Deadly citrus disease reaches Mexico, threatens California

steven johnson

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Tue Aug-18-09 03:35 PM
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Deadly citrus disease reaches Mexico, threatens California

Edited on Tue Aug-18-09 03:51 PM by steven johnson

The Asian citrus psyllid, a aphid-like insect, is spreading citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing)into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This disease which is lethal to citrus trees and
has wiped out much of the citrus industries in China, India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and has parts of Brazil.

The disease threatens to put Florida out of the orange juice business.

The Asian citrus psyllid spreads citrus greening disease, which is lethal to citrus trees.

Leaders of California's $1.6-billion citrus industry said Monday that a disease that was killing orchards worldwide was now rooted in Mexico, and experts warned that it was headed toward the state.

Citrus greening disease has infected six citrus trees on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, spread by an infestation of the Asian citrus psyllid.

The disease doesn't affect humans, but it's lethal to citrus trees. It ruins the taste of fruit and juice before killing the plants, experts said, and there is no known way to rid a region of the pathogen once it has struck.

Deadly citrus disease reaches Mexico, threatens California

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