Researchers have taken another step forward in combating the citrus greening disease that has plagued the industry.
A possible early detection method for the disease, which is also known as citrus huanglongbing (HLB), was announced earlier this year by Sheo Shankar Pandey, a postdoctoral research associate in plant pathology, and Nian Wang, a professor of microbiology and cell science.
Published by the Olive Oil Times:
https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/production/researchers-develop-early-warning-system-for-citrus-plant-disease/74420
Researchers have taken another step forward in combating the citrus greening disease that has plagued the industry.
A possible early detection method for the disease, which is also known as citrus huanglongbing (HLB), was announced earlier this year by Sheo Shankar Pandey, a postdoctoral research associate in plant pathology, and Nian Wang, a professor of microbiology and cell science.It’s an improvement basically in detection, as far as confirmation. The difficulty with all of these techniques is scaling up to make it epidemiologically applicable in a large landscape.– Tim Gottwald, plant epidemiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Both researchers work at the University of Florida citrus research and education center and published a paper detailing their findings in the American Phytopathological Society.
HLB has already devastated large portions of the Florida citrus industry.SEE MORE: News from the United States
“The Asian citrus psyllid feeds on citrus leaves and stems, and can infect citrus trees with a bacteria that causes a serious plant disease called Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease,” the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program wrote on its website. “While not harmful to humans, the disease kills citrus trees and has no cure.”
It can take months, even years, for signs of infection to become known. By then, the insects may have spread the disease to many more trees. The symptoms are obvious, but once they have manifested it is too late to save nearby trees.
“HLB-diagnosed plants exhibit blotchy mottle leaves, stunted growth, yellow shoot, reduced fruit size, corky vein, root decline, and ultimately, dieback,” Pandey and Wang wrote.
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