Santa Catarina is an international highlight in the control of Cydia pomonella

The largest apple producer in the country, Santa Catarina is part of the only region in the world to eradicate Cydia pomonella. The pest, also known as apple moth, can cause great damage to rural producers and has been away from Santa Catarina territory for almost ten years. Responsible for half of the national fruit production, Santa Catarina has remained, since 2013, an international reference in plant health.

Cydia pomonella is considered the worst insect pest of fruit growing in the world and keeping it out of Santa Catarina requires continuous work by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), Companhia Integrada de Desenvolvimento Agrícola de Santa Catarina (Cidasc) and producers rural. The adult pest is a moth and in its larval stage it causes damage to the fruit by forming galleries. The moth's primary hosts are: apple, pear, quince and European walnut.

The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ricardo Miotto, explains that the recognition of Brazil as a Cydia pomonella-free area brings a great competitive advantage to the fruits produced in Santa Catarina. “This pest brings great losses to fruit growers and the absence of the disease demonstrates the credibility and quality of production in Santa Catarina.”

It is no surprise that the state is the largest national apple producer and, together with Rio Grande do Sul, accounts for 70% of Brazilian exports of the fruit. The opening of markets is just one of the results obtained after the eradication of the pest, as the general quality of the fruits is also preserved, since it is not necessary to use insecticides to control C. pomonella in our orchards. “The fact that Brazil has eradicated the disease brings a great competitive advantage, especially in the international market. Furthermore, producers have lower production and handling costs and a gain in fruit quality”, highlights the executive director of the Brazilian Association of Apple Producers (ABPM), Moisés Lopes de Albuquerque.

Plant health protection actions reflect both the profitability of orchards and public health.

Pest monitoring

The recognition as a Cydia pomonella-free area is valid for the entire country, however, as Santa Catarina is responsible for 51% of national apple production, the state devotes special attention to combating the pest. “The Department of Agriculture, Cidasc and Mapa remain vigilant to minimize the risks of the disease appearing in the territory of Santa Catarina”, highlights Deputy Secretary Ricardo Miotto. 

Cidasc continues to monitor Cydia pomonella using traps in strategic locations such as, for example, cities where production is concentrated; ports; customs; and supermarket and importer distribution networks. There are currently 170 traps installed to confirm the absence of the pest in Santa Catarina.

And at the borders, the Ministry of Agriculture carries out inspections of imported fruits, rejecting those loads with the presence of the pest.

Apple in Santa Catarina

According to information from the Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning (Epagri/Cepa), Santa Catarina has 2.585 producers, with an average productivity of 40,6 thousand kilos per hectare and R$536,7 million in Gross Production Value. The state participates with 51% of Brazilian production and 49% of the area under crop production in the country.