Optimization of sampling and monitoring of vegetative flushing in citrus orchards.

Citrus trees produce flushes throughout the year, but there are no criteria established for a precise shoot monitoring in orchards under tropical climate. Methods for quantification of flush dynamics would be useful for horticultural and pest management studies because different insect vectors feed and reproduce on flushes. We estimated the minimum number and distribution of trees for sampling and determined the flushing pattern over time in 'Valencia Late' orange trees grafted onto 'Swingle' citrumelo rootstock.