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Ambrosia beetle control

Farmer's Weekly

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24 March 2017

Avocado growers in Florida in the US may soon be able to prevent ambrosia beetles from destroying avocado trees, according to a study by researchers at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

 

- Siyanda Sishuba

Ambrosia beetle control

The beetles inject a potentially deadly laurel wilt fungus (Raffaelea lauricola) into Lauraceae trees, which can result in the trees dying after a few months. Growers have long battled the laurel wilt fungus, which has been destroying redbay (Persea borbonia) and avocado trees since it arrived in Georgia in the US in 2003.

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