“Viva Citros” project will raise awareness among Minas Gerais producers about diseases in citrus farming

On the 18th of June, in Formoso, and the 19th, in Buritis, the Minas Gerais Agricultural Institute (IMA), an agency linked to the State Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa), promotes the “Viva Citros” project to raise awareness among producers from the Northwest region of Minas Gerais regarding citrus canker and greening in citrus plantations. The initiative also aims to show the importance of monitoring in orchards, care in the use and storage of pesticides, in addition to presenting the services that IMA provides to guarantee plant health in the State. 

The Northwest Region of Minas Gerais stands out in citrus farming, mainly in orange production. According to data from Seapa, the region is responsible for the production of more than 30 thousand tons of oranges per year. Therefore, IMA, responsible for inspecting citrus plantations and ensuring that orchards are not contaminated, will offer lectures and guidance for citrus growers in the region. 

Presence of diseases in orchards

According to the regional coordinator of IMA in Unaí, Gevair Campos, in mid-2020 the presence of citrus canker, a disease caused by the bacteria, was identified between the municipalities of Formoso and Buritis. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citrus,. The technical manager of the property in question notified IMA about the suspicion and, after confirming the existence of the disease on this plantation, the seedlings were destroyed to prevent spread to other properties. 

During “Viva Citros”, orchards in the region will be monitored with visits by IMA technicians to citrus producing properties, checking for the presence of citrus canker or greening. Lectures are also planned in schools in both municipalities, to address the importance of plant health defense and how this work, carried out by IMA, protects the state's economy and population.

“The absence of these diseases is exactly the reason the region is growing even more in the production of oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. Five years ago we had around one hundred hectares planted, today the region has more than one thousand hectares of citrus trees,” he said. 

Audience

The project aims to reach a diverse audience made up of plant professionals, producers and consumers. Furthermore, the action aims to raise awareness in the production chain about the importance of monitoring these pests, as this way “jobs, production and sustainability of citrus cultivation in the region are guaranteed”, said the coordinator. During the project, there will also be training for IMA professionals. 

Danger of citrus canker for production Citrus canker, a disease that affects fruit plantations such as orange, lemon, lime, tangerine and citron, can spread through wind, rain and contaminated agricultural equipment, directly impacting the productivity of these vegetables. If there is contamination of crops, the citrus grower will suffer losses, as the sale of these fruits is prohibited, resulting in lower profits and more expenses. Citrus canker depreciates the quality of production due to the presence of lesions, premature fruit drop and restriction of sales in areas free from the disease. 

Buying seedlings from places registered with the IMA, installing windbreaks on the property and pest control boxes and tools used in plant management, as well as vehicles used for transport, are some of the IMA's guidelines so that citrus canker is avoided. 

Health of citrus production in Minas Gerais Citrus producing areas in Minas Gerais must be registered with the IMA and their information must be updated annually. These properties must have an agronomist or agricultural technician qualified by the agency, the technical responsible, and it is also their responsibility to issue the Phytosanitary Certificate of Origin (CFO), a document that guarantees the health of the fruits. The CFO is essential to obtain the Permission of Plant Transit (PTV), issued by IMA, and which ensures that the cargo is free of pests and can circulate throughout the national territory without risk. IMA controls the spread of pests through sanitary barriers located in the cities of Extrema, Borda da Mata and at CeasaMinas units, in Contagem and Juiz de Fora. 

Greening, considered the most important citrus disease in the world, is also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) and is spread by the psyllid diaphorina citri. To date, greening has never been observed in the cities of Formoso and Buritis.