Sweet Orange Scab (SOS)

Sweet orange scab (SOS) is a cosmetic fungal disease that impacts the marketability of the fruit and effects all citrus, not just oranges. SOS is caused by the fungus Elsinöe australis, which is dispersed by water. Fruit afflicted with SOS can be severely blemished, rendering them unfit for sale in the fresh produce market. Additionally, the disease can cause premature fruit drop, and stunt young nursery trees and new field plantings. In response to an increasing number of SOS detections, the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee recommended that CDFA establish a state interior quarantine to regulate the movement of regulated host material from areas around SOS detections.