Citrus Greening in Texas | Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab

Citrus Greening Awareness

Warnings about a devastating citrus plant disease are targeted at consumers, educators, homeowners, gardeners as well as growers in Texas.

This disease is called the Citrus Greening Disease (CG), or Huanglongbing, caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which is vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) insect.

Since 2005, CG has surfaced in multiple places in the U.S. It was first found in Florida, where the disease has since impacted the citrus industry. An infected plant and infected psyllids were found in Louisiana in 2008. Since then, this disease has been discovered in Georgia and South Carolina.

~~Fortunately, this disease pathogen has NOT been found in Texas~~. The insect vector is in south Texas, but no infected psyllids (to date) has been detected. On January 13, 2012 – USDA and TDA released information that Citrus Greening was found and confirmed in Hidalgo county. In spring of 2014, Hidalgo and Cameron counties were placed under CG quarantine. In July 2014, Harris county was placed under Citrus Greening quarantine. As of 10/9/2014 – Fort Bend and Montgomery counties are also included in the CG quarantine. The Harris, Fort Bend & Montgomery counties quarantine is known as the Gulf Coast Quarantine. As of 10/07/2019, the Citrus Greening quarantine area has expanded and encompasses 4 specified quarantine areas: This include the Upper Gulf Coast (Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston & Brazoria); Coastal Bend (Aransas, Calhoun, Kleberg & Nueces); Webb County; and the Valley (Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr and Willacy)

In order to prevent citrus greening from getting a foothold in the state, residents should be aware of what to look for, who to contact for assistance, and to report potential finds. AgriLife Extension offers seminars, training programs and resources to assist Texas residents in identifying potential cases.

WHY look for signs of citrus greening?

There is currently no cure for an infected tree, so prevention is essential.
Early detection and action help to limit spread of disease.
Areas where citrus is grown must be protected from this devastating disease.

RESOURCES developed by the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in cooperation with various colleagues and entities are listed below and available to the general public.

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Awareness Information factsheet

Texas Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Greening quarantine awareness information card

The purpose of this factsheet is for rapid dissemination of information on the current quarantine in the Upper Gulf Coast region and general citrus greening information to general public. Rudimentary and basic disease and symptom description are provided along with the notice that quarantined plants CANNOT be moved out of the quarantined counties and any movement of citrus plant material may be subject to Texas Department of Agriculture regulations.