Lookout for Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus Found in Tulare

Lookout for Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus Found in Tulare

Back in March, a California Department of Ag surveyor took samples from a residential citrus orchard in Tulare. That surveyor sent the samples to a CDFA lab, then on to USDA… it wasn’t long before suspicions were confirmed. A glaring result… Tulare county had the first detection of the Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus.

Victoria Hornbaker is director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division.

“What we are seeing right now in the valley is the trees look healthy, but we do see that yellow venation so the leaf veins look yellow.”

Although there isn’t a current virus treatment, experts encourage growers and their field crews to clean and sanitize all equipment thoroughly between jobs or moving between groves.

“There is evidence the virus can be spread through sap. So through cuttings or dirty pruning equipment. So I know for my team out doing sampling, they have to disinfect their hands or wear gloves and change gloves. They have to disinfect their shoes or wear booties. And they have to disinfect all of their pruning equipment. So actually, in between every tree, they disinfect."

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