DPI's Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology (the botany section is included in this bureau) produces TRI-OLOGY six times a year, covering two months of activity in each issue. The report includes detection activities from nursery plant inspections, routine and emergency program surveys, and requests for identification of plants and pests from the public. Samples are also occasionally sent from other states or countries for identification or diagnosis.
Section Reports
Our Mission…getting it done
The mission of the Division of Plant Industry is to protect Florida's native and commercially grown plants and the State's apiary industry from harmful pests and diseases. Perhaps you'd be interested in learning more about the diseases facing Florida's citrus industry.
Citrus canker is a bacterial disease of citrus that causes premature leaf and fruit drop. Citrus canker is highly contagious and can be spread rapidly by windborne rain, lawnmowers and other landscaping equipment; people carrying the infection on their hands, clothing or equipment; or by moving infected or exposed plants. Symptoms on leaves, stems and fruit include brown, raised lesions surrounded by an oily, water-soaked margin. In addition, leaves may develop a yellow ring or halo. Old lesions in leaves may fall out, creating a shot-hole effect.
Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow dragon disease, is a bacterial disease that causes asymmetrical blotchy mottling of leaves. The disease may cause small, narrow leaves and short stems. Early in the disease progression, only one sector of the tree is affected. As the disease develops, trees show severe dieback and lack of productivity. Fruit from diseased trees is small and often misshapen, and affected fruit can taste bitter, medicinal and sour. In Florida, citrus greening is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid. In Africa, the African citrus psyllid is the vector. The African citrus psyllid has not been found in the United States.
Citrus black spot is a fungal disease marked by dark, speckled spots or blotches on the rinds of fruit, and the disease causes early fruit drop. It is spread by spores released from decomposing citrus leaves. Citrus black spot affects only citrus, with late maturing oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit most susceptible.
The division works cooperatively with USDA/APHIS/PPQ to implement the Citrus Health Response Program, which helps to sustain the citrus industry, maintain growers' continued access to export markets and safeguard the other citrus-growing states against a variety of citrus diseases and pests.
Citrus maxima (pomelo) with symptoms of citrus greening
Photograph courtesy of Susan E. Halbert, DPI
We welcome your suggestions for improvement of TRI-OLOGY. Please feel free to contact me or Dr. Patti Anderson with your comments.
Dr. Wayne N. Dixon, editor
Assistant Director, DPI
Highlights
Following are a few of the notable entries from this volume of TRI-OLOGY. These entries are reports of interesting plants or unusual pests, some of which may be problematic. See Section Reports for complete information.
Sibinia sellata, a Continental USA record. This weevil species is native to Argentina. It is reported to be associated with purslane.
Parthenium hysterophorus L. (parthenium, false ragweed) flower
Photograph courtesy of Bob Upcavage, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Parthenium hysterophorus L. (parthenium, false ragweed, Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed) is a weedy annual found scattered in fields, disturbed or open areas and roadsides through much of the eastern United States. This species can be toxic to livestock and can cause severe dermatitis in humans. It has become a serious weed of croplands and pastures through aggressive spread in Australia, Asia and Africa and is becoming a pest plant in the southern United States. This species can prevail over native plants through production of massive seed crops and allelopathic chemicals.
Erelieva parvulella, a State record. The closest known populations of this otherwise northern species of moth are in Illinois and New York. The larval biology is not known, and it has no economic importance.
Epitrimerus pyri, a State record. The pear rust mite occurs in most pear-growing regions worldwide. This species feeds on leaves and young fruits.
Ophiomyia kwansonis, a State record. An immature stage specimen of the daylily leafminer was detected during a routine inspection of a daylily nursery. The inspection was done in order to meet requirements of shipping plants to the European Union, which specify that plants are to be free of various leafminer pests.
Raffaelea lauricola (laurel wilt), a County record, was reported to us for the first time from Sumter County. The pathogen was found on Persea borbonia (red bay) in Half Moon Wildlife Management Area. Laurel wilt infects members of the plant family Lauraceae.
Ophiopogon sp. (mondo grass) in a stand of uneven and sparse plants infected by Meloidogyne javanica (Javanese root-knot nematode).
Photograph courtesy of Stephen R. Jenner, DPI
Meloidogyne javanica, the Javanese root-knot nematode, was found infecting the roots of the perennial Ophiopogon sp. (mondo grass) in Hernando County.
Acknowledgements:
The editors would like to acknowledge the work of all those who contributed information and explanations by providing data, photographs or text and by carefully reading early drafts. We also thank Scott Weinberg for his skillful use of web authoring tools to produce this report.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
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