Disease affecting avocado growth impacts Florida farmers

Reporter: Nicole Gabe Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
Avocados
Avocados. (Credit: CBS News)

The citrus industry has suffered due to Greening Disease, and now the avocado industry is experiencing issues of its own.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Laurel Wilt is an invasive fungal disease of redbay and other trees in the laurel family, caused by a symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle.

The fungal infection has killed hundreds of millions of trees in the southeastern U.S. and is spreading to other states and regions.

Laurel wilt has affected Avocado trees in Florida for over a decade, killing over 140,000 trees and costing roughly $46 million in losses.

Very few methods can be used to combat the infectious fungus, including applying fungicide to the trees and pruning.

Farmers have discovered that while the fungus is difficult to spot visually, the scent is inescapable.

Therefore, dogs have been used to sniff out the infected trees.

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