Citrus greening, a disease that has decimated citrus groves in other parts of the country, has arrived in Riverside County.
County agriculture officials reported the first case of the disease, which was found in a residential grapefruit tree near the Interstate 215/Highway 91 interchange. State officials said the tree was identified when several Asian citrus psyllids in the area tested positive for the bacteria that causes citrus greening.
Ron Bray, assistant agriculture commissioner, said the tree was identified as possibly infected July 10. A sample was sent to a lab in Maryland. Bray said the results came back July 25, showing the tree had the disease. It was removed from the property the following morning.
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