HLB is the hot ticket

The history of the orange production chain shows the recurrence of events that emerge as threats and over time are considered and resolved with the knowledge generated in research institutions. This capacity emerged with the arrival, at different periods, of two diseases classified as quarantine, citrus canker and HLB (greening), which changed the sector's needs.

Almost 40 years ago, the recognition of one of these pressures led citrus growers to incorporate the fight against citrus canker, supporting the government in the policy of eradicating the disease, which culminated in the creation of Fundecitrus. This decision was a positive milestone that changed the meaning of treating diseases and pests.

Currently, it was necessary to change the technical orientation in the fight against citrus canker, which led Fundecitrus to embrace the adoption of mitigation. As a consequence, the federal Normative Instruction was changed and states will be able to structure themselves according to the reality of the disease in their territories.

Now, the second disease presents itself as a scientific, technical, social and economic challenge. The threat of HLB is real, as we have to face a systemic infectious agent that makes control difficult, leading to a drop in fruit productivity and quality. As if this characteristic were not enough, there is the existence of a vector, the psyllid, with a great capacity for infestation and growth in orchards without chemical control.

The work of Fundecitrus allowed the development of strategies to reduce the speed of spread of the disease. The threat, however, becomes increasingly evident, alerting us to broader measures in search of effectiveness and not to run the risk of simplifying the problem without understanding the components that make its control difficult and its impact on productivity.

Some solutions that have the potential to solve the HLB problem require time and face the reality of replacing plants in orchards. Research is working on the search for genetic resistance, psyllid repellency, and the use of pheromones that could contribute to the evolution of citrus farming.

To achieve a more effective solution, it is necessary to understand the factors that impede control. It is essential that a national plan is structured with the adoption of techniques already recognized as efficient, but also incorporating into the fight an understanding of elements that make combat difficult. It is necessary to look at the challenge with a more open lens, considering the social, cultural and economic components. The orange tree occupies space in all regions, in the countryside and in the city. In this group we have more than six thousand hectares of abandoned orchards and many others on the path to abandonment.

This complexity draws attention to the need for planning with society and the other links in the chain in actions for the good of citrus farming. The situation in Florida's orchards serves as a warning for a more comprehensive approach to combating HLB. The challenge is great, but we believe that a new path is opening for a modern and competitive citrus industry.