Sensor helps farmers take early action to contain deadly citrus tree greening disease. Scientist have yet to find a cure for the deadly citrus greening disease threatening the world’s orange crop, but an inexpensive new device could help growers stop its spread, its inventor said on Friday. The device is a sensor which quickly detects signs of the greening bacteria in leaves so a grower can destroy an infected tree before the disease is passed to others around it. The inventor, Wonsuk "Daniel" Lee, a University of Florida professor of agriculture, stated the device, which consists of a camera and 10 high-powered LED lights, costs less than $1,000 to assemble and was between 95 and 98 per cent accurate in laboratory and field testing. The device takes advantage of the fact that the disease causes leaves to store high levels of starch, which changes the way they reflect light. Veins and splotches on the leaves appear pale gray, and are readily distinguishable from the dark gray of a healthy tree leaf. Diagnosing greening currently requires a costly and time-consuming DNA analysis. Some Florida growers have said the device is to late for Florida, as most of the trees in the state are already infected with Greening. Time is very important, but Lee said the device could help growers in places like California, where greening was first spotted in 2012, and in Brazil, where studies have shown an aggressive detection and removal program has slowed its spread.
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Topic: Hi Tech Orange Crop Care (Read 1241 times)