Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy among those under investigation

By Aaron Nelsen/The Brownsville Herald
December 3, 2007 - 11:39PM

The Texas Department of Agriculture has quarantined 32 counties to prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid, the department reported last week.

The psyllid is capable of transmitting citrus greening, a disease in citrus plants, which was not believed to exist in Texas.

Researchers from the Texas A&M University quarantined 32 counties where the psyllids were detected, including Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy.

Nurseries and other citrus producers and sellers in the quarantined areas must enter a compliance agreement with TDA that requires a treatment plan for all psyllid host plants prior to selling and exporting to other counties within the state.

Businesses that ship citrus plants to other states will be required to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Texas A&M researchers have been conducting surveys across the state for the last year, looking for citrus greening.

So far all test have produced negative results.

In 2005, citrus greening was detected in Florida and has now spread to 23 counties there. Once citrus trees are infected with greening, the fruit yield and quality are greatly reduced, and trees become susceptible to other health problems.

Source: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/citrus_82563___article.html/texas_quarantined.html