HLB threatens citrus plantations in Paraguay

In the framework of the South American Workshop on HLB and other diseases attacking citrus crops, organized by the National Service for Plant and Seed Quality and Health (Senave) of Paraguay, specialists alerted to the threat.

During the country day in the farm “Cana Cerro”, owned by the producer Anselmo Riveros, which has one hectare of oranges with 240 eight-year-old plants, the production is seriously threatened by the presence of HLB bacteria and vectors. Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Tania Santiváñez, said that apparently people do not realize the magnitude of the problem. She mentioned that after the declaration of phytosanitary emergency in the country, she has been working along with technicians from Senave training small-sized producers and putting into practice short-term, mid-term and long-term actions, so as to control the problem.

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is a bacterial disease of plants that, despite not being dangerous for human beings, it destroys production, appearance and economic value of citrus, as well as the taste of the fruit and its juice.