My citrus trees at home are already infected by these two diseases which I noticed first time this year. I know the eradication of the trees is the best solutions but I don't want to loose the plants that just started fruiting after 4 years. I want to treat them to get rid of the diseases and to make my plants healthy. I am looking for some proven and successful experience.
Dear Asghar, Sometimes citrus trees shows symptoms like citrus greening due to improper nutrient management and root disease. Citrus grow well in organic manure rich soil with optimum moisture level. So if your citrus plants didn't get sufficient amount of organic manure and other nutrients and better irrigation system please improve it and look results. If citrus greening is confirm in your plants by a laboratory testing then eradication and re-planting is the best solution. Organic amendment and better irrigation also reduced canker problem.
There are tests underway of biocides to target the Candidatus Liberibacter species (there are several different ones) involved, but nothing immediate or cost-effective. Why not destroy them (before they spread pathogens further in your locale!) and try some of the other numerous subtropical fruits available? Averrhoa carambola (star-fruit), avocado, pomegranate, sugar apple family, guava, jujube, loquat, etc. (depending on your climate zone).
I would be really woried with plants infected with citrus greening. If that is confirmed, do eliminate the plants (Stanton - answer above - is right in that spreading of the disease could be disastrous for your area if citrus is an important economic crop). Citrus canker is much easier to handle: eliminate from the trees any part with pustules and spray with copper, before rain (yes before a rain - so that bacteria get killed in the water/copper solution before entering natural openings or injuries in tissues) and spray to reach all plant, but most important, the younger leaves (up to 15 days old). You will not elliminate canker, but reduce it drastically so that in some point in time you will have plants (eventually still with the presence of Xanthomonas), but mostly symptomless. Wishing you success in maintaining your home garden healthy, Rjbender
Dear Asghar,
If you can send me pictures of your trees and your location, I might be able to help. However, I do not know how I can get my products across.
There is no need to uproot your citrus trees. There is a good chance for them to recover as long as they have not been girdled and your fields do not have the problem of a high water table.
If you are spraying copper (usual cheapest source is as an amine-coordinate complex e.g. Cu(NH3)2Cl2) . But also consider a (co-applied) "sticker-spreader" to allow the copper to be retained over prolonged time periods. -- Cheers,
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