Research progress on management of citrus canker

摘要

High incidence of citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), can occur on any citrus cultivar depending on tree age, flush condition, leafminer control and weather conditions during the season. In 2011, crop losses in Hamlin due topremature fruit drop, and on grapefruit due to an unacceptably high incidence of fruit blemishes, occurred mostly on young fruiting trees. Fresh grapefruit financial losses have eased somewhat now that canker-blemished fruit is permitted to be packed for U.S. shipments. However, Florida's grapefruit shipments for the European Union still require pre-harvest grove inspections as well as post-harvest inspection for canker before fruit qualifies for packing. In fresh grapefruit groves, the goal is minimizing canker inoculum potential to ensure an economically viable pack-out with few or no lesions. In young grapefruit groves, this goal is difficult if not impossible to achieve without windbreaks to reduce wind speed, inoculum spread and fruit infection experienced during typical Florida rainstorms.