MIAMI — With the killers hiding in the trees, heat-sensing drones are launched into the air. When their whereabouts are narrowed, the dogs are sent in. When it comes to protecting the world’s supply of guacamole, no weapon can be spared.
On subtropical farmland in South Florida, researchers are doing battle with the deadly fungus, laurel wilt, which is spread by a tiny beetle and has the potential to decimate Florida’s avocado crop. The hashtag they have adopted for their mission is #savetheguac.
“This is probably the biggest threat to the Florida avocado that’s ever been seen,” said Jonathan H. Crane, a tropical fruit crop specialist at the University of Florida.
Laurel wilt first appeared in the U.S. in Georgia in 2002. Avocados are in the same laurel tree family, and once infected by the fungus, the tree can be dead within six weeks.
