The National Plant and Food Health Service (Senasa) detected and eradicated plants that were tested and yielded a positive result to the presence of Huanglongbing (HLB) in Puerto Iguazu and General Belgrano.
The phytosanitary surveillance carried out by the national programme of prevention of the HLB allowed three positive cases of the bacteria that causes the plague within the area under contingency of the Department General of Belgrano, in the province of Misiones.
The finding was done after Senasa received a complaint regarding three suspicious plants on commercial farms, and from the samples taken by producers and analyzed at the laboratory of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Inta) of the city of Monte Carlo.
As part of the procedures set out in the Contingency Plan for these cases, Senasa eradicated the affected plants and intensified monitoring in the nearby areas.
Meanwhile, the five plants affected by the plague that were detected in Puerto Iguazu were in a backyard and have also been eradicated.
Additionally, Senasa's Entre Rios Regional Centre seized 40 citrus plants that were being transported without complying with current regulations. The operation took place at Highway 14, kilometre 240. These actions are carried out in order to prevent the entry of HLB into the country, a disease caused by bacteria that affects citrus.
The HLB is one of the most destructive diseases for citrus worldwide, and so far there is no cure for it.
Thus, it is of the utmost importance to comply with regulations to keep Argentina free of this threat.
Source: Territoriodigital.com