Agrodefesa destroys 350 seedlings with citrus canker in Itumbiara

The Goiana Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa) seized and destroyed 350 citrus seedlings contaminated with citrus canker in Itumbiara, in southern Goiás. The action occurred after laboratory confirmation of the presence of the bacteria. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citrusThe seedlings had no documentation.

Inspectors identified the material during a technical inspection of nurseries, retailers, and flower shops for registration renewal. The teams collected leaf samples and sent them to the Plant Health Management of Agrodefesa. The material was then sent to the Federal Laboratory for Agricultural Defense in Goiás (LFDA/GO), which confirmed the presence of the disease-causing agent.

Phytosanitary legislation mandates destruction to prevent the spread of the pest and protect commercial citrus farming, urban areas, farms, and backyards. Citrus canker, a quarantine pest, affects all citrus varieties. The disease causes defoliation, premature fruit drop, reduced productivity, and loss of quality.

The president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos, stated that eliminating the infected seedlings prevents the spread of the disease and preserves Goiás's agricultural production.

The coordinator of the Rio Paranaíba Regional Unit, Felipe Dantas, warned that the main form of dissemination occurs through contaminated seedlings. Rain, wind, equipment, vehicles, and crop residues also spread the bacteria. He advised producers to acquire seedlings only from nurseries certified by Agrodefesa and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The coordinator of the Citrus Program, Mariza da Silva Mendanha, reported that the symptoms first appear on the underside of the leaves. The lesions are circular in shape, raised, and have a yellowish halo. As they progress, they increase in size, darken, and affect leaves, fruits, and branches.