"Although there is no cure for citrus greening, it is vital that plant pathologists work with growers to quickly identify the disease and its insect hosts," said Ronald Brlansky, professor and plant pathologist with the University of Florida, CREC, Lake Alfred, FL. "Finding the extent of the disease and the removal of infected trees will reduce the damage done by this disease," he said. Plant pathologists have been surveying and testing for citrus greening since the psyllids were found in the U.S. in the late 1990s.
Citrus greening infects all types of citrus species. The name "huanglongbing" means "yellow dragon" which is descriptive of the yellow sectors of infected trees. The symptoms of citrus greening usually include a blotchy mottle and leaf yellowing that spreads throughout the tree with lopsided fruit that fail to color properly.
Citrus greening has seriously affected citrus production in Asia, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula, and was recently discovered in Brazil.
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a non-profit, professional scientific organization. The research of the organization's 5,000 worldwide members advances the understanding of the science of plant pathology and its application to plant health.