Hamlin, TX Grapefruit &
TX Juvenile Valencia Results
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences · UF/IFAS Citrus REC, Lake Alfred, FL Davie M. Kadyampakeni, Associate Professor · Spring 2026 Report
Hamlin & Grapefruit Trials — Expanded Multi-State Results
This second progress report covers new data collected during Summer and Fall 2025 across Florida Hamlin groves and Texas grapefruit and juvenile Valencia sites. It expands upon the Spring 2025 Valencia results, bringing three varieties and multiple seasons of evidence into the CitruSaver picture.
Hamlin fruit yield generally increased with biostimulant-based treatments compared with control and BM alone. CS1 consistently trended toward higher yields. CS2 + BM showed the highest or among the highest yields in several cases, suggesting a positive additive effect of combining biostimulants with beneficial microbes.
Canopy volume increased from spring to fall across all locations. Fruit quality parameters — soluble solids, titratable acidity, ripening index, and juice content — were highly stable across treatments at all sites.
CS1 Led Yield at Wauchula · BM & CS1 Led at Fort Meade
Fruit yield in kg per tree (Figure 1). Treatment effects on Hamlin yield are site-dependent — CS1 was the top performer at Wauchula, while BM and CS1 shared the lead at Fort Meade under less favorable growing conditions.
Wauchula — Hamlin Oranges
Summer–Fall 2025
+30.2%
CS1 vs Control
Key takeaway: Soil biostimulants, especially CS1, are associated with increased fruit yield. Adding beneficial microbes to CS2 further improves performance. CS2+BM was the second highest result.
Fort Meade — Hamlin Oranges
Summer–Fall 2025
+17.1%
BM vs Control
Note: Fort Meade shows lower overall yields than Wauchula — less favorable growing conditions. CS2-based treatments were less effective here, reflecting site- and management-dependent variability. CS1 still outperformed control.
Progressive Yield Gains — CS2+BM Best at 19.1%
Texas grapefruit yield increased progressively from BM and Control to the biostimulant treatments. CS2 and CS2+BM outperformed CS1 in Texas — the inverse of what was observed in Florida — indicating a region-specific treatment response likely tied to soil conditions, climate, and tree history.
TX Grapefruit Key Finding
+19.1%
CS2 + BM vs. untreated control
The combined application of CitruSaver 2 with beneficial microbes produced the highest yield — indicating an additive or synergistic effect when biostimulants and microbes are applied together.
Florida–Texas Comparison
| Treatment | Florida (CS1 leads) | Texas (CS2 leads) |
|---|---|---|
| CS1 | ✓ Top performer | Mid-range |
| CS2 | Weaker in FL | ✓ +17.3% |
| CS2+BM | 2nd at Wauchula | ✓ +19.1% Best |
Results are site-dependent and influenced by soil conditions, tree health, and management. Further research will clarify region-specific optimal formulations.
Yield Gains Without Quality Loss — Across All Three Varieties
Fruit quality parameters — soluble solids (°Brix), titratable acidity, TSS/TA ripening index, and juice per box — were statistically identical across all treatments at all three sites. This consistent finding held across Wauchula Hamlins, Fort Meade Hamlins, and Texas Grapefruit.
Wauchula Hamlins
Florida · Fall 2025
Fort Meade Hamlins
Florida · Fall 2025
Texas Grapefruit
Mature trees · Fall 2025
Consistent finding across all sites and varieties
Fruit quality parameters were highly stable across treatments for Wauchula Hamlins, Fort Meade Hamlins, and Texas Grapefruit. No consistent upward or downward trends were observed. This confirms that yield and canopy improvements occurred without any compromise in fruit quality — a critical finding for commercial grower adoption.
CS1 Consistently Grew the Largest Canopies
Canopy volume (m³) was measured in both Spring and Fall 2025 across all sites. All sites showed strong seasonal canopy expansion. CS1 consistently trended toward the largest canopy volumes — especially at the Wauchula Hamlin site.
Wauchula Hamlin
Spring → Fall 2025
CS1 Best
Both seasons
Spring 2025
Fall 2025
Fort Meade Hamlin
Spring → Fall 2025
No significant differences among treatments at Fort Meade in either season. BM and CS1 showed numerically larger canopy volumes, but all treatments remained statistically similar — indicating stable canopy development across the board regardless of treatment.
Spring 2025 BM (highest)
37.0 m³
Fall 2025 BM (highest)
34.1 m³
Texas — Grapefruit & Juvenile Valencia
Fall 2025 Canopy Expansion
TX Grapefruit (mature) — Fall 2025
BM
47.9
Control
46.1
CS1 +8%
48.8
CS2 +9%
48.6
CS2+BM
48.1
TX Juvenile Valencia — Fall 2025 (m³)
BM
1.4
Control
1.5
CS1 +6.7%
1.6
CS1+BM
1.3
Juvenile Valencia: minimal differences at this early stage. CS1 shows slight advantage by Fall 2025.
CS2 & CS2+BM Trended Toward Lower Late-Season Fruit Drop
Fruit drop counts were measured at three sampling dates — October 16, October 29, and November 25, 2025 — at both Fort Meade and Wauchula Hamlin sites. Patterns were consistent across sites.
CS2 & CS2+BM — Lower Drop (Late Season)
Both Fort Meade and Wauchula sites: CS2 and CS2+BM trended toward lower fruit drop at later sampling dates (Oct 29, Nov 25). Differences were not statistically significant but were consistent.
CS1 — Slightly Higher Early-Season Drop
CS1 occasionally showed numerically higher early-season fruit drop. These differences diminished later in the season — by the final sampling date (Nov 25), all treatments converged to similar low counts.
No Statistically Significant Differences
Mean separation (Tukey HSD, p ≤ 0.05) showed no significant differences in fruit drop across treatments at either site. Observed trends are directional, not conclusive.
Sampling Schedule — Hamlin Fruit Drop
October 16, 2025 — First Count
Fort Meade & Wauchula · Moderate fruit drop observed at both sites · CS1 slightly higher at Wauchula early counts
October 29, 2025 — Second Count
Fort Meade: CS2 & CS2+BM showed lower counts · Wauchula: similar pattern developing · differences minor
November 25, 2025 — Final Count
Both sites: fruit drop generally lower by late season · All treatments converged · CS2 & CS2+BM maintained lower trend
Treatment Fruit Drop Tendency
Two Reports.
One Growing Body of Evidence.
This is the second progress report in an ongoing UF/IFAS study. Together, the two reports cover Valencia, Hamlin, and Grapefruit across Florida and Texas from Fall 2024 through Fall 2025.
Report 1 — Fall 2024 to Spring 2025
Valencia harvest results · Fort Meade CS1 +43% · Wauchula CS1 +20% · 4-year micro jet block +109%
Economic Analysis — UF/IFAS
Dr. Alan Hodges, Ph.D. · $660–$1,089 added value per acre · 14–33% net uplift after costs
Contact Savory Sun VA LLC
Ken Brown, President · (540) 273-1400 · Bartow, Florida
Source: UF/IFAS Progress Report — "Assessing the therapeutic effects of CitruSaver on the productivity and health of HLB-affected citrus trees," Davie M. Kadyampakeni, Associate Professor, UF/IFAS Citrus REC, Lake Alfred, FL. Progress Report: FL Hamlin, TX Grapefruit, TX Juvenile Valencia, Summer 2025–Fall 2025 (Spring 2026 publication). Results are preliminary. Treatment effects are site- and management-dependent and may not reflect all growing conditions.