ARS | Publication request: Packingline treatments and their effects on Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 4, 2008
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The Florida citrus industry still remains under quarantine for the shipment of fruit to citrus growing areas. This is because of the fear the fruit going through the packing line from a canker infected grove will carry viable bacterial cells that can cause new infections where there was no disease previously. In order to see if there were changes that could be made to the packing line protocol presently in place, a study was made of the sanitizers and the coatings that are allowed and their effects on Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (Xac) were evaluated. It was found that the methods used do not eradicate the bacteria from the fruit surfaces even though the fruit are washed, dried and waxed. Bacteria that are protected in wounded tissues are not affected by the sanitizers or the coatings, even those with added fungicides.