Country: Mexico

Title: Update on the detection of Huanglongbing (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) in backyard trees in Mexico

Contact:
Dr. Javier Trujillo Arriaga, Plant Health Director, trujillo@senasica.gob.mx

Report: As part of the actions applied by the "Prevention campaign against the introduction of citrus quarantine pests" in Mexico, huanglongbing was detected in samples collected from backyard trees located in the municipalities of Bahia de Banderas, Compostela y San Blas, State of Nayarit as well as in the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.

The National Service for Plant Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (SENASICA), through the Plant Health General Directorate in collaboration with the Nayarit and Jalisco Plant Health State Committees, have initiated actions for the "Emergency protocol for the detection of huanglongbing". The actions are the following: intensive search for symptoms to detect contaminated plants, collection of plant and vector (Diaphorina citri) samples for laboratory diagnostic. We are also eliminating positive plants; and the intensive and systematic control of the vector as well as organizing training events and outreach activities targeted to growers, technical staff and the general public.

Based on this and according to International Plant Protection Convention standards it is considered that the detection of huanglongbing in Mexico is a pest that is present, only in some areas of the States of Yucatan and Quintana Roo, Nayarit and Jalisco and subject to official control.

Posted Date: Dec. 10, 2009, 9 a.m.