Citrus canker
Restrictions lifted
The restricted area quarantine status has been lifted in Katherine and the greater Darwin and rural areas.
This means you can plant citrus trees again. You should still monitor your plants and report any signs of the disease.
Control area movement restrictions still apply.
Citrus canker is a contagious plant disease that affects the health of plants including:
- lemon
- lime
- mandarin
- pomelo
- grapefruit
- some native species.
Check for the disease
Infected plants display lesions that can form on leaves, fruit and stems.
The lesions increase in size to 5-10 millimetres (mm) over several months.
Eventually the lesions collapse forming a crater-like appearance. They become surrounded by characteristic yellow halos. The raised edges of the lesion may appear slimy.
Plants with the disease may have sluggish growth and reduced fruit quality and quantity.
In severe cases infected plants will die.
Plants that can get the disease
Citrus canker can infect all citrus plants and some other species. Get a full list of potential host plants.
Areas with restrictions
Restrictions on planting citrus trees have been lifted.
There are still control area quarantines in place.
Control areas
You can't move citrus plants or related products out of the current control areas unless you have a permit.
The following locations are included in the control areas:
- Darwin
- Palmerston
- the Darwin rural area
- Bachelor
- Adelaide River
- Katherine.
How it spreads
Citrus canker can be spread by:
- wind and rain
- landscaping equipment
- people through hands, clothing, or equipment
- infected or exposed plants or plant parts.
Increased risk in the wet season
There is a greater risk of citrus canker spreading during the wet season due to increased rain and wind.
Citrus canker symptoms are also more common after heavy rain and high temperatures.
It is important to check your plants during the wet season and report any changes.
Storms may also interrupt the work of plant health inspectors in removing plants from properties in restricted areas.
Apply for a permit
Commercial growers, market gardeners and individuals can apply for a permit to move:
- citrus plants and materials out of the control areas
- citrus plants and materials within or from a restricted area.
It's your responsibility to get a permit to move citrus when quarantine and movement restrictions are in place.
You must submit your application at least five business days before the proposed movement date.
Apply for the permit:
- online on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website or
- complete the citrus movement application PDF (169.9 KB) and email it to quarantine@nt.gov.au.
If you have any questions, email quarantine@nt.gov.au.
More information
Find out more about citrus canker on the Plant Health Australia website.
Fact sheets
Information in other languages
- What is citrus canker: Chinese PDF (1.4 MB)
- What is citrus canker: Greek PDF (1.4 MB)
- What is citrus canker: Filipino PDF (1.4 MB)
- What is citrus canker: Nepalese PDF (1.3 MB).
Contact
Contact the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade by:
- calling or texting 0436 643 470
- emailing citruscanker@nt.gov.au
- submitting an online report.
Last updated: 09 October 2020
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