Citrus greening quarantine issued for Harris County

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The Texas Department of Agriculture has expanded the citrus greening quarantine to include Harris County effective July 15. Quarantined areas now include all of Cameron, Hidalgo and Harris counties.

Citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB), is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. Trees infected with the disease produce bitter, misshapen, unmarketable and irregularly-colored fruit. The most easily recognized symptom of citrus greening is the small, misshapen green fruit it causes. Other symptoms including yellow or blotchy leaves, thinning of leaves or twig dieback.

The fruit from the infected trees are safe to eat. The disease poses no threat to human health though it does make the fruit misshapen, irregularly colored, and bitter. But HLB can kill a citrus tree in as little as five years, and there is no known cure.

Bryan Black, Director of Communications, Texas Department of Agriculture, confirmed the Harris County quarantine to The Citizen Friday afternoon.

“As a result of a positive detection of citrus greening from citrus nursery stock at a retail location near Webster, Texas, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has expanded Texas’ citrus greening quarantine effective July 15, 2014, to include Harris County,” Black said via email. “The disease poses absolutely no threat to human health and fruit from infected trees are safe to eat. The disease makes citrus fruit misshapen, irregularly colored, and bitter. The main effect is that most infected trees die within a few years. Residents in Harris County should continue to enjoy citrus as part of a healthy diet.”

“Citrus greening is a plant disease that is spread by a small disease-infected insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, as it feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees. Citrus greening is spread by moving infected plants and plant materials. This disease is not new to Texas. It was discovered in the U.S. in Florida in 2005, and first discovered in Texas in January 2012.

“The quarantine restricts movement of citrus trees, orange jasmine and curry plants into or out of the quarantined areas. TDA has placed a temporary hold on the sale of citrus plants in Harris County while we work with retailers and plant nurseries in the coming days to develop the best protocols to allow sale of the plants while also controlling the spread of the disease. TDA is also conducting surveys for the disease in citrus plants in the areas surrounding Harris County. Texans should continue enjoying citrus plants in their landscapes.”

According to the USDA website the disease has led to the destruction of more than 100,000 citrus trees since 2005 nationwide and has meant millions in lost revenues for the industry.

All species of citrus are susceptible, regardless of rootstock. Sweet oranges, mandarins and mandarin hybrids are considered most susceptible.

Citrus tree owners are encouraged to “Learn, Check, Report” suspected citrus diseases. Residential growers can learn about the diseases on the Save Our Citrus website (www.saveourcitrus.org) and from the Texas Department of Agriculture website www.TexasAgriculture.gov. Check citrus plants regularly for signs of disease. Report suspicious symptoms through the Save Our Citrus Website. Residents can also call the Texas Department of Agriculture toll free at 1-800- TELL-TDA (1-800-835-5832) or the TDA regional office in San Juan at 956-787-8866.