Another tree has tested positive for huanglongbing (HLB) disease in California’s citrus birthplace. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) stated last week that a second citrus tree has tested positive for HLB disease, also known as citrus greening, in Riverside County. The tree was located on a former site where the first detection in the county was found in 2017. CDFA told AgNet West they had tested the trees on that site five different times since that first detection, all with negative results, before the positive test last week. It’s a perfect example of one of the significant issues with controlling the disease, as an infected tree may not test positive for the illness for several years.
The Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program ran by CDFA, said in addition to removing the tree they will also test all of the trees on the property and treat any tree within 400 meters for Asian citrus psyllid. CDFA said since the find was on the same property as the 2017 find, current quarantine boundaries will not be affected.
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