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Ag leaders in Mexico, U.S. to fight insect together
| Friday, Oct 10 2008 4:25 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Oct 13 2008 7:29 AM
Leaders in agriculture on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are collaborating on ways to combat the Asian citrus psyllid, a disease-carrying insect that could have catastrophic effects on the state’s citrus industry.
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The Asian citrus psyllid, like the adult shown here feeding on the liquid inside a citrus leaf, can spread a disease that destroys fruit and kills trees. (Apsnet.org)
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An American delegation returned from two days of meetings in Mexico City this week feeling encouraged by agreements to share research and action plans and otherwise fight the pest together, Ted Batkin, president of the California Citrus Research Board, said in a press release.
“We’re facing a death sentence for citrus trees in California, and the same is true for Mexico,” he said. “We have a stronger chance of weakening the threat by working together on both sides of the border.”
The Asian citrus psyllid is an aphid-like insect that feeds on the leaves of citrus trees and other citrus-like plants. It can be a carrier of the tree disease Huanglongbing, also known as HLB and citrus greening disease.
The bacterial plant disease the psyllid sometimes carries is not harmful to humans, but it kills trees and renders fruit unusable by marring appearance and taste.
The pest has been found domestically in the San Diego area as well as Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.