USDA has given the University of California-Riverside $4.4 million in grants to help figure out issues with avocado orchards in the United States. One of the big problems in Florida at the moment is a deadly fungal disease called Laurel Wilt. Laurel Wilt is technically caused by a fungus named Raffaelea lauricola, which is known to take out entire orchards within a couple of weeks. The problem right now is that there’s no treatment to get rid of the fungus.
Luckily, the Laurel Wilt hasn’t spread to any other states…yet. The fungus is brought into trees by the redbay ambrosia beetle. Experts say that if a treatment isn’t created, the fungus will eventually make it’s way to California where most of the avocados in the U.S. are grown.
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