Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Commercial Citrus Trees Affected by Phyllosticta citricarpa in Florida

Citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa, is the most recent introduction of an exotic citrus pathogen into Florida and has been a challenge to control to date. Understanding the dispersal pattern of the disease within affected groves is vital in developing effective control strategies to limit the spread of the disease. The spatial pattern of CBS-affected trees was studied in two commercial ‘Valencia’ orange groves over three consecutive citrus seasons. Cluster analyses based on nearest-neighbor distance (F, G and J-functions) and pairwise distances between points (Ripley’s K function, Besag’s L function and the pair correlation function, g) were used to test the hypothesis of complete spatial randomness (CSR) of CBS infected trees within the groves. In both groves, the hypothesis of CSR was rejected for all tests performed including quadrats testing (2 × 2 trees up to 10 × 10 trees). The relationship between tree age and disease was assessed at one experimental site. Citrus trees bearing fruit for the first time accounted for approximately 13% of trees positive for disease and were located within areas of heavy disease pressure. These findings support short distance movement of inoculum as the main spread of disease in the groves studied.