Agrodefesa updates the list of municipalities in Goiás with occurrence of Pinta Preta dos Citros

The Government of Goiás, through the Goiana Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), published this Thursday (21/09), in the Official State Gazette, Normative Instruction No. 8/2023, which increases the number of municipalities in Goiás with occurrence of Citrus Black Spot. With the update, Indiara becomes part of the list and there are now 35 cities with a record of the disease (previously there were 34), in the main citrus growing regions of Goiás (full list below).

Preta Preta is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa (Guignardia citricarpa). It is possible to visualize the disease through lesions on the skin of the fruits of all varieties of sweet oranges, lemons and tangerines, with the exception of the Tahiti lime, in which symptoms are not observed. The pest causes fruit to fall, reducing plant productivity. Lesions also appear on leaves.

Agrodefesa's Plant Health manager, Daniela Rézio, explains that there is a federal regulation that determines state agricultural defense bodies to disclose information about places where Citrus Black Spot occurs in order to warn about the risk of spread and economic damage to citrus farming. “For this reason, we recommend that citrus growers across the State pay attention to complying with phytosanitary measures established by Agrodefesa to prevent and control the pest”, she informs.

Furthermore, she adds that, once present in the orchard, it is very difficult to eliminate the disease. “Hence the need to adopt integrated management strategies, hygiene of agricultural implements, as well as the acquisition of certified seedlings to prevent the fungus from entering the orchard”, she highlights.

Instruction

For internal marketing, rural properties and nurseries producing citrus must follow the criteria of Federal Normative Instruction No. 3, of January 8, 2008, which provides for requirements for the transit and marketing of seedlings and fruits, phytosanitary documents such as Transit Authorization Vegetal – ATV (interstate traffic) and Vegetal Transit Permit – PTV (intrastate traffic). There are also restrictions on foreign sales to disease-free markets, such as Europe.

35 Municipalities in Goiás

Pirenópolis, Anápolis, Hidrolândia, Piracanjuba, Morrinhos, Catalão, Inhumas, Bonfinópolis, Rio Verde, Bela Vista de Goiás, Goianápolis, Serranópolis, Aporé, Palmeiras de Goiás, Cromínia, Trindade, Itaberaí, Nerópolis, Campestre, Campo Limpo de Goiás, Campo Alegre de Goiás, Leopoldo de Bulhões, Caldazinha, Jataí, Itajá, Terezópolis de Goiás, Caturaí, Abadiânia, Caldas Novas, Flores de Goiás, Inaciolândia, Itauçu, Marzagão, Pontalina and Indiara.