USDA photo by David Bartels
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) is expanding the quarantine area in California for Elsinoë australis, the fungal causal agent of sweet orange scab (SOS). The expansion aligns with the state interior quarantine that the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) implemented Oct. 1, 2023.
SOS infection causes scab pustules that give fruit a corky appearance. Sweet orange scab can stunt young nursery trees or new field plantings and cause premature fruit to drop.
USDA APHIS added portions of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties to the list of quarantined areas for SOS. The quarantined area will include:
- Approximately 85 square miles in the Pomona area of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, which includes 14 acres of commercial citrus
- 136 square miles in the Calipatria area of Imperial County, which includes 2,685 acres of commercial citrus
- 164 square miles in the San Gabriel and Whittier areas of Los Angeles County, which does not include any commercial citrus
- 164 square miles in the Santa Ana area of Orange County, which includes 34 acres of commercial citrus
- 95 square miles in the Riverside area of Riverside County, which includes 1,457 acres of commercial citrus
- 81 square miles in the Winterhaven area of Imperial County, which includes 3 acres of commercial citrus
- 149 square miles in the Blythe area of Riverside County, which includes 684 acres of commercial citrus
The quarantine action is necessary to prevent the spread of SOS to non-infested areas of the United States.
A description of all current SOS quarantined areas, federal orders and other regulatory documents can be found on the APHIS sweet orange scab webpage.
Additional information may be obtained from USDA APHIS National Policy Manager Abby Stilwell at abby.r.stilwell@usda.gov or 919-323-6296.
Source: USDA APHIS
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