Fact Box: What is Citrus greening?

Citrus greening or Huanglongbing is a deadly disease of citrus which greatly affects the production of the fruits in several parts of India.
Causing agents:

• It is caused by motile bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter

Symptoms:

• Yellowing of leaf veins and adjacent tissues
• Premature defoliation
• Dieback of twigs
• Decay of feeder rootlets and lateral roots.
• Infected fruits are small, lopsided with bitter taste, may fall prematurely

How does it spread?

• In India the bacteria are spread by a vector- the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri).
• It is a sap-sucking, hemipteran bug in the family, Psyllidae.

How can it be controlled?

• It can be managed by focus Integrated Pest Management (IPM) efforts using disease-free nursery trees, reducing infection sources (inoculum) by frequent surveys and diseased tree removal, and suppressing Asian citrus psyllid through area-wide management.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2013

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs