Agrodefesa provides guidance on transplanting tomato seedlings

The Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa) informs that the period for transplanting tomato seedlings for industrial crops (low-growing tomatoes) began this month in all municipalities in Goiás, and for table tomato producers (stake-grown tomatoes) in specific municipalities. The deadline is June 30 and is defined in Agrodefesa's Normative Instruction No. 06/2011.

The calendar aims to ensure that there are no tomato plants from November to January, a period of high incidence of whitefly and contamination by geminiviruses in the main growing areas of the state. “For Goiás to continue growing tomato production in the state, it is important to comply with the phytosanitary measures foreseen for the crop. They are part of the Integrated Pest Management and help control whitefly, which is currently the main pest affecting tomato production in the state”, explains the president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos.

The calendar is valid for the transplantation of low-growing tomatoes in all 246 municipalities in Goiás. As for the staked tomato, the deadline is determined for the municipalities of Morrinhos, Itaberaí, Turvânia, Cristalina, Luziânia, Silvânia, Orizona, Vianópolis, Palmeiras de Goiás, Piracanjuba and Goianésia.

Property registration

Another important phytosanitary measure, mandatory for tomato producers, is the registration of tomato-producing properties and areas in the Agricultural Defense System (Sidago), available at www.goias.gov.br/agrodefesa. Registration must be done for each new planting, within a maximum of 15 days after transplanting.

“It is from this registry that Agrodefesa identifies crops for carrying out actions, whether pest monitoring, health education or inspection. Tomatoes are a crop of great economic importance for the state and Agrodefesa closely monitors all of this production,” emphasizes Plant Health Manager Daniela Rézio.

Other mandatory measures provided for in the regulations include the destruction of crop residues after harvesting and the destruction of volunteer tomato plants that grow after this period.

seedlings

IN nº 06/2011 also provides guidance on the production and acquisition of tomato seedlings. According to the document, the seedlings must be produced in a screened environment, with screens with a maximum mesh size of 0,239 mm, antechambers, footbaths and a ventilation system in the antechamber. Nurseries that produce seedlings, both of creeping tomatoes and of staked tomatoes, must also send the destination data of the sown seedlings to Goiás or another Federation Unit.

If the rural producer is interested in purchasing tomato seedlings from other states, the Authorization for Acquisition of Seedlings must be requested from Sidago, for approval by the coordination of the Agrodefesa tomato program.