If hurricanes and citrus canker were not enough, citrus fruit producers in Florida are struggling with yet another threat. A bacteria-causing disease originating from China called citrus greening has been found in southeast Florida and is spreading, says the state’s Department of Agriculture.
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Since August, 175 cases have been discovered in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Also known as huanglongbing, it is spread by a small, winged insect, the Asian citrus psyllid.
Although the disease is harmless to people, it can be devastating to the industry. An infected tree produces discoloured fruit with a bitter, medicinal taste. When another insect feeds on an infected tree, it becomes a disease carrier, making eradication difficult.
