<p>Over 14,000 hectares of citrus in the southern Yucatán Peninsula are threatened by the advance of the Asian citrus psyllid, vector of the citrus greening disease.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The disease has been detected in the municipalities of Tzucacab, Akil y Oxkutzcab, according to the Yucatán Committee of Plant Health (CESVY) in talks warning producers to take preventative measures, according to the Diaro de Yucatán<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The disease is slow to advance – once the bacteria is introduced to a citrus tree, months can go by before any negative effects are evident. It effectively blocks the tree’s circulatory system and prevents nutrients from reaching leaves and fruit, resulting in small deformed fruit with a muted flavor.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">However, the tree continues to produce - albeit at a lower rate- and the fruit may still be suitable for human consumption.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">President of CESVY, Severo Escobedo Cortés, expressed the importance of understanding the disease, its effects, and the Asian citrus psyllid as well.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Field technicians have been working in citrus plantations throughout the region to identify areas of infections and inform producers of the risks of the disease</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://yucatan.com.mx/yucatan/invade-el-sur-el-dragon-amarillo" target="_new">Yucatan Report</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
