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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #307295
Title: Science Advisory Panel Meets to Discuss HLB/ACP

Author
item GRAFTON-CARDWELL, B - University Of California
item MORSE, J - University Of California
item Civerolo, Edwin
item Gottwald, Timothy
item HODDLE, M - University Of California
item SETAMOU, M - Texas A&M University
item VIDALAKIS, G - University Of California

Submitted to: Citrograph
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2014
Publication Date: 5/3/2014
Citation: Grafton-Cardwell, B., Morse, J., Civerolo, E.L., Gottwald, T.R., Hoddle, M., Setamou, M., Vidalakis, G. 2014. SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL MEETS TO DISCUSS HLB/ACP. Citrograph. 5(3):42-48.

Interpretive Summary: To deal with the impending threat of citrus huanlongbing (HLB) to California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) formed a Science Advisory Panel (SAP) of experts to a number of issues relative to the disease and its vector. The SAP reviewed the current California HLB/Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) management program and made science-based recommendations for improvement. The SAP recommended a coordinated approach to manage ACP and HLB at these early stages of infestation that included to both commercial organic and conventional citrus growers in California. The SAP recommended coordinated area-wide treatments of groves, responsible movement of picked fruit, protective screening of nursery stock, management of retail plants, ongoing surveillance for ACP and HLB spread, and continued outreach to the public on the threat posed by moving citrus within California and the illegal introduction of plant material from outside of the state. CDFA has begun implementation of these recommendations.

Technical Abstract: A group of scientists met in December 2013 as a Science Advisory Panel (SAP) to listen to presentations by the Citrus Research Board (CRB) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and to respond to questions posed by CDFA personnel and the general public. The goal of the meeting was to review the current California huanglongbing (HLB)/Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) management program and to make science-based recommendations for improvement. The article represents highlights of the SAP’s recommendations provided to CDFA and the California citrus industry. The SAP concluded that the ACP-HLB situation in California is fluid; and many factors, some of which are unforeseen at this time, may affect and alter some of the recommendations made by the SAP. A highly coordinated safety-first approach is needed to manage ACP and, more importantly, HLB at these early stages of infestation and spread. To minimize the threat HLB poses to commercial organic and conventional citrus in California will require effort from multiple parties simultaneously. These efforts will include coordinated area-wide treatments of groves, responsible movement of picked fruit, protective screening of nursery stock, management of retail plants, ongoing surveillance for ACP and HLB spread, and continued outreach to the public on the threat posed by moving citrus within California and the illegal introduction of plant material from outside of the state. CDFA has already begun to respond to many of these recommendations.