West Australian citrus industry development officer Nathan Hancock recently toured the US to examine the impacts of Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, and believes Australia should take every precaution against the threat.
Mr Hancock said once the disease and its carrier, the Asian citrus psyllid, enter growing areas it appears impossible to stop, Farm Weekly reported.
The disease has cut Florida orchards by 80,000 hectares, or more than 25 per cent, since 2006.
'Once the psyllid is present, as it is in California and Florida, costs of controlling it are enormous,' he said.
'The disease starves the citrus tree of carbohydrates by cutting off sap flow to and from the roots and there is no known cure.'
Mr Hancock said it is crucial Australia keeps the Asian citrus psyllid out of the country.
'Strict quarantine combined with constant vigilance to detect the Asian citrus psyllid is essential for Western Australia and Australia generally,' he said.
'Northern Australia is the front line for this pest and northern citrus producing areas including Kununurra could be vulnerable to entry through monsoonal winds.'
HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid are found on the Indonesian archipelago and can also be found in East Timor and Papua New Guinea.
Peak industry body Citrus Australia coordinated the trip, following a risk assessment last year.
