Department responds to detection of citrus canker
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is responding to the detection of citrus canker in the State’s north.
The serious citrus disease has been detected on two properties at Kununurra and on one property in Wyndham, and is linked to plants imported from the Northern Territory.
Citrus canker has also been detected in Darwin and Katherine in the Northern Territory.
In order to stop the spread of the citrus canker in the East Kimberley, the department has declared Quarantine Areas which cover a 50km radius from both the Kununurra post and the Wyndham post office.
Restricted Areas have been declared in the immediate areas around the three properties where infected plants have been found.
In these areas, strict movement restrictions apply to citrus plants and fruit, as well as to machinery, equipment, soil and potting mix which is used in association with citrus plants.
Broader Control Areas have been declared in the rest of the Quarantine Areas and are also subject to movement restrictions.
More information about these areas and their restrictions can be found on the department’s website.
More than 100 department staff are working across the response and a Forward Command Post has been established in Kununurra.
As part of surveillance activities, DPIRD staff have visited more than 350 properties in Kununurra and Wyndham.
About citrus canker
Citrus canker is a contagious disease of citrus (and some other plant species of the citrus family, Rutaceae) caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.
Infected trees display unsightly lesions which can form on leaves, fruit and stems.
Citrus canker is a serious disease impacting on citrus production and is the subject of a number of control and eradication programs around the world.
It does not affect human health or animals, and infected fruit is safe to eat.
The disease is widespread in many tropical and subtropical citrus-growing areas of the world.
Australia is currently free of citrus canker but it has previously been detected in 1912 and 1991 in Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) and in Queensland on Thursday Island in 1984 and Emerald in 2004.
On all occasions it was successfully eradicated.
All citrus crops can be affected by citrus canker, including:
- lime
- lemon
- citron
- mandarin
- orange
- grapefruit.
Citrus canker can be spread rapidly over short distances, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates by wind-blown rain.
Overhead irrigation systems can also spread the disease.
Long distance spread occurs through flooding, cyclones, or by people moving infected plant material or equipment.
For more information, including how to report a sighting, visit Biosecurity alert: Citrus canker, and Citrus canker: declared pest.