by B. Stone

Created on: February 09, 2009

Citrus Greening Disease has the US citrus industry terrified, and for good reason too. This bacterial infection threatens to obliterate entire groves of citrus, potentially wiping out the species altogether if left unchecked. Citrus Greening Disease is a bacterial disease first discovered in China in the 1800's. Since then it has been decimating citrus crops in Asia, Africa, and the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. In 2004 the disease was reported in Brazil; and, in 2005, in Florida. Although Florida is the only state so far infected with Citrus Greening Disease, the insect responsible for spreading the disease has been discovered in five other states, as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. There is no area of the world that is not fighting the onslaught of Citrus Greening Disease.

Citrus Greening Disease is also known as Huanglongbing, yellow dragon disease. It is transmitted by only one insect, the 3 millimeter long diaphorina citri - the asian citrus psyllid. This insect was first discovered in the US in 1998 in DelRay Beach, Florida. The outbreak of the disease wasn't discovered for another seven years. The asian citrus psyllid spreads the bacterium candidatus liberibacter asiaticus, by feeding on the liquid content of the citrus leaves. Once a psyllid eats from an infected plant, they carry the bacteria for life, bringing it to each plant that it subsequently feeds on. The bacteria attacks the vascular system of the citrus trees, stopping the transport of water and nutrients. The resultant is green, bitter, and inedible fruit, leaf discoloration, and yellowed shoots. After two or more years the plant completely dies. There is no cure for Citrus Greening Disease, forcing citrus farmers to cut down their infected crops.

In Florida Citrus Greening Disease has become a state wide epidemic. Once the psyllid was found in 1998, the state immediately implemented a state-wide quarantine. But due to the large number of psyllid hosts, including citrus, orange jasmine, and curry leaf plants, the populations established themselves anyway. The USDA and the state have been working together to fight the spread of the disease, doing everything they can to save the $9 billion dollar Florida citrus industry. The disease threatens to force citrus prices to soar. This alone could threaten the citrus growers, whose production costs have doubled since the arrival of the disease. Collectively they have formed the Citrus Health Response Programs, which works to set standards for regulation, oversight,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>