Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Citrus Health Response Program Update Richard Gaskalla, Director

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer ServicesCharles H. Bronson, Commissioner

Citrus Health Citrus Health Response Response ProgramProgramUpdateUpdate

Richard Gaskalla, DirectorRichard Gaskalla, Director

Division of Plant IndustryDivision of Plant Industry

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry

Citrus Canker Citrus Canker Program History Program History

1995 found again near 1995 found again near Miami Int’l AirportMiami Int’l Airport

1995-1998 trees w/in 125’ 1995-1998 trees w/in 125’ of infected trees removed – of infected trees removed – canker still spreadingcanker still spreading

1999 epidemiological study 1999 epidemiological study concluded that trees w/in concluded that trees w/in 1900’ need to be removed 1900’ need to be removed for eradication to be 97% for eradication to be 97% successful (w/normal successful (w/normal weather patterns)weather patterns)

2000, 1900’ law enacted2000, 1900’ law enacted



(cont’d) (cont’d) Nov 2000 – Feb 2004 court Nov 2000 – Feb 2004 court

injunctions injunctions hindered hindered program: 200,000 program: 200,000 additional trees infectedadditional trees infected

Feb 2004, FL Supreme Feb 2004, FL Supreme Court ruled in favor of Court ruled in favor of program and full scale program and full scale eradication efforts resumeeradication efforts resume

Hurricanes of Hurricanes of 2004/2005 2004/2005 spread canker to over spread canker to over 80,000 acres of 80,000 acres of commercial citruscommercial citrus



(cont’d) (cont’d) Nov/Dec 2005, USDA Nov/Dec 2005, USDA

scientists estimate scientists estimate canker could impact up canker could impact up to 220,000 acres of to 220,000 acres of commercial citrus due to commercial citrus due to impact of Hurricane impact of Hurricane WilmaWilma

January 2006, USDA January 2006, USDA deems eradication deems eradication unfeasible and withdraws unfeasible and withdraws funding for eradication – funding for eradication – continue to support other continue to support other program activitiesprogram activities

Citrus Canker Citrus Canker Exposure Exposure MapMapCommercial finds Commercial finds after 1/01/06after 1/01/06

Commercial finds Commercial finds prior to 1/01/06prior to 1/01/06Commercial citrus Commercial citrus groves groves

Once eradication program stopped, canker spread rapidly in commercial

groves


Bacterial disease spread Bacterial disease spread by Asian citrus psyllid by Asian citrus psyllid (identified in Florida (identified in Florida 1998)1998)

Greening found August Greening found August 2005 during cooperative 2005 during cooperative survey survey

Kills infected treesKills infected trees Scientists agree Scientists agree

eradication not feasible eradication not feasible due to latency of diseasedue to latency of disease

Long-term management Long-term management logical approachlogical approach

30 counties positive30 counties positive

Huanglongbing/GreeningHuanglongbing/Greening Another Hit to the Citrus IndustryAnother Hit to the Citrus Industry

Leaf mottleLeaf mottle

Misshapen fruitMisshapen fruitAsian citrus Asian citrus

psyllidpsyllid


Citrus Health Citrus Health Response ProgramResponse Program

Developed in 2006 w/FDACS,Developed in 2006 w/FDACS,USDA and industry to help mitigate USDA and industry to help mitigate

impact of citrus diseasesimpact of citrus diseases


CHRP GoalsCHRP Goals Determine best strategies for ensuring a Determine best strategies for ensuring a

healthy citrus industry into the futurehealthy citrus industry into the future Work cooperatively with gov’t agencies, Work cooperatively with gov’t agencies,

research institutions, and industry to build research institutions, and industry to build effective management programeffective management program

Develop secure citrus germplasm and Develop secure citrus germplasm and citrus nursery programcitrus nursery program

Work toward effective disease/disease-vector Work toward effective disease/disease-vector management program for grovesmanagement program for groves

Provide defendable phytosanitary protocol that Provide defendable phytosanitary protocol that allows fresh fruit movement to all marketsallows fresh fruit movement to all markets


Trips to Brazil, Trips to Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Argentina, South Africa, China, and Vietnam China, and Vietnam were taken to determine were taken to determine what others are doing to what others are doing to control citrus diseasescontrol citrus diseases

– Frequent surveys necessary Frequent surveys necessary to determine disease/insect to determine disease/insect prevalenceprevalence

– Disease/vector control Disease/vector control measures must be measures must be implementedimplemented

UF/IFAS disease/vector UF/IFAS disease/vector control management control management strategies developed strategies developed and made available and made available

CHRP In ActionCHRP In Action


Group formed to discuss Group formed to discuss level of regulatory level of regulatory oversight necessary at oversight necessary at production levelproduction level

– Still uncertain about Still uncertain about what management what management practices will work bestpractices will work best

– One disease One disease management strategy management strategy “does not fit all”“does not fit all”

– Need for ongoing Need for ongoing exchange of information exchange of information and educational outreachand educational outreach

Program elements are Program elements are proposed to address proposed to address these issuesthese issues

CHRP In ActionCHRP In Action


CHRP in ActionCHRP in Action Citrus Nursery Certification Program Citrus Nursery Certification Program

Location:Location: sites must be a minimum sites must be a minimum of of one mile from commercial grovesone mile from commercial groves

Structure:Structure: approved structure must approved structure must have enclosed sides and tops and have enclosed sides and tops and positive process double-door entriespositive process double-door entries

Sanitation:Sanitation: all plant material and all plant material and soil must be removed from soil must be removed from equipment before entering/exiting equipment before entering/exiting nurserynursery

Decontamination:Decontamination: everyone who everyone who enters nursery must decontaminate enters nursery must decontaminate with approved productswith approved products

CHRP In ActionCHRP In Action Survey ActivitiesSurvey Activities

• Multiple Pest SurveyMultiple Pest Survey• Export SurveysExport Surveys• Nursery Environs SurveyNursery Environs Survey

Regulatory ActivitiesRegulatory Activities• Compliance agreements (CA) Compliance agreements (CA)

requiredrequired• Grower/caretaker CA requires Grower/caretaker CA requires

attachment of business planattachment of business plan• Outlines decontamination, survey Outlines decontamination, survey

and disease managementand disease management


07-08 Fruit Harvest Season07-08 Fruit Harvest Season Purpose of CA and Business PlansPurpose of CA and Business Plans

CA’s viewed as CA’s viewed as

informational/educationalinformational/educational Compliance monitoring is instructional, Compliance monitoring is instructional,

no penaltiesno penalties FDACS/DPI works closely with UF/IFAS FDACS/DPI works closely with UF/IFAS

to assist growers with business plansto assist growers with business plans Examples of business plans are Examples of business plans are

availableavailable Regional workshops have been held to Regional workshops have been held to

cover important information on disease cover important information on disease detection and control detection and control


07-08 Fruit Harvest 07-08 Fruit Harvest SeasonSeason

Key PrioritiesKey Priorities

Completed construction of FDACS-DPI Completed construction of FDACS-DPI citrus budwood-protection facilities in citrus budwood-protection facilities in Levy County; move foundation citrus Levy County; move foundation citrus budwood stock into these facilitiesbudwood stock into these facilities

Continued planning of redundant Continued planning of redundant budwood facility in Alachua Countybudwood facility in Alachua County

Continue to work closely w/Florida Continue to work closely w/Florida citrus industry to transition into citrus industry to transition into insect-protected structuresinsect-protected structures

Inspect and certify citrus nursery Inspect and certify citrus nursery stock on 30-day inspection cyclestock on 30-day inspection cycle


Conduct training sessions on disease Conduct training sessions on disease detection and management techniquesdetection and management techniques

Continue to work cooperatively w/UF-Continue to work cooperatively w/UF-IFAS and USDA to develop science-IFAS and USDA to develop science-based regulations governing based regulations governing movement of citrus fruit and nursery movement of citrus fruit and nursery stock for domestic and int’l stock for domestic and int’l marketplacemarketplace

Provide industry with services that Provide industry with services that help keep canker and greening to an help keep canker and greening to an acceptable economic thresholdacceptable economic threshold

07-08 Fruit Harvest 07-08 Fruit Harvest SeasonSeason



Growers completed Growers completed application and application and submitted to FDACS/DPI submitted to FDACS/DPI by August 1by August 1

Applications indicated Applications indicated shipping intention by shipping intention by grove and by market for grove and by market for fresh fruitfresh fruit

FDACS/USDA began grove FDACS/USDA began grove surveys in July for the EU, surveys in July for the EU, August 1 for U.S., or as August 1 for U.S., or as required by the receiving required by the receiving marketmarket

07-08 Shipping Season07-08 Shipping Season Key PrioritiesKey Priorities


07-08 Fresh-Fruit 07-08 Fresh-Fruit CertificationCertificationKey PrioritiesKey Priorities

Fresh fruit exiting the Fresh fruit exiting the packing house must be packing house must be free from visible evidence free from visible evidence of cankerof canker

Compliance agreements at Compliance agreements at packing houses will be packing houses will be required and administered required and administered by USDA-APHISby USDA-APHIS

All shipments to US non-All shipments to US non-citrus producing states citrus producing states must have a limited must have a limited permit, no shipments are permit, no shipments are allowed to citrus allowed to citrus producing statesproducing states


07-08 Shipping Residential 07-08 Shipping Residential CitrusCitrus


USDA prohibits the USDA prohibits the shipment of residential shipment of residential citrus outside the state citrus outside the state without a limited permitwithout a limited permit

Currently nine packing Currently nine packing houses will accept houses will accept residential citrus for residential citrus for certificationcertification

Shipping only allowed Shipping only allowed with limited permit to with limited permit to non-citrus producing non-citrus producing statesstates


CHRP CHRP Continuing InitiativesContinuing Initiatives

New FindsNew Finds Abandoned GrovesAbandoned Groves Research EffortsResearch Efforts

– HLBHLB– CankerCanker

Tools for Industry – Tools for Industry – Interactive MapsInteractive Maps


HLB in HLB in Polk Polk

County:County:

PositivePositive

find find near near citrus citrus

nurserynursery

2 citrus nurseries2 citrus nurseries2 citrus nurseries2 citrus nurseries

positive HLB positive HLB findfind

positive HLB positive HLB findfind

7,640 feet7,640 feet7,640 feet7,640 feet


Map of Map of Greening/ Greening/ CankerCankerInfestationInfestationss

April 2008April 2008

Citrus groves in Citrus groves in greengreen

Canker infestations Canker infestations in bluein blue

Greening Greening infestations in infestations in orangeorange

CHRP offices CHRP offices denoted w/denoted w/


Scope of problem is Scope of problem is wide and diversewide and diverse

Varying degrees of Varying degrees of pest and disease riskspest and disease risks

Reasons for Reasons for abandonmentabandonment– Commercial groves no Commercial groves no

longer in production longer in production due to pest and due to pest and disease incursionsdisease incursions

– Freeze damaged Freeze damaged grovesgroves

– Changes in land useChanges in land use– Planted pines with Planted pines with

under-story citrusunder-story citrus

Abandoned/Volunteer Abandoned/Volunteer Grove IssuesGrove Issues


Abandoned/Volunteer Abandoned/Volunteer Grove IssuesGrove Issues

To address all To address all categories/areas would categories/areas would require significant require significant funding resourcesfunding resources

Risk-based approach Risk-based approach might be more might be more practicalpractical

Incentives to Incentives to participate are neededparticipate are needed

Legislation and/or Legislation and/or rulemaking may be rulemaking may be requiredrequired

A Study of the Detection of HLB in Citrus PsyllidsA Study of the Detection of HLB in Citrus Psyllids

Department has developed a robust assay for citrus greening Department has developed a robust assay for citrus greening in psyllid vectorsin psyllid vectors

Over 1,200 samples of psyllid adults and nymphs collected Over 1,200 samples of psyllid adults and nymphs collected from various locations in Florida from visually healthy, as well from various locations in Florida from visually healthy, as well as HBL-symptomatic trees, were analyzed to monitor the as HBL-symptomatic trees, were analyzed to monitor the incidence and spread of HLB incidence and spread of HLB

Study suggests that discount garden centers and retail Study suggests that discount garden centers and retail nurseries may have played a significant role in the widespread nurseries may have played a significant role in the widespread distribution of psyllids and plants carrying HLB pathogensdistribution of psyllids and plants carrying HLB pathogens

Spread of HLB may be detected one to several years before the Spread of HLB may be detected one to several years before the development of HLB symptoms in plantsdevelopment of HLB symptoms in plants

20% of the psyllids sampled have been positive for HLB20% of the psyllids sampled have been positive for HLB

Research EffortsResearch EffortsHuanglongbing/GreeningHuanglongbing/Greening


Analysis of psyllids may Analysis of psyllids may provide early warning about provide early warning about

citrus greening activitycitrus greening activity

Symptoms found Symptoms found nine months nine months after positive after positive psyllids were psyllids were detecteddetected


Grapefruit infected with canker Grapefruit infected with canker placed outdoors in proximity to placed outdoors in proximity to healthy citrus seedlingshealthy citrus seedlings

Experiment set up in January Experiment set up in January 2007 and is ongoing2007 and is ongoing

No sign of disease transmissionNo sign of disease transmission

Research EffortsResearch Efforts

FDACS/DPI’s Disease FDACS/DPI’s Disease Transmission Transmission ExperimentExperiment

Citrus CankerCitrus Canker


Genomics and resistanceGenomics and resistance Citrus breeding and transformationCitrus breeding and transformation Economic analysesEconomic analyses Survival and control experimentsSurvival and control experiments Canker symptoms induction, Canker symptoms induction,

knowledge-based resistance, and knowledge-based resistance, and natural resistance potential of citrusnatural resistance potential of citrus

Additional ProjectsAdditional Projects(USDA, IFAS, Int’l Scientists)(USDA, IFAS, Int’l Scientists)

Research EffortsResearch EffortsCitrus CankerCitrus Canker

CHRP Inter-active MapsCHRP Inter-active Maps

www.doacs.state.fl.us/piwww.doacs.state.fl.us/pi

Features:-General location of canker and greening-Major roads and TRS-Commercial groves-No multi-blocks-DPI CHRP offices


Add’l Inter-Active Map Features:-Allows viewers to plug addresses in to check distances from data points

8.6 miles8.6 miles


CHRPCHRP Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

BMPsBMPs Fruit movement Fruit movement

issuesissues

Grower servicesGrower services 08-09 growing 08-09 growing

seasonseason

CHRP Overview


Citrus Health Response ProgramCitrus Health Response ProgramWorking together Working together

to produce healthy citrusto produce healthy citrus

Whether called Whether called recommendations, regulations or recommendations, regulations or guidelines; the intention is to guidelines; the intention is to help Florida citrus survive and help Florida citrus survive and thrivethrive

CHRP is a cooperative effort CHRP is a cooperative effort w/industry w/industry

We are here to helpWe are here to help


Citrus Health Response ProgramCitrus Health Response ProgramWorking together to produce healthy citrusWorking together to produce healthy citrus

CHRP HelplineCHRP Helpline800-282-5153800-282-5153


Documents

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Citrus Health Response Program Update Richard Gaskalla, Director