Huanglongbing

Huanglongbing (Chinese: 黃龍病; pinyin: huánglóngbìng; literally "Yellow Dragon Disease"), also known as HLB, citrus vein phloem degeneration (CVPD), citrus greening disease, yellow shoot disease, leaf mottle yellows in the Philippines, libukin in Taiwan and citrus dieback in India, is probably the worst disease of citrus caused by a vectored pathogen. The causative agents are motile bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter spp. Transmission is by the Asian citrus psyllid (Sternorrhyncha: Psyllidae), Diaphorina citri or, in Africa, by Trioza erytreae, the African citrus psyllid, also known as the 2-spotted citrus psyllid. The disease was first described in 1929 and first reported in China in 1943. Likubin has seriously affected Taiwan since 1951. The African variation was first reported in 1947 in South Africa, where it is still widespread.