The National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Entre Ríos has issued a warning with a series of recommendations to keep the presence of the parasite called “citrus black spot” (Phyllosticta citricarpa) low.
It is a fungal disease that causes a reduction both in the quantity and in the visual quality of the fruit: even if it does not penetrate, the external quality of the fruit (commercial quality) is compromised and for this reason it is considered an aesthetic disease.
The disease presents a great variability of symptoms, depending on the phenological phase and climatic conditions of the area where the infection occurred.
The spot infects and attacks green leaves and branches, but above all citrus fruits, where depressed, dark, pinkish spots with a light center and/or black dots can be observed.
In this context, INTA assured that its control “is very important”, and stressed the importance of keeping plants in healthy conditions, with adequate fertilization, irrigation, pest and weed control.
Removing fallen leaf litter or accelerating its decomposition, and generating an organic mulch by moving the weeded grass to the top flight (burying the leaves with the grass), also works as prevention.
Citrus producers will be able to harvest fruit with symptoms early and eliminate those that have not been harvested (parrots).
But during the spring and summer, to avoid the black spot and this loss of plants, treatments with a cupric product and strobirulines can be applied, or in the summer with a systemic product to reduce possible infections.
The applications are carried out from the fall of the petals until January, when the fruit has a diameter of 2 or 3 centimeters and the fruit is in a phenological moment which is very sensitive to the attack of the disease.
Meanwhile, the national body has emphasized that pruning is a “high-impact” management strategy for controlling the disease, reducing dead branches, which function as another source of inoculum, and regaining the vigor a tree loses. heavily affected.
Finally, INTA confirmed that once the black spot in a plot is established, its eradication “is unlikely”, so if in doubt, you should contact a nearest INTA agency. (Telam)
