Huanglongbing/citrus greening (Asiatic strain)

Huanglongbing

Photo by Yuan-Min Shen, Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Bugwood.org

  • Huanglongbing can be found throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North and South America
  • Leaves and shoot symptoms include yellow shoots; asymmetric, mottled (across veins) leaves; small upright chlorotic leaves; out of phase flushing; and branch dieback
  • Flower and fruit symptoms include unseasonal and heavy flowering on diseased branches; small, lopsided, bitter-tasting fruit with small, brown, aborted seeds and uneven colouring at maturity; and excessive fruit drop
  • Symptoms can be confused with mineral deficiencies and other endemic pathogens
  • Spread by infected plant material or by the Asiatic citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) or African citrus psyllid (Trioza erytreae)
  • All citrus and many citrus relatives are susceptible to Huanglongbing and host to its vectors

High priority pest of: Citrus, Production nurseries

Scientific name: Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
EPPRD Category: 2
Life Form: Bacteria

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol