I was browsing some of Florida’s info regarding citrus diseases and came across something disturbing. Read paragraph 4 in the last section of the "list of the most important quarantine zone rules".

Looks to me like an invitation to send suspect citrus North for Lowes, Home Depot, etc., to dump an unsuspecting public. If that is the case, it sounds like a dumb idea to me in more ways than one. Outside of sending us another one of their problems (they don't call it Florida Betony for nothing!), it seems to me like they would be creating a repository for the disease which is out of their territory. Next they will be sending teams up here to root out our trees.

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/canker/faqs.html#rules

Ned

Hi Ned. I have some time ago refrained from purchasing any more citrus trees from Florida suppliers. I currently have 52 citrus varieties in my greenhouse, and all it would take would be one tree infected with canker. I noted the helpline telephone numbers on your link, and I am going to telephone them tomorrow and ask about why there is a possibble exception for shipping citrus trees from quarantined areas of Florida into non citrus producing states. I don't know why the authorities think that might be a safe measure, but I am curious to find out their thinking. I'm certainly not a canker expert by any means. - Millet

I am certainly no expert either. Perhaps they have a reason that is not evident from reading what is on the internet. It will be interesting to see what they say, please let us know what happens.

Ned

Ned, thanks for posting the article. I think you are "right on" with your concerns about the possibility of recieving contaminated plants that couldn't be offered in Florida. I'll be anxious to see what Millet finds out.

Today I telephoned the Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Service, Division of Plant Industries, using the listed telephone number (305-598-6988) for calls being made from outside of the state of Florida. I told them I wanted to know their thinking concerning why a possible exceptions may be made for shipping citrus from quaratined areas in Florida to non-citrus bearing states. The person did not know the reason, but told me to call 973-471-3200 and they would be able to help me. Amelia answered and she told me that she did not know why citrus from quaratined areas might possibly receive an exception and then could be shipped out of state, but if I would call 305-282-5153 they could give me the reasoning. The person in charge at 305-282-5153 had no idea what the exception for shipping could be, but told me to call 352-372-3505 Ext.161 and they would be able to take care of me with the answer to my question. However the person in charge at 352-372-3505 Ext. 161 told me he knew nothing what-so-ever about canker, but he was the person that people usually referred telephone calls to when they did not know what to do, and then he told me to call a Mr. Greg Carlton in Gainsville, and Mr. Carlton should be the man with the answer to why Florida citrus might qualify for a shipping exception. When I called Mr. Carlton at 863-298-7777 he was out of the office and would not be back to work untill the start of the new year. So, there you have it, our government at work. Do you think there is any chance that citrus canker will be conquered with these officials in charge at the Florida Dept. of Ag. ? -Millet

WOW!!! Pass the buck! hope you have great phone plan!!!
Sorry you got such a run around..
Gina *BabyBlue*

Thanks for doing that Millet. You experience makes me think that prehaps they don't want anyone to know what the policy is.

Ned

Millet, no doubt you'll stay on the issue and continue the calls and inquires. Stay on 'em and keep us posted. Thanks for your focus and efforts.

Here is another piece on citrus canker. This was done in July, 2002. It is amazing how far canker has spread since then. I guess that, because of modern transportation and the recent hurricanes, it is much more difficult to slow it's progress.

The article lists resistant/susceptible varieties. I see that some of the cold hardy types are resistant.

Ned

You meant, the very same one I posted last year?

link

which pointed to this:
http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/citruscanker/

I apologize. Thanks for putting the link in. As you can see, I also have a bad habit of mentioning a link and then forgetting to insert it.

Ned

Joe, your favorite trees, "Calomondin and Mandarins" are not totally free from getting canker. I read the following in the links you so graciously provided...." The combination of Xac (canker bacteria) and the leafminer can lead to significant field infection even on highly resistant cultivars and species of citrus such as calamondin and kumquat " thus mandarins also. - Thank you both Ned and Joe. - Millet

For those of you who haven't seen the pictures:

The aritcle also states grapefruit and round oranges are very suseptible. I wonder if the anti-control people have seen the pictures?

Ok i need some help here .. Canker is a Bug ?

I had some bugs on a Meyers tree my mom gave me then it died .. that was 2 yrs ago in my green house it put tiny holes in the lemons .. Nothing on the leaves as i remember .. Ill go out and look at the lisbon..

If it is the case i should have my tree inspected i live in Oregon and My neighbor buys florida trees all the time for her yard Yuck would stink all to High heaven if it is .. Tammy

from what I understand, canker is a bacteria, that is transported and ingrained into leaf tissue sometimes by Leaf miners which are small bugs.