All Harris County Citrus Trees Under Quarantine
(HOUSTON) — All citrus trees in Harris County are now under quarantine for a tree disease that has already devastated the Florida citrus crop.
Monte Nesbitt, a horticulturist with Texas A&M’s Extension Service, says it’s not dangerous to eat fruit from a tree infected with citrus greening, but it might not taste good. The fruit never matures beyond the green stage.
It’s called “citrus greening” — a bacteria that can kill a lemon, orange or grapefruit tree within two years.
Although the disease hasn’t been widely detected in Harris County, there is also no known cure for citrus greening, which prompted the quarantine.
“Which means we don’t want plant material to move out of that area that’s already infected,” Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt said they are also fighting the spread of citrus greening by using insecticide on the bug that carries it from tree to tree.
“It’s about the size of the tip of a toothpick; white or tan in color,” he said.
If you have any questions, Nesbitt says call your extension agent.
A typical tree infected with citrus greening will have leaves that turn a mottled yellow. - Millet