Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently issued an alert about the risk of citrus floral rot during the current citrus flowering period. Citrus flowering periods must be on growers’ radar to avoid damage to orchards caused by citrus floral rot, also known as starlet.
Attention must be doubled, especially if the flowering coincides with rainy periods, a determining factor in the occurrence of outbreaks of the disease. This is because the damage caused by the disease is associated with long periods of wetness in orchards. This condition favors the attack of the fungus that infects the flowers and causes the premature fall of young fruit and loss of production.
Efficient management of citrus floral rot before and during flowering helps to reduce damage. During flowering, fungicide applications must be made based on risk alerts sent by Fundecitrus. Before flowering, it is essential that the plant is well nourished (especially with calcium) so that the incidence of the disease is lower.
“When the citrus grower has a well-nourished orchard with efficient control of pests and diseases, flowering tends to be more homogeneous and the incidence of floral rot is lower during the rainy season,” advised Fundecitrus researcher Geraldo Silva Jr.
During flowering, great care must be taken, especially with the occurrence of rainy periods during the expanded bud and open flower phases. Sending alerts for the risk of disease occurrence is a more accurate tool than relying on fixed calendars with applications every seven to 10 days.
“For example, if an extreme risk alert is issued, the citrus grower has to re-protect the flowers immediately and not wait for this interval that he would adopt according to the calendar,” Silva advised.
The recommendation is to use products such as a mixture of triazole fungicide with strobilurin applied at a reduced spray volume and high speed.
“It is important to remember that this management needs to occur throughout the farm and in a short space of time,” Silva said. “Therefore, planning in the field and speed in applications make a big difference.”
To register and receive alert messages, Brazilian citrus growers should contact the Fundecitrus agronomists in their regions. Producers can also request access to the floral rot prediction system, free of charge, if they wish to obtain more detailed information about the risks and climate in the locations where the stations are located.
Source: Fundecitrus
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