Many thousand of hectares have been affected by the Citrus Tristeza Virus in Sicily, a disease which is transmitted to plants by aphids.
Agronomist and technical manager of Pannitteri & C. srl comments...
"The first CTV outbreaks have been identified many years ago in nursery gardens or on imported plant materials, whereas the first real symptoms in the Catania plain have been noticed in 2003. From those first outbreaks in the Belpasso and Paternò areas, the virus spread rapidly on the whole plain, causing the destruction of the majority of the citrus groves and also spreading in the surrounding areas."
According to Borzì, the virus is now affecting all of the citrus groves in Sicily. "Unfortunately there are no remedies to cure infected plants, which must therefore be uprooted and destroyed. At the moment, the only thing that can be done is to plant those plants that have been grafted on rootstocks that are tolerant to the virus."
According to Borzì, the virus is now affecting all of the citrus groves in Sicily. "Unfortunately there are no remedies to cure infected plants, which must therefore be uprooted and destroyed. At the moment, the only thing that can be done is to plant those plants that have been grafted on rootstocks that are tolerant to the virus."
The companies part of the Pannitteri group started renovating plants in 2005 by uprooting old citrus groves and planting new plants on tolerant rootstocks. "More than 70% of the company's cultivated surface has been converted so far, and we can say that we have overcome the emergency as most of the plants are now starting to produce."
According to Borzì, the Sicily regional authority has mismanaged the problem as, after a first Tender published in 2005 (which only included 16 projects for the whole region), no interventions have been carried out and growers have not been supported. Not even the PSR Tenders in 2007-2013 envisaged special measures or marks for those citrus groves affected by the virus.
Three years ago, the Sicilian Regional Assembly approved a regulation which proposed interventions in favour of those companies which had been affected by the virus however the Tender, although published on the Official Journal, is still not effective, and companies are forced to uproot and renovate plants at their own expense.
Contacts:
Agostino Borzì - agronomist, technical manager
Pannitteri & C. srl
Cell.: (+39) 338 1309232
Web: www.pannitteri.it
