Canker Leads to Ban on Residential Citrus Plantings in Florida

Agriculture officials fighting tree-killing canker disease Wednesday banned the sale from May 15 to Sept. 1 of all citrus plants destined for backyard planting.

“Residential plantings have presented problems in surveying for the presence of citrus canker in Florida,” said state Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner. “With spring upon us and the expected flush of new growth under way, conditions are optimum for citrus canker infection.”

The bacterial canker, though harmless to humans, kills citrus trees. It does greater harm to fresh bud growth present in the spring than at other times of the year.