Greening outbreak eradicated in Rio Grande do Sul

A task force from the Rio Grande do Sul Department of Agriculture (Seapi-RS) eradicated the outbreak of greening (HLB) and concluded, this Thursday (June 11), the monitoring within a 500-meter radius around the property where the disease was identified. Since the confirmation of the first case of citrus greening, on June 8, state and federal officials have been working to contain and eliminate the disease in the municipality of Palmitinho, in the Médio Alto Uruguai region.

To date, approximately 60 plants with symptoms consistent with the disease have been identified and eradicated in the containment area established around the property where the outbreak was detected. The actions covered 26 properties located within the initial monitoring radius.

Now, teams from the Department of Plant Protection (DDV) of Seapi are beginning a phytosanitary survey within a 2,4-kilometer radius of the outbreak, covering approximately 230 properties.

The actions include the removal of infected plants, the control of the psyllid Diaphorina citri — an insect that transmits the bacteria that causes citrus greening — and the monitoring of properties located around the affected area. The work is carried out in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa), in accordance with the guidelines of the National Huanglongbing Prevention and Control Program (PNCHLB).

Quick and effective response  

The Secretary of Agriculture, Márcio Madalena, highlights the speed of the response adopted by the State. “Confirmation of the outbreak requires a quick and coordinated response. Rio Grande do Sul has been carrying out monitoring and prevention actions for years, which allowed us to identify the problem and immediately adopt containment measures. Our goal is to protect the citrus industry in Rio Grande do Sul and prevent the disease from becoming established in the State,” he states.

According to the director of the DDV, Ricardo Felicetti, surveillance efforts will be expanded in the coming days. "We will locate all critical points, identify possible occurrences of the disease, and reinforce containment measures to prevent its spread," he explains.

The main hypothesis for the introduction of citrus greening in Rio Grande do Sul is the use of irregular, already contaminated seedlings. Therefore, the DDV/Seapi advises producers and consumers to use exclusively seedlings produced in accordance with federal legislation, with proven origin, traceability, and phytosanitary guarantee.

Permanent surveillance

The identification of the outbreak occurred after years of monitoring carried out by the Plant Protection Agency. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 374 traps were installed and monitored in 77 municipalities, totaling 4.326 readings for the detection of the psyllid that transmits the disease.

In 2025, Seapi conducted 211 inspections in orchards across 65 municipalities and collected 13 suspected samples, all of which tested negative for the bacteria that causes citrus greening. In 2026, up until the confirmation of the outbreak in Palmitinho, another 47 inspections had been carried out in 19 municipalities, also without any positive results.

Considered the most severe disease affecting citrus farming worldwide, citrus greening affects all citrus species and has no curative treatment. The disease reduces productivity, compromises fruit quality, and can lead to plant death, causing significant economic losses to the citrus industry.