CitrusGreening or Huanglongbing disease

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a tritrophic disease complex involving citrus host trees, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) insect and a phloem restricted, bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). HLB is considered to be the most devastating of all citrus diseases, and there is currently no adequate control strategy. In Florida, an estimated 40-70% of all citrus trees are infected, and HLB effects include production declines (10-20% per year), diminished fruit quality and increased production costs. Some growers already forced into bankruptcy. California and Texas have the ACP and isolated reports of HLB, where the spread of HLB is imminent without discovery and implementation of new management practices.



Credit: Cilia lab


Impact on US Citrus Production

The impact of citrus greening in Florida is demonstrated by predictions that the 2014/2015 orange harvest in Florida will be the lowest in 50 years, down over 50% from the already low 2004-2005 harvest. The majority of this estimated drop is a result of the endemic presence of HLB. This loss is from a combination of divestment of citrus holdings and redirection of land use and reduced crop yield from existing trees. Reduction in existing tree yields is due to a combination of disease associated fruit drop, smaller fruit and reduced fruit set. Associated with these losses is an increase in per acre cost of production ($464 per acre, $255 million total for the state increase, Muraro, 2011) due to increased vector control and enhanced nutritional programs as part of emerging HLB management practices. As of 2012, further economic losses have been realized in the loss of 6,611 jobs in all citrus and citrus related sectors (Hodges and Spreen, 2012). Alternative control/management practices are essential for the maintenance of a healthy commercial citrus producing industry in Florida. The other commercial citrus producing states (Texas, Arizona, and California) now have the ACP and isolated incidences of HLB infected citrus in Texas and California raise the concern that these states may follow in Florida’s footsteps if new management/control methods are not developed.

The long term goal of the CitrusGreening Solutions project is to provide a therapeutic delivery system to growers to prevent CLas infection of the plant and/or prevent development of HLB in already infected citrus.

Salient Facts

  • First identified in the US in Florida in August 2005
  • Estimated that approximately 80% of Florida citrus trees are infected, and some groves no longer productive
  • Associated with a phloem limited bacterium, Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (widespread in Florida and Texas, increasing and beyond eradication in California and Arizona)
  • Within a few years of infection, many citrus trees become weak, have poor quality fruit, with lots of fruit drop, and trees may die or become useless
  • Estimated average crop reduction of 40% compared to healthy trees (Singerman, 2015) - many Florida growers going out of business




Infected citrus fruit and leaves (Credit: Bove 2006)


Trend in Florida Citrus Production


Citrus production 1999-2015
Data from USDA



Four years of HLB progression in same Hamlin Sweet Orange tree. Note thinner canopy, lighter leaf and fruit color and presence of many green fruit on tree in 2015.

This represents fairly successful management using extensive foliar nutrition and aggressive psyllid control, and likely is around the 40% cropping reduction of typical HLB-infected sweet orange in Florida. Photo courtesy of Hardee, DeSoto






Abandoned unproductive groves from HLB infection are widespread (33,000 acres+ and 43,000 trees removed)


Florida response to HLB


  • Initially very rapid disease development, from first find of a diseased tree up to 39% of trees in a grove in 10 months
  • At first most growers scouted and removed infected trees but rapid spread made few willing to remove producing trees
  • Most try to control psyllids and maintain infected trees through foliar nutrition programs (now approximately $2000/acre cost for production up from approximately $800/acre before HLB was in Florida)
  • Production and fruit quality are declining. What can be done to maintain yield and quality in infected trees?
  • A major concern is that production will drop below critical volume to maintain juice industry and infrastructure


Fruit quality, flavor and preharvest drop


  • Fruit quality affects of HLB have been assessed:
    1. Highly symptomatic are worst
    2. Non-symptomatic fruit are slightly different from healthy but acceptable
  • Preharvest fruit drop is much greater in HLB-infected trees, even with nutrient enhancement


HLB-infected tree in decline on the left. HLB-infected tree that is cropping well but with lots of preharvest drop on the right. Photo courtesy of Steve Rogers





Overview of US Citrus Production



If we combine juice and fresh, then citrus is #1 fruit consumed in the US. 50x106 cartons of fresh fruit are exported every year.

Total value of US citrus industry is approximately $9 billion
  • 75% production is sweet orange
  • 11% grapefruit


Florida produces 66% of the total US Citrus production
  • 85% oranges (96% juiced)
  • 12% grapefruit (58% juiced)
All sweet oranges are nearly identical in genetics and are variants of a hybrid that first emerged 1000+ years ago. Identical genetics is worst scenario for an epidemic - sweet orange highly susceptible