Special Research Grants Program, Citrus tristeza Research (CTV): Deadline March 4, 2004

Dear Pest Managers,
This is to announce that the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Citrus tristeza Special Research Grant Program has been released. Since it is one of the first CSREES programs to have implemented Grants.gov this year, electronic and hard copy submission are required.

You may find the announcement at the CSREES Funding Opportunities Web site or at http://www.grants.gov/.

Please note that electronic applications must be received by Grants.gov by close of business (COB) on March 4, 2004 and hard copy must be received by CSREES by COB March 11, 2004.

For programmatic issues, please contact Dr. Kitty Cardwell, National Program Leader, at: (202) 401-4888, or Kathy Kimble-Day, Program Specialist, at (202) 401-4420. For technical questions, please contact the customer support at http://www.grants.gov/.

Note: The purpose of this program is to support cutting edge research that mitigates or eliminates problems caused by the Citrus tristeza virus and/or the Brown Citrus Aphid. Research using the latest technologies in new ways is encouraged. Priority will be given to applications that propose collaboration between citrus production areas, and to proposed projects that are judged most likely to result in positive short-term impacts on citrus production. Citrus tristeza is a viral pathogen of citrus vectored by several aphid species. This disease has been found in all citrus producing regions in the United States. The pathogen is of world-wide importance. Depending on viral strain, citrus plants will exhibit a variety of symptoms from mild to severe depending on the host and the environment.