Citrus greening takes hold in Rio Grande Valley

From the Houston Chronicle:

A bacterial disease that has infected 75 percent of Florida's citrus trees - ruining fruits' shapes and flavors and ultimately killing the trees- has a stronghold in the Rio Grande Valley.

Known as citrus greening, it first appeared two years ago with a handful of infected trees in the border city of San Juan but is now showing in alarming numbers, mostly in a "hot zone" in the mid-Valley.

Texas Citrus Mutual, a growers' trade group, said the disease had been detected in 430 trees in commercial groves and 207 in residential backyards as of last week. More than 100 of the infected trees were found in La Blanca, an unincorporated community north of Donna. Hundreds more were found in orchards and a former nursery to the south.

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