Greening: action removes more than 25 thousand irregular seedlings from circulation in São Paulo

Inspection took place in six locations in the municipalities of Herculândia and Tupã, and identified the incorrect storage of citrus seedlings

05.07.2024 | 14:16 (UTC -3)
Felipe Nunes, Cultivar Magazine edition

An action carried out between the 2nd and 4th of July by the Government of the State of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (SAA) and its Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA), removed from circulation around 25.040 citrus seedlings that were being produced and/or sold irregularly in the municipalities of Herculândia and Tupã. Initiative aims to combat greening, a disease that threatens São Paulo's citrus industry, and included the work of agronomists and agricultural technicians 

Valentim Scalon, agronomist and manager of the State Program for Health in the Production of Propagation Materials, explains that the inspection took place in six locations, where it was possible to identify the storage of citrus seedlings in the open. The action collected samples for diagnosis in the official citrus canker and greening laboratory, in addition to destroying and seizing the plants. “The actions will become routine in the municipalities until production is regularized and irregular trade, frequently found during inspections, stops occurring,” he added.

The inspection was supported by the Environmental Military Police and resulted in four infraction notices, which were drawn up based on current legislation that establishes plant health defense measures to curb the street trading of seedlings in São Paulo. Such actions aim to combat the serious economic damage to commercial crops and orchards that the practice generates. 

Still at the end of 2023, around nine thousand seedlings were seized by the technical staff of the State Agricultural Defense in the same region. 

Reporting channel

In October 2023, the Government of the State of São Paulo, through its Agricultural Defense, launched a direct reporting channel for the population, especially rural producers, to report abandoned or poorly managed citrus orchards in the State. This type of orchard presents problems for citrus farming, as it does not control the psyllid (diaphorina citri), vector of greening, or eradication of plants up to eight years old contaminated with the disease.

In accordance with Ordinance SDA/Mapa nº 317, of May 21, 2021, and SAA Resolution nº 88, of December 08, 2021, in all orchards with citrus plants, it is mandatory to carry out efficient control of the psyllid, and in orchards up to eight years old, the producer must eliminate symptomatic plants.

About greening

Greening is caused by bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., and spread by the psyllid (diaphorina citri). The disease affects all citrus plants, and there is no cure: once contaminated, it is not possible to eliminate the bacteria from the plant, which acts as a source of inoculum for contamination of other plants. Greening is currently the disease that most threatens citrus farming in the world.

Cancer/Greening Report

In the State of São Paulo, all citrus producers must submit the Cangro/Greening Report through the computerized Animal and Plant Defense Management system (Gedave) by July 15th. The document must contain the results of quarterly inspections for citrus canker and greening carried out between January 1st and June 30th, 2024 on all citrus plants on the property. 

Delivery is mandatory, regardless of the age of the plants, and allows the Agricultural Defense technical team to have accurate information on the spread and incidence of diseases, in addition to guiding control policies and phytosanitary defense actions. Delay or non-delivery subjects the producer to the sanctions provided for in State Decree (nº 45.211 of September 19, 2000). 

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