RIVERSIDE - (INT) - Scientists at UC Riverside will play a greater role at stopping a disease that is taking a heavy toll on the citrus industry.

A team of scientists has received a five-year, $5.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fight a disease carried by the dreaded citrus psyllid that is devastating the citrus industry. Their research will focus on attacking Huanglongbing.

Huanglongbing, which has devastated citrus trees in Asia and South America, was detected in Florida in 2005 and has since led to a 75 percent decline in the Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry. Fifteen U.S. States, including California, or territories are under full or partial quarantine due to the presence of the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect which feeds on citrus trees and – in doing so – transmits Huanglongbing.

Last February, the US Department of Agriculture awarded the UCR team a $4 million grant to identify genes that make citrus susceptible to Huanglongbing (HLB).

Story Date: March 3, 2017