California: Citrus Trees Threatened by Greening Disease
B. McPherson California is the latest state to be hit with the invasive fly that carries what is called Greening Disease . It was first identified in March of 2012 and has citrus growers on high alert. The culprit spreading the disease is a tiny flying insect, a psyllid fly. It has established itself in Florida where it was discovered in the citrus groves in 1998. Now California is fighting the difficult battle against this unwelcome pest from Asia. The fly damages the citrus tree in two ways. It sucks juices from the new growth, leading to stunted and deformed growth. More seriously, it carries a bacterium that causes the greening disease. There is no treatment and no cure. Citrus trees must be cut down and destroyed to slow the spread of the disease. Once they are infected with Candidatus liberbacter , they are doomed in any case. Once infected any fruit produced is deformed, small and has a bad taste. Humans have aided the spread of the disease as well. The 1...