Posts Tagged: Asian citrus psyllid

Asian citrus psyllid's northward march inevitable

Director of the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center Beth Grafton-Cardwell predicted Valley citrus growers' fears will be realized. Eventually, she believes, the Asian citrus psyllid will make its way northward from San Diego County, were it was first discovered in California last year.

Grafton-Cardwell shared her view in the lead business story of yesterday's Fresno Bee. Written by reporter Robert Rodriguez, the story said growers are mobilizing resources to get ahead of the invasion and protect the state's $723 million citrus industry.

However, Grafton-Cardwell told Rodriguez that quarantines, trapping and pesticide spraying may slow down the bugs' northward march, but probably won't stop it.

"With the volume of people traffic around the state, the psyllid will be carried into new places," she was quoted in the story.

The greatest concern associated with the Asian citrus psyllid is its ability to spread the devastating citrus greening disease. To date, none of the psyllids trapped in Southern California was carrying the disease.

Beth Grafton-Cardwell

Homeowners asked to eye their citrus trees

California's citrus farmers are asking homeowners to inspect their backyard citrus trees for symptoms of citrus greening, according to a Los Angeles Times article published today. The disease hasn't been reported in the state, but officials fear an illegally imported tree somewhere in the Southland might be a time bomb waiting for an Asian citrus psyllid to begin the disease's spread.

Asian citrus psyllid moved into the state from Mexico last summer. In other parts of the world, the pest has devastated the citrus industry by spreading citrus greening disease.

"The disease could be a catastrophe for California's $1.2-billion citrus industry," wrote Times reporter Jerry Hirsch. "Citrus greening has already killed tens of thousands of acres of trees in Florida and Brazil and wiped out entire citrus industries in China, India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt."

Researchers at UC Riverside, UC Davis, the University of Florida and other institutions are trying to find better ways to detect the disease in its long latent stage and to control the psyllid population, the article said.

According to a UC IPM Pest Note on Asian Citrus Psyllid, symptoms of citrus greening include yellow shoots and mottling and chlorosis of leaves. Infected trees are stunted, sparsly foliated and may bloom off season. Fruit do not color properly and the juice tastes bitter.

Homeowners and commercial landscapers who believe they have found Asian citrus psyllid or a tree infected with citrus greening disease should call the California Department of Food and Agriculture's exotic-pest hotline at (800) 491-1899.

Chlorosis of citrus leaves caused by greening disease.

Bakersfield Californian chimes in about citrus psyllid

The Bakersfield Californian today ran a story raising concerns about the recent introduction into California of the Asian citrus psyllid, a pest which can transmit the devastating citrus greening disease. In Kern County, citrus was the agricultural commodity with the third highest value in 2007, more than $450 million, according to the county's crop report. Citrus ranked fifth in 2006.

"This could cause catastrophic losses,” the paper quoted Craig Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension citrus farm advisor for Kern County. “The insect isn’t in Kern County yet, but it travels easily and it’s probably just a matter of time.”

The article says that commercial growers are asking homeowners with citrus trees to educate themselves about the insect and keep an eye out for signs of both the pest and the disease it often carries.

Flyers and identification cards about Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening disease in English, Spanish and Chinese are available for free download from the Citrus Clonal Protection Program at UC Riverside. 

Asian citrus psyllid

Disease watch

The Asian citrus psyllid's border crossing into San Diego County earlier this month is prompting an emotional reaction from growers. Called the "mother of all killer bugs" by Fresh Plaza, the psyllid is most feared for its ability to spread citrus greening disease.

Farmers' comments in a story that appeared in North (San Diego) County Times reflect their dismay.

• "Honestly, I don't even want to know I have the pest. Because once I know I have the pest, it's all over. I might as well throw in the towel. Honestly, I don't see any way of stopping it. What are you going to do? Tent 80 acres?" - Bob Polito, a Valley Center grower and owner of Polito Family Farms.
• "The only remedy for a plant is to take a chain saw to it so it doesn't become a point of infection for the rest of the crops." - San Diego County's agriculture commissioner, Bob Atkins.
• "It's getting to a point where it just pushes out the domestic farmer." - Ben Drake, owner of Drake Enterprises iin Temecula.

Meanwhile, a UC Riverside graduate student has discovered and named a new bacterial pathogen that could be responsible for a devastating condition in tomatoes called "psyllid yellows," according to a story in Capital Press. The bacterium could be linked to the pathogen that causes citrus greening disease.

Asian citrus psyllid in California

Coachella Valley citrus growers and industry researchers met yesterday to discuss an attack against the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect lethal to citrus crops that has recently been found in California, according to a story in today's Desert Sun.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced late last week that a single Asian citrus psyllid was detected in San Diego County, which set in motion a collaborative effort that includes UC Cooperative Extension to protect the state's citrus industry.

Asian citrus psyllid transmits citrus greening disease, which is already endemic in Florida and has wreaked havoc for citrus industries in Asia, India, the Middle East, South and Central America.

According to an article in Western Farm Press, the Citrus Research Board and representatives from the USDA, CDFA, UC and the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner’s office met with citrus growers and other citrus industry leaders immediately after the psyllid find. They discussed the discovery and the threat it poses, as well as the industry and regulators’ plan of action.

The Citrus Research Board plans another meeting Sept. 25 in San Diego.

Asian citrus psyllid

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