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Contact:
Alyn Kiel (301) 734-5222
Andrea McNally (301) 734-0602
USDA Confirms Citrus Disease in Texas and Louisiana
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced the presence of Elsinoë australis, or sweet orange scab, in Texas and Louisiana. This is the first detection in the United States of the fungal pathogen, which poses no risk to human health.
The infected citrus trees were found on residential properties in Harris and Orange counties in Texas, and in Orleans parish, Louisiana.
The detections were found on citrus trees in Texas that were part of the annual citrus commodity survey. The survey is performed under a cooperative agreement through the citrus health response program (CHRP), which is a collaborative effort involving growers, federal and state regulatory officials and researchers to promote the health and marketability of U.S. citrus. The Louisiana detection was identified during a CHRP citrus greening or Huanglongbing sentinel site survey.
“The early detection of this disease clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the Citrus Health Response Program,” said Rebecca Bech, deputy administrator for APHIS’ plant protection and quarantine program. “We have taken swift action by issuing emergency action notifications requiring that fruit, leaves, branches and other plant parts remain on these properties to prevent the spread of the disease. We are communicating closely with our partners in Texas and Louisiana as we continue to survey to determine the boundaries of the infected areas.”
APHIS has established a technical working group of subject matter experts to discuss survey and control strategies in response to sweet orange scab. The group will continue to meet to address this developing situation and recommend mitigation strategies to enhance APHIS’ regulatory framework.
Sweet orange scab is a fungal pathogen of citrus caused by Elsinoë australis that results in unsightly, scab-like lesions developing on fruit rinds and, less often, on leaves and twigs. The damage produced is superficial and does not affect internal fruit quality or taste. Infected fruit are more likely to drop prematurely, and the scabby lesions reduce the fruit’s fresh market value. In addition, the disease may stunt young citrus seedlings. The disease has been found in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay) and in Oceania (Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue and Samoa).
For information on the cooperative citrus health response program, please visit
www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/citrus/index.shtml.
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet and through Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link. To sign up to receive APHIS releases automatically, send an e-mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type subscribe press_releases.
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