Critical Pests and Diseases Imperil World Citrus

摘要

In recent years, several new pests and diseases have been identified that joined those already established to increase the risks of producing citrus. Two of these diseases appear to have originated in Brazil. One is citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC),which is caused by a xylem limited bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa, and is vectored by sharpshooter insects (Roberto et al., 1996). The other disease of Brazilian origin is called 'sudden death' and may be caused by a Marafivirus (Maccheroni et al., 2005).Another decline disease known as 'citrus blight' is now believed to be associated with an Idaeovirus, possibly in association with some strain of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) (Derrick et al., 2005). Additionally, some phytoplasma organisms are becoming more recognized as being involved in decline diseases in citrus in the Middle East, Asia and South America. A phytoplasma was associated with Huanglongbing (HLB) like-symptoms in Brazil (Teixeira et al., 2008), and Chen et al. (2009) found the aster yellows phytoplasma in association with diseased citrus trees in China. A phytoplasma type organism is responsible for witches broom in citrus limes (Gamier et al., 1991).