Huanglongbing detected again in California (US)
In July 2015, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and USDA confirmed the detection of huanglongbing (associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticum’ – EPPO A1 List) in California (US). The disease was detected in plant material taken from a kumquat (Fortunella japonica) tree located in a residential area near San Gabriel, Los Angeles county. This is the second time that huanglongbing has been detected in California. The first detection occurred in 2012 (EPPO RS 2012/074) when the pathogen was found in a sample of Diaphorina citri (a psyllid vector) and in citrus plant material collected in the residential area of Hacienda Heights (approximately 24 km from San Gabriel). In San Gabriel, the infected kumquat tree has been destroyed and treatment against D. citri will be carried out within a radius of 800 m of the infected site. An intensive survey of citrus trees and psyllids is underway to determine the extent of the disease. Restrictions on the movement of citrus trees, plant parts, green waste and fruit are under development. An information campaign has also been launched to inform the residents and encourage them to report any suspicious sightings.
Sources
INTERNET
California Department of Food and Agriculture. News Release of 2015-07-10. Citrus disease huanglongbing detected in San Gabriel are of Los Angeles country. http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=15-031
Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures. County of Los Angeles. Residents and Property owners. Asian citrus psyllid and HLB. http://acwm.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/acwm/main/home/residents/animalandplantpests/asiancitruspsyllidandhuanglongbing?1dmy&page=dept.acwm.home.residents.detail.hidden.NoSide&urile=wcm