Witches’ broom
disease of limes in Iran. In a letter of April 27,
2008 from Dr. Mohsen Mardi, manager of the Iranian
Witches' Broom Disease of Lime Network (IWBDLN) he
wrote:
"Lime is one of the
most important and most economic horticulture
products in the south part of Iran. The first
appearance of witches' broom disease of lime in Iran
was in Sistan & Balouchestan provinces in 1997. In
1998, it was observed in Hormozgan province the
center for about 50% of national production. The
number of infected trees in 1998 was 51 but
unfortunately due to lack of sufficient control and
management, in 2008 the number of infected trees is
up to 500,000."
In 2008, the witches'
broom disease of limes has resulted in the death of over
one half million trees and the disease continues to
spread. It is devastating the small fruited lime
industry of Iran.
