There's a new threat that may affect a mainstay fruit source for many of the state's growers – Florida avocados.

Agricultural experts in Florida are warning this month about a disease, sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) , that can severely stunt avocado tree growth by spreading through the groves and deforming the fruit. This could mean fewer locally grown avocados available in Florida stores, leading to higher prices, according to researchers at the University of Florida.

What causes sunblotch viroid in Florida avocados?

UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences said sunblotch viroid was first reported in Florida in 1941.

The disease is caused by a viroid, which is one of the smallest known infectious organisms to disrupt a tree's growth and fruit production. It spreads through root

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