State of Santa Catarina confirms detection of greening in citrus plants

The first cases of plants with greening were confirmed in the state of Santa Catarina, according to the annual greening detection survey carried out by the Santa Catarina Integrated Agricultural Development Company (Cidasc). Plants with symptoms were found in the municipalities of Xanxerê, Abelardo Luz and São Domingos – and, after laboratory analysis, the presence of the disease was confirmed.

The hypothesis is that the introduction of greening in the state occurred through contaminated seedlings, originating from clandestine trade.

As a result, measures were adopted to prevent the spread of the disease, such as expanding psyllid monitoring, installing traps in the main municipalities with citrus growing activities in the west of the state and in the citrus seedling producing region of Alto Vale do Itajaí, campaigns to raise awareness of citrus growers, among other actions.

Geening is currently considered the worst citrus disease, causing substantial losses in citrus production in the country. Therefore, the state reinforces prevention measures to prevent the disease from causing major damage to citrus growing properties.