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Orange Groves Infected By Citrus Greening, A Not Curable Disease

In FL, a not curable germ threatens citrus groves. Insects carry the germs, which are known as HIB. In Chinese, the first place this disease was identified, the disease is known as Huanglongbing. Within the last few years, up to 3 percent of the FL citrus groves have been killed off by this not curable bacteria. Article source – Huanglongbing – Incurable bacteria threatens citrus groves by MoneyBlogNewz.

Juice oranges most at risk from incurable bacteria

There are many places in the United States where citrus is grown. CA and FL grow most of it though. Eating oranges come from California while juice oranges come from FL. You’ll end up with sour, deformed, dry fruit because of the not curable bacteria that citrus groves in FL are seeing. The fruit isn’t the only thing attacked by the citrus greening disease. Eventually the tree will die as well. While a one to three percent die-off rate for citrus groves is normal, citrus greening is causing a three to five percent die-off rate. This is in addition to the bad juice orange harvests from freezing temperatures.

Citrus fruit groves only chance is to find a cure for the not curable germs

A group of researchers from over 12 nations had a conference at the first of the year to discuss citrus greening. The not curable bacteria are more likely to be in two of the trees. These were studied by a group of researchers. In nature, a disease for instance this may die off or stay relatively contained. However, many citrus groves (and agricultural fields) are now grown as monoculture, meaning the insects that carry this ailment can easily infect an entire grove in just days.

What the danger of the “citrus delay” is

There’s a reason why citrus fruit groves are more susceptible to the not curable germs. It’s because young trees are targeted. In order to start showing fruit, a citrus tree needs three to five years of growth. After that, it will not even become fully mature until year seven. Trees that are young are killed by the Huanglongbing which means a decade of investment in trees can easily be lost by a farmer. It may also kill off new genetic lines, which reduces the chances of creating resistant breeds of trees.

Information from

WLTX

wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=118394

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