Mexican authorities have declared a state of red alert in the Tempoal district of Veracruz state following yet another outbreak of citrus fruit disease Huanglongbing (HLB), website Eluniversal.com.mx reported.

They have enforced detection protocols within a 24 mile radius of the first infected orchards which includes the towns of  Benito Juarez, Tamiahua, Alamo, Chicontepec, Ixuatlán Madero and Tuxpan.

So far the disease has been found in 700 orchards in Tempoal, making Veracruz the 13th state in the country to be affected by the disease, the story reported.

National Plant Protection general director Javier Trujillo Arroyo, reassured Veracruz growers  the disease would not affect U.S. and Asian exports.

"Exporting is accredited by U.S. regulatory authorities who know the disease is transmitted by vegetative material and not by the fruit, so it does not mean it will stop exports," he was quoted as saying.

He said there was time to halt spread of the disease throughout Veracruz's 200,000 hectares as it takes seven years for symptoms to develop, the story reported.

Arroyo said infected plants would be uprooted and burnt to prevent insects spreading the disease to other crops.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) said it would be spraying nearly 50,000 hectares of citrus groves.

Photo: El Siglo Durango

www.freshfruitportal.com

over the citrus disease HLB following the 13th outbreak