Bacteria Infecting Oranges Has No Cure

Citrus greening, also called Huanglongbing (HLB), is a bacterial infection of citrus plants. It is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. Once infected, most trees die within a few years. There is no cure.

They further showed a build-up of alpha-synuclein suppresses an enzyme necessary to the brain’s ability to use the neurotransmitter dopamine. The findings advance understanding of how bacteria in the gut can drive neurodegeneration and point to a possible target for early intervention in Parkinson’s disease.

Volume 32, Number 5—May 2026 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

CarriCea T1 works by making precise edits to the citrus tree's own existing genes — not by introducing DNA from other organisms. These edits disrupt the interaction between the citrus plant and the bacteria that cause greening, helping the ...

Scientists have recently uncovered ... to rescuing our beloved oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is a destructive bacterial disease attacking citrus groves worldwide....

Mandadi said hairy root technology overcomes the fastidious growth requirements of the bacteria by creating a root-like tissue that mimics the internal anatomy of the tree to support its growth. More importantly, it has allowed him and collaborating researchers worldwide to screen potential treatments quicker and more effectively in the hairy root system. “AgriLife Research is working with leading plant pathologists to develop a cure for citrus greening, and we’ve made significant progress with our hairy root technology to discover new antimicrobial peptides and chemicals that can lower the disease and improve yields,” Mandadi said.

Mandadi said Florida’s tropical climate likely supported the bacteria and insect’s ability to thrive, compounded by hurricanes and other environmental conditions that left trees more susceptible to infection and disease. Producers attempted to use more pesticides and remove infected trees to replant, but citrus greening persisted.

Citrus greening, or Huanglongbing disease, HLB, is the most devastating disease for orange and grapefruit trees in the U.S. Prevention and treatment methods have proven elusive, and a definitive cure does not exist.

And then there's the citrus greening when the Florida orange instead is green because of bacteria. CRUMP: The green fruit is the indicator that the tree is sick, and the fruit won't taste as good as the fruit that's bright orange and colored like it should be. HUDSON: A tiny bug called the Asian citrus psyllid feeds on the sap of citrus trees. An infected bug spreads the bacteria that first showed up in Florida in 2005.