DEVELOPING BEST POSTHARVEST HANDLING PRACTICES TO ASSURE CANKER-FREE FRUIT EXPORTS

To establish methods to ascertain that asymptomatic fruit leaving the packinghouse for market will be free of viable cells of the bacterium that causes citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri). These methods will insure that bacteria established in small wounds and abrasions will not be able to cause disease when transferred to different localities.