In 2012, the bacterium associated with Huanglongbing (HLB), the deadly citrus tree disease, was detected in a residential citrus tree in Los Angeles County. Since then, more than 2000 backyard citrus trees infected with HLB have been detected and removed in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
A state-wide control program has managed to keep HLB out of commercial citrus groves for 8 years. However, insect vectors carrying the pathogen were detected in a grove south of Riverside in 2020, emphasizing the need for everyone’s cooperation and collaboration to save California citrus. The University of California (UC) is working with the citrus industry to wage an all-out battle against both HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid. You can read more about the current research being conducted by UC researchers in the document below. Much of the research is conducted with funding from the citrus industry through the Citrus Research Board.