Greening affects 14% citrus in Brazil São Paulo ‏

Greening (Huanglongbing/HLB), the most destructive disease on citrus in Brazil, affected 14% of citrus plants in the state of São Paulo, according to an estimate made by the Fund of Citrus Protection. The São Paulo state alone produces 50% of the world's citrus production.

 

This estimate was based on surveys of previous years. In 2012,study has shown the disease were present in 64% of the fruit farms in São Paulo and over 6.9% of the plants.

 

Based on the number of the survey, a mathematical model was applied, which showed that it could infect 14% plants in 2014 and even 19% in 2015. According to the Coordination of Crop Protection in São Paulo, 34 million plants with HLB were eliminated in São Paulo since 2004.

 

According to Renato Beozzo Bassanezi, a researcher of the Fund, in order to reduce the greening progress it is necessary to remove ill plants, keep phytosanitary alert and supervise the insecticide vector in their farms. "It is important that the citrus farmers acts within and outside their farms, in a collective and regional way", Renato said.

 

Brazilian farmers fear what happened in Florida, where farmers lost their battles against HLB: 100% of the fruit farms are contaminated with the HLB bacteria, which affect 70% of the trees. In the current situation in São Paulo, at least 30% of the fruits dropped, this number doubled compared to last year.

 

"The vector is very efficient and it is proven that the best way to face the problem is to do inspections regularly, eliminate the ill plants and psyllid with periodical sprayings, something that they didn't do", explains phytopathologist Rui Pereira Leite from the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (Iapar).

 

“It is something that must be a warning for Brazilian farmers", highlights José Antônio Quaggio, from the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC). According to Quaggio,"Some citrus growers from São Paulo are following the same path of their American counterparts", because they did not adopt the effective procedures recommended by research. "There are regions in São Paulo that are already very contaminated” He explained.

 

Brazil is the largest citrus producer in the world, followed by the US, China ,India, Mexico, Egypt, and Spain. These seven countries produce 68% citruss in the world. Over a period of 20 years, Brazilian Citrus Belt increased its production in more than 45%, while its main competitor, Florida, only increased 9%.