2012)

Fruit remains safe for consumption as disease affects trees only

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Agriculture and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the first detection in Texas of citrus greening, a destructive plant disease that poses a threat to the state’s citrus industry. The disease was discovered in a tree in a commercial orange grove in San Juan.

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Citrus Greening

Citrus greening disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB), is considered to be the most destructive disease of citrus. It is endemic in large parts of Asia and Africa, and has recently invaded the Americas. It is caused by a bacterium which is transmitted by insects called psyllids. There is no cure for greening, and the lengthy latent period after infection makes eradication almost impossible.The disease is now in Brazil, Cuba, Belize, southern Mexico and four US states (Florida, Louisiana. South Carolina, Georgia) - so far, it has not been detected in Texas, although the psyllid is widespread.

Tracking the Disease

The regions maked on the map are areas where cases of HLB have been detected. For more information on the spread of HLB, please visit www.saveourcitrus.org.

Click on Map to view larger image.
•RED Pins indicate where Citrus Greening has been found.
•YELLOW Pins indicate where psyllids have been confirmed.