Citrus canker
Alert
Citrus canker has been found in the Northern Territory (NT).
Quarantine, movement and cultivation controls are in place for citrus plants and fruit.
Citrus canker is a contagious plant disease that affects the health of plants including:
- lemon
- lime
- mandarin
- pomelo
- grapefruit
- some native species.
If you live in the Top End and have a citrus plant you should report it. Inspectors will check your plant for the disease. Plants bought or received since 1 January 2017 are of particular interest.
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
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.
Restricted areas
Areas where infected plants have been found have additional restrictions on the movement, planting and possession of citrus plants.
These include areas of the following suburbs and regions of the greater Darwin area:
- Darwin Airport (includes parts of Coconut Grove, Eaton, Ludmilla and Millner)
- Howard Springs
- Humpty Doo
- Karama
- Lambells Lagoon
- Marrakai
- Moulden (includes parts of Woodroffe)
- Nakara (includes parts of Alawa, Brinkin and Tiwi)
- Palmerston (includes parts of Durack, Palmerston City and Yarrawonga)
- Wanguri (includes parts of Casuarina, Nakara and Tiwi)
- Woolner (includes parts of Bayview, Parap and Stuart Park)
- Wulagi (includes parts of Leanyer and Malak).
If you live in a restricted area
Don't move any citrus or other plants that can host citrus canker disease to or from your property.
NT Government plant health inspectors are removing all citrus canker host plants and materials from properties in the 12 restricted areas.
Call or text 0436 643 470 to arrange a time for authorised inspectors to visit your property.
You can't plant any citrus canker host plants until quarantine, movement and cultivation restrictions are lifted.
You can still buy and sell citrus fruit and juice that comes from outside the restricted area. This includes NT produced citrus products from outside the restricted areas, and products found in most supermarkets.
Citrus canker does not harm humans or animals and fruit remains safe for consumption.
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
- move citrus plants and materials within or from a restricted area.
It is 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 at the Department of Primary Industry and Resources' website
- or by completing the below application and emailing it to quarantine@nt.gov.au.
Citrus movement application PDF (169.9 KB)
If you have any queries email quarantine@nt.gov.au.
More information
Find out more about citrus canker on the Plant Health Australia website.
NT Government fact sheets
Information in other languages
- Citrus canker general information: Chinese PDF (946.6 KB)
- Citrus canker general information: Greek PDF (788.5 KB)
- Citrus canker general information: Tagalog PDF (788.8 KB)
- Citrus canker facts: Yolngu Matha MP3 (2.0 MB) (audio)
- Citrus canker facts: Kriol MP3 (2.1 MB) (audio).
Contact
Contact the Department of Primary Industry and Resources by:
- calling or texting the program team on 0436 643 470
- emailing citruscanker@nt.gov.au
- submitting an online report
Last updated: 20 November 2019