According to the Citriculture Defense Fund (Fundecitrus), greening is the most destructive citrus disease in Brazil and the greatest threat to the citrus industry worldwide. In the last two years, the disease has been advancing throughout the state of São Paulo (9.16% growth between 2021 and 2022), and also in the Northwest region of São Paulo. Greening bacteria are transmitted by an insect (psyllid) and there is no cure for diseased plants.
The recommendations to producers, according to agronomist Sérgio Nascimento, from Fundecitrus, is to eliminate diseased plants, especially in new areas, and to control the vector insect. “To control the insect, the producer must rotate insecticides, with different modes of action”, says Sérgio.
The agronomist also recalls that the psyllid population and the number of plants not eradicated with greening have been increasing in the region of Rio Preto. “Because it is a region that previously had a low rate of the disease, there is a false impression that the disease will never arrive, but at some point it will”, he concludes.
Fundecitrus has given lectures to publicize the damage caused by citrus diseases and pests. In one of these meetings, which took place in Rio Preto, two pests – that of the ferret and the fruit fly – which directly attack oranges, were approached by specialists. Another topic addressed the control of greening in the face of the high population of psyllids.
Source: abrafrutas.org