A brief outline of the citrus industry in Belize is given, with reference to the crop cycle and its relationship to climate. The main pest, disease and cultural factors affecting production are reviewed. The history of premature fruitdrop disease caused byColletotrichum gloeosporioidesPenz. is traced, with a description of symptoms, epidemiology and the development of disease control programmes up to 1975. Problems encountered in the effective application of fungicide sprays are described, and the future research programme is outlined.