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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 #209681

Title: Large-scale surveys for multiple pest species; the search for citrus canker and huanglongbing in Florida

Author
item Parnell, Stephen
item RILEY, TIM - USDA-APHIS
item Gottwald, Timothy

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/1/2007
Citation: Parnell, S.R., Riley, T., Gottwald, T.R. 2007. Large-scale surveys for multiple pest species; the search for citrus canker and huanglongbing in Florida. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Florida citrus industry has faced a considerable challenge in recent years from the invasion of two economically destructive plant pathogens, Asiatic citrus canker (ACC) and Huanglongbing (HLB). ACC is well established across the state, and HLB, first discovered in 2005, is now common in citrus growing areas in the south. Obtaining updated information on the distribution of these diseases is critical for effective disease management. For this purpose a multi-pest survey program was recently initiated whereby survey teams inspect commercial plantings across the state for both diseases. A random weighted sampling protocol was designed to refine the survey effort for known biases. Information was collated on the host cultivar/species composition of every commercial plantation in the state and a software routine was written to perform a stratified random sample weighted toward more susceptible plantations. The surveys are performed in approximately 3 month cycles with up to 25% of the 750ha commercial citrus area in Florida surveyed each time. Similar surveys are planned for California and Texas. Data collection on this scale draws up many challenges (e.g. logistical and data management issues) but also presents many opportunities including improved understanding of epidemic development over geographic scales and the opportunity to validate simulation models.