WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Leaves: A yellow ring around a brown, raised circular lesion which is evident on both the front and back side of the leaf. Leaf symptoms are easiest to find.

Fruit: A brown to blackish circular lesion that may or may not have a yellow halo. Lesion may appear scab-like or corky and there may be gum (bacterial) exudate.

HOW TO EXAMINE TREES:

Walking the rows of the citrus grove, look carefully from top of tree canopy to bottom of tree canopy for the circular, yellow halos on leaves. Usually more than one lesion is apparent. Examine all ages of foliage from the newest flush to the older leaves. Use a magnifying lens to examine center of lesion for broken, scabby tissue and volcanic (raised center) like appearance.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SUSPICIOUS LESION:

DO NOT REMOVE SAMPLES FROM THE TREE SITE. Mark the tree so that it may be found again. Call DPI at 1-800- 293-3101 to report the find. A team of trained specialists will be deployed to investigate.

FOLLOW SANITATION PROCEDURES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SUSPICIOUS LESIONS ARE FOUND.

Follow DPI’s recommended sanitation procedures for vehicles, personnel and movement from grove to grove. This includes disinfecting hands, clothing and shoes by spraying with appropriate compounds before leaving grove. If at all possible, avoid contact between vehicles and citrus trees, especially if infection is suspected.

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