With citrus industry backing, California state legislators have requested $2.5 million in emergency state funds to help prevent the spread of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV). The first finding of the new disease in the United Sates was recently made in Tulare, California.
Casey Creamer, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) president and chief executive officer, said the statewide grower organization “led the effort seeking emergency funds to support the additional costs related to citrus yellow vein. Multiple legislators signed on to a letter led by Senator Shannon Grove. CCM will continue to work with legislators and CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) for funding in the next budget cycle.”
Creamer said CDFA’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division would receive the funds. “The funding would be used to provide prevention services in Tulare, Kings, Kern and Fresno counties and potentially other citrus-producing counties as more information is gathered,” he said.
Under severe conditions, CYVCV-infected trees die back, and fruits are malformed, causing reduced quality, according to CDFA.
Creamer said it’s “still too early to tell” how serious the CYVCV threat is to California citrus. “It hasn’t been confirmed in commercial groves yet, and there is not much research on citrus yellow vein available to draw conclusions,” he said. “More survey work and research are needed to determine the level of threat it poses to California growers. In the meantime, protocols in place for other pests and diseases and good industry practices minimize the potential spread as more information is gathered.”
“There is no chemical control that we know of currently,” Creamer added. To prevent the spread of the disease, he said growers can “review current literature on citrus yellow vein, monitor your groves, and review further guidance as it becomes available from industry partners.”
The CDFA has more information about CYVCV here, including its symptoms.
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