Citrus Greening Disease Survey in East and West African Countries South of Sahara

Abstract

A survey covering eight African countries south of the Sahara, was undertaken for Citrus Greening Disease (CGD) and its psylla vector Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) on citrus orchards and indigenous plants belonging to the Rutaceae. Samples of columellas and leaf rnidveins were collected on presumably contaminated material for electron microscopic examination. Both the extent of the vector and the spread of the disease were then correlated with ambient conditions of temperature and relative humidity for assessing the outlines of the greening belt in these African countries.