University of Georgia

A website from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Commodities at CAES

UGA Citrus Blog

Scientific Information for Georgia Citrus Growers

Jonathan Oliver

Avatar photo

Jonathan Oliver

Dr. Jonathan Oliver is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia. He has a 60% research, 35% 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.

  • Citrus Greening AND Citrus Canker Testing for Commercial and Residential Citrus in 2021

    Jonathan Oliver

    As part of our 2021 disease survey efforts, we will begin accepting samples from within Georgia for free citrus greening and citrus canker testing on March 1st. Sample testing will be carried out by the UGA Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory in Tifton, GA. Here’s the original announcement regarding this testing program: My citrus pathology extension program was…

    Posted in: ,

  • Citrus Update Meeting on February 11th

    Jonathan Oliver

    Lowndes County Extension will be hosting a Citrus Update Meeting (virtually) on February 11th @ 12PM. Josh Dawson (Fort Valley State University County Extension Agent) will moderate this event, and Jake Price (UGA County Extension Coordinator and Ag Agent) will present information on tree wraps and the results of his 2020 Owari rootstock trial. Pre-registration…

    Posted in: ,

  • Hop stunt viroid Infecting Citrus Trees in Georgia, USA

    Jonathan Oliver

    By: Emran Ali, Tammy Stackhouse, Sumyya Waliullah, Jean Williams-Woodward, and Jonathan E. Oliver Is one of the world’s smallest pathogens harming your citrus plants? Citrus production within the state of Georgia (USA) is rapidly increasing each year. There are citrus plantings in backyards, production, and plant nurseries within at least 32 GA counties. The growth…

    Posted in: ,

  • Citrus Greening AND Citrus Canker Testing for Commercial and Residential Citrus (RESTARTING Sept. 2020)

    Jonathan Oliver

    Good news for Georgia citrus growers! After being forced to suspend our citrus greening testing of Georgia citrus samples back in March due to COVID-19, we are now able to restart this testing as of September 1st, 2020. In addition, we can now test samples for Citrus Canker as well as Citrus Greening, due to…

    Posted in: ,

  • ‘Owari’ Satsuma Rootstock Trial Summary 2018 & 2019

    Jonathan Oliver

    By: Jake Price (UGA Extension, Lowndes County, GA – jprice@uga.edu) and Dr. Kim Bowman (Rootstock geneticist, Ft. Pierce, FL – Kim.Bowman@usda.gov) Purpose: Identify the best commercially-available rootstocks for ‘Owari’ satsumas, based upon effects on fruit yield, fruit quality, cold-hardiness, tree health, fruit size, and tree size. Background: In 2014, Lowndes Extension began growing ‘Owari’ satsuma…

    Posted in: ,