Citrus Diseases
Citrus-producing regions in the United States are at high risk for the introduction and establishment of exotic pests and diseases because of their proximity to international air and maritime ports and favorable climatic conditions.
Five exotic citrus pests and diseases are established in the United States and have the potential to harm every acre of citrus if they were allowed to spread. They include huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening; Asian citrus psyllid; citrus canker; citrus black spot; and sweet orange scab.
Report Signs of Citrus Disease
If you think you’ve seen signs of this disease or pest, immediately report your findings to a State Plant Health Director.
Controlling Citrus Disease
We collaborate with State departments of agriculture and the citrus industry to safeguard the American citrus industry. The goals of our Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) are to sustain the U.S. citrus industry, maintain grower access to export markets, and safeguard citrus-producing areas against exotic citrus diseases and pests.
To achieve these goals, we perform multi-pest surveys in commercial and residential citrus areas to identify early infestations of exotic citrus pests for eradication, and to ensure that quarantine boundaries accurately reflect infested areas. CHRP protects the American consumer’s access to domestically produced citrus fruit and nursery trees with regulations that limit the spread of pests to uninfested areas.
The citrus nursery stock protocol provides standards and requirements for the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from areas quarantined for citrus canker, huanglongbing, and/or Asian citrus psyllid. All interstate movement of citrus nursery stock is prohibited unless the conditions in the protocol are met.
Interstate Movement Nursery Stock Protocol (227.22 KB)
The survey protocol for citrus nursery stock describes the rates of inspection, sampling, and testing required by the nursery stock protocol.
Survey Protocol for Citrus Nursery Stock Protocol (128.51 KB)
Alabama
Chad Wetzel, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 251-277-1532
Email: chad.w.wetzel@usda.gov
Chalin Street, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist Gulf Coast
Phone: 251-331-3757
Email: chalin.b.street@usda.gov
Arizona
Gary Russell, State Operations Coordinator
Phone: 602-431-3202
Email: gary.russell@usda.gov
Anthony Bocchino, Supervisory PPQ Field Operations
Phone: 602-431-3222
Email: anthony.j.bocchino@usda.gov
Michael Wallace, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 602-431-3201
Email: michael.d.wallace@usda.gov
California
Norm Mullaly, State Operations Coordinator
Phone: 279-300-5200
Email: norm.mullaly@usda.gov
Helene Wright, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 279-300-5200
Email: helene.r.wright@usda.gov
Florida
Paul Mears, Florida Citrus Health Response Program Coordinator
Phone: 352-313-3046
Email: paul.mears@usda.gov
Richard Miranda, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 352-204-7525
Email: richard.miranda@usda.gov
James Walker, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 352-313-3045
Email: james.w.walker@usda.gov
Georgia
Philip A. Bailey, Supervisory PPQ Officer
Phone: 770-860-4025
Email: philip.a.bailey@usda.gov
Carl Lightfoot, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 404-260-7840
Email: :carl.w.lightfoot@usda.gov
Guam and Hawaii
Vernon Harrington, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 808-838-2780
Email: vernon.harrington@usda.gov
Louisiana
Joe J. Bravata II, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 225-298-5425
Email: joseph.j.bravata@usda.gov
Regina Whitfield, Citrus Health Response Program Coordinator
Phone: 504-487-0160
Email: regina.whitfield@usda.gov
Mississippi
Chad Wetzel, Acting State Plant Health Director
Phone: 251-277-1532
Email: chad.w.wetzel@usda.gov
Chalin Street, Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist Gulf Coast
Phone: 251-331-3757
Email: chalin.b.street@usda.gov
Nevada
Peter Rockermann, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 775-851-8818
Email: peter.rockermann@usda.gov
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Leyinska Wiscovitch, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 787-919-0585
Email: leyinska.wiscovitch@usda.gov
South Carolina
Kimberly Dean, State Plant Health Director
Phone: 843-852-8234
Email: kimberly.dean@usda.gov
Texas
Ruben Guerra, Assistant State Plant Health Director
Phone: 512-916-5241
Email: ruben.r.guerra@usda.gov
Guadalupe Gracia, Area Supervisor
Phone: 956-421-4041
Email: guadalupe.gracia@usda.gov
Mayra Arredondo, Officer in Charge CHRP
Phone: 956-205-7700
Email: mayra.j.arredondo@usda.gov
Assistant National Policy Manager
Dan Murphy, Assistant National Policy Manager
Phone: 775-221-9237
Email: daniel.m.murphy@usda.gov
National Policy Manager
Abby Stilwell, National Policy Manager
Phone: 919-323-6296
Email: abby.r.stilwell@usda.gov
Visit our Citrus Story Map to learn more about how you can help prevent the spread of citrus diseases as a citrus buyer, grower, or member of the general public.
