CDFA Pest Prevention Plant Regulation Practice Exam

Among the following, which is NOT covered by the citrus pests Exterior quarantines?

1. Citrus trees

2. Citrus cuttings

3. Citrus seed

4. Grapefruit

5. Oranges

The correct answer is: Citrus seed

The correct response highlights that citrus seed is not covered by the citrus pests Exterior quarantines. This is significant because exterior quarantines are primarily established to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases that can affect citrus trees, fruit, and cuttings. The focus is on living plants and plant parts that could harbor pests. Citrus seeds, in contrast, are typically not a vector for pests that pose a direct threat to citrus crops in the same way that whole trees, cuttings, and entire fruits can be. Quarantines usually address items that are more likely to carry infestations or diseases that can spread to plants in a new environment. Citrus trees, citrus cuttings, grapefruit, and oranges, all represent plant materials that can potentially host pests, making them subject to stricter quarantine regulations to protect existing crops and ensure pest prevention protocols are effectively applied.