Local agriculturalists are continuing their search for the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that can carry and transmit a disease fatal to citrus trees.
According to a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Agriculture Department, scientists recently discovered the Huanglongbing Disease—also known as the Citrus Greening Disease—in a tree in Los Angeles County. Ag officials say this discovery accentuates the need for preparation and prevention on the Central Coast.
Citrus Greening Disease first appeared in California in 2008 and presents a serious threat to citrus growers, stock producers, and federal and state agencies. The SLO Department of Agriculture said that over the last 10 years, this disease has been responsible for the death of more than 50 percent of commercial citrus trees in Florida.
“Citrus greening is an incurable disease that kills citrus trees. If spread from tree to tree, this disease would have devastating impacts on our local citrus industry, valued at almost $9 million in 2011,” SLO County Agricultural Commissioner Martin Settevendemie said in a prepared statement.
County staffers continue to monitor more than 4,000 traps placed in residential and commercial areas. These traps contain pheromones that attract Asian citrus psyllids; the traps then bind the bugs to sticky surfaces. The disease and the insect have yet to be detected in SLO County
The disease has yet to be found in Santa Barbara County, either, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Guy Tingos said, but officials are keeping an eye out.
“We are certainly concerned. This is one of the worst citrus diseases out there,” Tingos said. “It has slowly made its way from Florida to Louisiana, to Texas, Mexico, and now California.”
Tingos said South County has been quarantined, meaning there’s a restriction on transport of trees, fruit, and leaves. Tingos also noted that this disease affects all plants in the citrus family: lemons, limes, tangerines, and even certain decorative trees.
Both counties are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to detect the disease and find solutions. Tingos said the main concern is to keep the disease from spreading to the Central Valley, where a majority of California’s citrus is produced.
Tingos and Settevendemie said the public can help by not moving any citrus trees or fruit in and out of the state or from place to place.
Officials are still trying to determine how the disease was brought to Los Angeles County. The tree that contained the disease has since been destroyed.
“It is a difficult task to head off all potential pathways where pests may enter an area,” Settevendemie said. “If the pests are here, the hope is we will find them early while population levels are so low they can be quickly eliminated.”
For more information, visit the Department of Food and Agriculture website at cdfa.ca.gov.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 3, 2012.