Citrus growers from Minas Gerais have until January 15th to send a report on HLB (greening) to IMA

Inspection is an effective preventive measure to contain the occurrence of HLB (greening) in citrus plantations. The Minas Gerais Agricultural Institute (IMA), an agency linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa), receives data on the occurrence of the pest, orchard area and elimination of diseased plants until 15/01. Minas Gerais citrus growers must send a report available at www.ima.mg.gov.br helping to avoid economic losses and bottlenecks in the production sector. Determined by Ordinance No. 1649/2016, the procedure is mandatory.

Inspector of the IMA Plant Health Defense Management, agronomist Leonardo do Carmo points out the participation of citrus growers as fundamental to preventing HLB in orchards.

“Proper inspection and management are essential. To prevent the spread of the pest, eradicating diseased plants is not enough; first and foremost, vector control is necessary. Diseased fruits are compromised for commercialization, whether due to physical aspects and deformations in the pulp, or even due to changes in the characteristics of the juice. The continuous observation of citrus growers, as well as their reports, are fundamental to our activities to combat HLB”, he warns.

Inspection

In 2020, IMA carried out 625 specific remote inspections to prevent HLB. In the last campaign carried out in July last year, approximately 880 citrus growers sent the report contributing to the State's Plant Health Defense. 

Online inspection supports phytosanitary certification of origin and verification of the transport of products that are mandatory subject to health documents.

After identifying the existence of contaminated plants, the producer must immediately eradicate these diseased plants. The collection of samples from citrus plants and sending them for analysis in an accredited laboratory is carried out by the IMA agricultural inspector or by an agronomist responsible for issuing the Phytosanitary Certificate of Origin (CFO) and Consolidated Phytosanitary Certificate of Origin (CFOC). These qualifications are granted after courses taught by IMA.

HLB (greening)

Minas Gerais has around 53 thousand hectares of area planted with oranges, lemons, tangerines and other fruits in the category. Until December last year, more than 700 thousand plants with HLB (greening) were detected. Monitoring began in 2005, the year the disease first occurred in the state. Since then, the Plant Health Defense has inspected around 10 thousand hectares, whose orchards have already been restored. In addition to the state, São Paulo, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul detected the occurrence of the pest in their orchards.