WARNING: Deadly citrus greening disease is on the move

PLEASE be careful in trading, swaps, and coops.

If you have citrus trees in ground or in planters, please check them.
Also be extremely careful if purchasing or trading citrus plants.
All of Fl, GA, and parts of SC are under quarantine, plus other places.

PLEASE be careful in trading, swaps, and coops.

Lorie
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Deadly citrus greening disease is on the move.

Named for its green, misshapen fruit, citrus greening disease has destroyed millions of acres of citrus plants around the world. It is spread by a disease-infected insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, and has put the future of America’s citrus at risk. Help stop the spread of this deadly plant disease. Don’t risk citrus. Don’t move citrus plants.


http://www.saveourcitrus.org/?gclid=CILbyrDO0ZoCFQFHFQody18q3w
Charleston County is under quarantine for citrus greening disease.

Host plants of citrus greening­ including all live plants, budwood, and cuttings ­are prohibited from being shipped or moved outside of the county

Three counties are under quarantine for Asian citrus psyllids.

In order to ship host plants of the Asian citrus psyllid from the following counties, the plant must be treated, inspected and accompanied by a limited permit that prevents distribution to any citrus-producing states or territories where the Asian citrus psyllid is not present:
Beaufort
Colleton


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Citrus greening disease has spread throughout the state of Florida and has been found in Louisiana.
The entire state of Florida is now under quarantine.
Asian citrus psyllids have also been found in Mexico, southern California and other citrus-producing states.
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See http://www.saveourcitrus.org for more info

Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases in the world. It is also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow dragon disease. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure. While the disease poses no threat to humans or animals, it has devastated the citrus crops in Asia, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Brazil. Citrus greening is now a serious threat to the U.S. citrus industry. Infected trees produce fruit that are green, misshapen and bitter, unsuitable for sale as fresh fruit or for juice. Most infected trees die within a few years.
Asian Psyllids
The Asian Citrus Psyllid

Citrus greening disease is primarily spread by a tiny insect, the Asian citrus psyllid. No bigger than the head of a pin, the infected insect spreads the disease as it feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees. Once the Asian citrus psyllid picks up the disease, it carries it for the rest of its life. Citrus greening is then spread by moving infected plant material, such as potted plants, bud wood and even leaves.

The psyllids develop from an egg through five nymphal stages that look similar, but increase in size after each molt.
Asian Psyllids
Symptoms

Citrus plants infected by the citrus greening bacteria may not show symptoms for years and these symptoms can resemble those of other diseases and nutritional deficiencies. Here’s what to look for:

Blotchy mottling of leaves and leaf yellowing that may appear on a single shoot or branch
Small, lopsided, and bitter fruit that remains green even when ripe
Twig dieback
Stunted, sparsely foliated trees that may bloom off season

In areas of the world affected by citrus greening, the disease has seriously threatened or even wiped out citrus crops. Until a treatment or cure is found, stopping the spread of this deadly disease by halting the movement of plants is our only hope of saving America’s citrus.

View a list of citrus greening host plants. (see website)

For more images that help identify the Asian citrus psyllid or citrus greening disease, visit our Resources section.

Thanks for the info, Lorie. I read in the paper about a fellow in downtown Charleston who had to have his two mature lemon trees taken out because of this.

I'm keeping an eye on my 2 Meyer Lemons, and my littlte Orange, but it seems it's hard to really know until you see the symptoms on the fruit.

Appreciate the link!
Deb

That's is the hard part Deb. I am wondering what the guys in Charleston saw on those trees at this time of year. Citrus are heavy feeders and often get mottled leaves when they are due for their dose of fertilizer.

I'm wondering that too. I had all sorts of problems last year most related to water (lack of) my trees were looking ragged.

I had a problem with my beautiful Myers lemon after it produced fruit last year. I moved it to our enclosed porch for the winter season and the leaves began to turn yellow. Thinking it was due to the change with less light, I just continued the regular care. The leaves fell off and the branches appeared to die. By Jan. it started to bloom profusely from the bottom branches and the small fruit appeared later. The fruit remained about the size of a large pea and eventually fell off. The entire tree looked as though it was dying. In April I moved it outside and pruned it severely and now it is leafing out beautifully. My concern is--if it does produce fruit, is it safe to eat?? The problems I had sound very similar to the ones the website describes as the Green Citrus Disease. Do You distroy the plant ??
Any info appreciated

It is my understanding that the USDA will destroy the tree if it is found to be infected. According to the Charleston newspaper they spray the tree first then remove it. The fruit is is perfectly safe to eat although it will likely be deformed, discolored (mottled like the leaves) and possibly taste a bit different.

You might take a leaf or two into your local extension office for a diagnosis.