Citrus helps make Florida a special place, and the citrus industry is a source of pride to Floridians. We can all help protect our citrus from plant diseases, if:
The Citrus Health Response Program The Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) is designed to detect and mitigate the impact of serious citrus pests and diseases by combining the resources of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The program seeks to involve citrus nurseries, growers, packers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers in a collective effort to identify and control pests and diseases. The CHRP is guided by a working group that includes representatives and scientists of USDA, FDACS/DPI and UF/IFAS, along with the citrus industry. Extensive research is being conducted to address pests and diseases of Florida citrus.
l Nurseries and retailers watch for and report symptoms l Landscapers and arborists educate their employees to detect symptoms of disease l Backyard gardeners remain vigilant
Citrus Greening:
www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi/chrp/greening/ citrusgreening.html
Citrus Black Spot:
www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi/enpp/pathology/ citrus-black-spot.html
www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi/canker/
l $9 billion annual impact l 75 million citrus trees on nearly 577,000 acres l 70% of total U.S. citrus production l 30% of the state’s total farm receipts l 76,000 full and part time jobs l Second only to Brazil in global orange
l
juice production World’s leading producer of grapefruit
SAVE OUR CITRUS
Save Our Citrus Resources
Citrus Canker:
Florida Citrus Facts
Florida
www.saveourcitrus.org FDACS/DPI Helpline: 1-888-397-1517 www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi UF/IFAS Extension Offices www.solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu FDACS-P-01820
A community approach to reducing citrus diseases in Florida
We all have a role
What we can all do to Save Our Citrus
Recognizing Citrus Diseases
Gardeners . . .
Be vigilant
Citrus greening (huanglongbing, or HLB)
Learn the signs of diseases in citrus and report any suspicious symptoms to your University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension office, and consider joining their Master Gardener program. Also consider planting non-citrus fruit trees.
Nursery operators and plant retailers . . .
Help intercept citrus diseases. Report concerns to your local Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI) plant inspector. Educate managers and employees to recognize diseases and tell a supervisor if something doesn’t look right. Be prepared to recommend alternative, non-citrus fruit trees when appropriate.
Landscapers and arborists . . .
Be on the look out for plant pests and diseases. Report suspicious symptoms to your UF/IFAS Extension office or your local FDACS/DPI plant inspector. Recommend alternatives to citrus trees where appropriate and ensure only healthy trees from registered nurseries are planted. Train your workers to recognize, report and eliminate citrus diseases.
If you see signs of disease or an unusual pest, contact your UF/IFAS Extension office or your local FDACS/DPI plant inspector.
Ask for advice
Contact your UF/IFAS Extension office for tips on caring for your citrus trees or eliminating citrus diseases.
Don’t pack a pest
When returning home to Florida from a trip, don’t bring plants, fruits, vegetables, firewood or illegal animals.
Purchase plants from registered nurseries Consider planting non-citrus fruit trees
Due to the number of pests and diseases that attack citrus, growing it can be challenging. Your UF/IFAS Extension office can provide a list of fruits that will grow well in your area.
Know citrus movement rules Citrus trees and their parts may not move into or out of Florida without a special permit. Backyard citrus fruit may move unrestricted within Florida, but may not move out of the state without a federal certificate. However, to prevent the spread of citrus canker and other pests and diseases, do not move backyard citrus without an inspection by your local FDACS/DPI plant inspector.
Citrus greening is a bacterial disease that attacks plants’ vascular systems. The bacteria are transmitted by a small insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. The disease is marked by mottling of leaves and misshapen fruit. There is no cure for the disease.
ACP
4 mm
Citrus black spot
Citrus black spot is a fungal disease marked by dark necrotic spots or blotches on the rinds of fruit. It produces early fruit drop, reduces crop yields, and if not controlled, renders the highly-blemished fruit unmarketable.
Citrus canker
Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that causes lesions on leaves, stems and fruit. It is not harmful to humans, but causes premature leaf and fruit drop and will eventually render trees unproductive. Fruit infected with canker is safe to eat, but too unsightly to be sold. Citrus canker can be spread rapidly by wind and rain, landscaping equipment, people’s hands or clothing, and moving infected plants or plant parts.
Need help identifying your citrus disease?
Contact your county Extension office. To submit a sample, please see sample submission procedures on www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi