Destroyed fields which once contained large and productive lime trees in Hormozgan province Iran. The cause of destruction was the witches' broom disease of lime trees which has ravaged the lime industry in southern Iran.

Dr. Mohsen Mardi, Manager of the Iranian Witches' Broom Disease of Lime Network (IWBDLN) writes: “The first appearance of WBDL in Iran was in Sistan & Balouchestan province in 1997, then, after 1998, it was observed in Hormozgan province. During these years the number of infected trees increased greatly. In 1998 we counted 51 infected trees but unfortunately due to lack of sufficient control management, in 2008 the number of infected trees has increased to over 500,000. From 1998 to 2008, many hectares of the cultivated area in limes in Hormozgan province have been destroyed. Based on damage assessments and gross estimates of decline between 1997 and 2008, and with the uncontrolled spread of WBDL, if we are not able to find any proper control treatments for the disease, the production of lime in Hormozgan province is estimated to reach zero in a maximum of five years. This will mean that the rural economy of this area will suffer and be faced with danger”.