Extension Specialist III Texas AgriLife Extension College Station, Vermont
Body of Abstract: The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab – TACTICAL SCIENCE group(TPDDL-TACTSCI) has been participating in the USDA Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) Supplemental Citrus Survey for the last several years. The stated goals of the survey are to identify early infestations of regulated citrus pests, and to aid in the proper demarcation of quarantine zones. The current survey focuses on “dooryard” citrus in counties of the Texas Upper Gulf coast. Survey targets include, but are not limited to pests/pathogens such as Citrus Greening (HLB), Citrus Canker, the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Citrus Black Spot, and Sweet Orange Scab. Between August 2022 and March 2023, a total of 605 citrus trees across 4 counties were visually surveyed for signs/ symptoms of the various target pathogens. Of those trees, 26 displayed symptoms consistent with either Citrus Greening, Citrus Canker, or both. Foliar samples from these trees were collected and subjected to detection testing. These samples were tested using real-time PCR following USDA-APHIS PPQ protocols for the detection of Citrus Greening and Citrus Canker. All 26 samples tested negative. Trees exhibiting signs of the other mentioned pathogens have thus far not been encountered. This survey contributes to the ongoing efforts to safeguard the Texas citrus industry from these exotic pests/pathogens.