Host Plants

Texas Host Plants for Citrus Greening (HLB) Disease

The list of host plants for citrus greening (HLB) disease is quite extensive and includes all species in the genus Citrus—all citrus types and all citrus varieties. The list also includes related genera such as Fortunella (kumquat) and Poncirus (trifoliate orange)—both of which are quite common in Texas.

Two additional genera that include common ornamental shrubs in Texas are Murraya (orange jasmine or orange jessamine) and Severinia (box orange or Chinese box orange). Thirteen other genera in the Rutaceae family are also hosts for the disease. Among these genera are some native brush species that occur in South Texas, but the susceptibility of these native citrus relatives has not been confirmed to date.

Finally, Indian curry leaf, a plant commonly used in Indian cooking, is a suspected but unconfirmed host for the greening bacterium.

With the possible exception of the native citrus relatives, all of these plants are host for the Asian citrus psyllid insect which is the natural vector of the greening bacterium.

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