2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Huanlongbing (HLB) is the most important single threat to sustainable citrus production in the USA and globally. The decline in the Florida industry caused by HLB has been well-documented and the pathogen which causes the disease is now widespread in Texas and is continuing to spread in southern California. In spite of the grim situation apparently facing citrus producers some remain optimistic that citrus production has a viable future in a world with HLB. Based on existing knowledge of disease dynamics and the consequences of HLB infections for citrus production we attempt to predict whether the optimists' beliefs are well-founded and what type(s) of producer might be producing citrus in a world with HLB.