Citrus Diseases
Citrus-producing regions in the United States are at high risk for the introduction and establishment of exotic pests and diseases because of their proximity to international air and maritime ports and favorable climatic conditions.
Five exotic citrus pests and diseases are established in the United States and have the potential to harm every acre of citrus if they were allowed to spread. They include huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening; Asian citrus psyllid; citrus canker; citrus black spot; and sweet orange scab.
Report Signs of Citrus Disease
If you think you’ve seen signs of this disease or pest, immediately report your findings to a State Plant Health Director.
Controlling Citrus Disease
We collaborate with State departments of agriculture and the citrus industry to safeguard the American citrus industry. The goals of our Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) are to sustain the U.S. citrus industry, maintain grower access to export markets, and safeguard citrus-producing areas against exotic citrus diseases and pests.
To achieve these goals, we perform multi-pest surveys in commercial and residential citrus areas to identify early infestations of exotic citrus pests for eradication, and to ensure that quarantine boundaries accurately reflect infested areas. CHRP protects the American consumer’s access to domestically produced citrus fruit and nursery trees with regulations that limit the spread of pests to uninfested areas.
Quarantine Boundaries
- Interactive Citrus Federal Quarantine Map
- Written Quarantine Descriptions
- Stakeholder Notifications of Quarantine Boundary Changes
Regulatory Information
- Conditions of Movement of Regulated Citrus Articles (Federal Orders)
- 7 CFR 301.75 (Citrus Canker)
- 7 CFR 301.76 (Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid)
The rutaceous leaves for consumption protocol provides standards and requirements for the interstate movement of rutaceous leaves for consumption from areas quarantined for citrus canker, huanglongbing, Asian citrus psyllid, sweet orange scab, and/or citrus black spot. All interstate movement of rutaceous leaves for consumption is prohibited unless the conditions are met.
- Conditions of Movement (Federal Order)
- Rutaceous Leaves for Consumption Protocol (746.45 KB)
The citrus nursery stock protocol provides standards and requirements for the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from areas quarantined for citrus canker, huanglongbing, and/or Asian citrus psyllid. All interstate movement of citrus nursery stock is prohibited unless the conditions in the protocol are met.
- Interstate Movement Nursery Stock Protocol (227.22 KB)
The survey protocol for citrus nursery stock describes the rates of inspection, sampling, and testing required by the nursery stock protocol.
Alabama
Chad Wetzel, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 251-277-1532
Email: chad.w.wetzel@usda.gov
C. Landon Mehan, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
Phone: 251-395-6346
Email: charles.mehan@usda.gov
Chalin Street, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist Gulf Coast
Phone: 251-331-3757
Email: chalin.b.street@usda.gov
Arizona
Michael Hennessey, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 602-431-3209
Email: michael.hennessey@usda.gov
Anthony Bocchino, Supervisory PPQ Field Operations
Phone: 602-431-3222
Email: anthony.j.bocchino@usda.gov
California
Norm Mullaly, State Operations Coordinator
Phone: 279-300-5200
Email: norm.mullaly@usda.gov
Helene Wright, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 279-300-5200
Email: helene.r.wright@usda.gov
Florida
Paul Mears, Florida CHRP Coordinator
Phone: 352-313-3046
Email: paul.mears@usda.gov
Richard Miranda, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 352-204-7525
Email: richard.miranda@usda.gov
James Walker, Assistant State Plant Health Director
Phone: 352-313-3045
Email: james.w.walker@usda.gov
Georgia
Philip A. Bailey, Supervisory PPQ Officer
Phone: 770-860-4025
Email: philip.a.bailey@usda.gov
Carl Lightfoot, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 770-860-4023
Email: carl.w.lightfoot@usda.gov
Guam and Hawaii
Lance Otsubo, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 808-873-8961
Email: lance.s.otsubo@usda.gov
Louisiana
Joe J. Bravata II, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 225-298-5425
Email: joseph.j.bravata@usda.gov
Regina Whitfield, CHRP Coordinator
Phone: 504-487-0160
Email: regina.whitfield@usda.gov
Ann Weber, Baton Rouge Supervisor
Phone: 337-764-1324
Email: ann.m.weber@usda.gov
Mississippi
Chad Wetzel, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 251-277-1532
Email: chad.w.wetzel@usda.gov
C. Landon Mehan, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
Phone: 251-395-6346
Email: charles.mehan@usda.gov
Chalin Street, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist Gulf Coast
Phone: 251-331-3757
Email: chalin.b.street@usda.gov
Nevada
Peter Rockermann, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 775-484-0762
Email: peter.rockermann@usda.gov
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Leyinska Wiscovitch, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 787-919-0585
Email: leyinska.wiscovitch@usda.gov
South Carolina
Jeff Medlin, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 843-480-4334
Email: jeffery.medlin@usda.gov
Texas
Stuart Kuehn, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 512-916-5241
Email: stuart.w.kuehn@usda.gov
Mayra Klein, Officer in Charge CHRP
Phone: 956-205-7700
Email: mayra.klein@usda.gov
Assistant National Policy Manager
Dan Murphy, Assistant National Policy Manager
Phone: 775-221-9237
Email: daniel.m.murphy@usda.gov
National Policy Manager
Abby Stilwell, National Policy Manager
Phone: 919-323-6296
Email: abby.r.stilwell@usda.gov
Visit our Citrus Story Map to learn more about how you can help prevent the spread of citrus diseases as a citrus buyer, grower, or member of the general public.
Download our activity book for more tips and facts on how you can help protect U.S. citrus plants.
