The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) has released a report which rules out the presence of the bacterial agent Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus, one of the causes of the citrus greening disease, or HLB, in southern Portugal, as reported by Asaja-Huelva.
After conducting an analysis, as well as various field tests and monitoring on the farm in the Algarve where symptoms of the disease had been detected in 2014, the European organization confirmed that the trees analysed are free of the vector carrying the disease.
This report is great news for the sector, although sources of Asaja Huelva have pointed out that "we will remain alert and take part in any forums called in order to stay informed and have access to all information and training mechanisms necessary for producers to react in time to any symptoms of the pest in Spain and surrounding countries."
Source: agrodiariohuelva.es
