A formal citrus insect pest survey was conducted in two citrus growing districts of Kenya, Bungoma and Machakos, to determine important insect pests of citrus and evaluate the pest control practices used by small-scale farmers. Observations were made on the insect pests and their damage, methods of pest control practiced, pesticide products used, sources of farming knowledge and how decisions t...

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is the principal vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) associated with huanglongbing (HLB), the most serious citrus disease worldwide. New control measures including pesticides are urgently needed to combat HLB, especially to protect young or newly planted citrus trees from CLas-inoculation by vector psyllids. Here, we tested C...

The detection of a viroid in Coleus blumei species in Brazil (1) has prompted us to search for viroids in C. blumei cultivars (cvs) commercially propagated by cuttings for more than 50 years in Germany. 'Return' PAGE (2) of nucleic acid extracts from the cv 'Bienvenue' revealed a band of circular viroid-like RNA molecules. Northern blot analysis (3) with radioactive probes specific for viroids ...

Understanding leaf and fruit abscission is essential in order to develop strategies for controlling the process in fruit crops. Mechanisms involved in signalling leaf and fruit abscission upon induction by abscission agents were investigated in Citrus sinensis cv. 'Valencia'. Previous studies have suggested a role for phospholipid signalling; hence, two phospholipase D cDNA sequences, CsPLDalph...