathologist at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia. His responsibilities include research and extension activities focused on pathogen biology and disease management in fruit crops grown primarily in the southern part of Georgia, including blueberries, blackberries, citrus, and other emerging fruit crops. Dr. Oliver obtained a BS degree in Plant Pathology and Microbiology & Cell Science from the University of Florida in 2005, and a PhD in Plant Microbe Biology from Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY in 2011. In addition, he has also been postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University and Auburn University. At Auburn, he characterized the interactions between the emerging bacterial pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa, and its blueberry plant hosts. He currently serves as a Plant Pathology Section editor for the Southeast Regional Blueberry Integrated Management Guide.