Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently published a scientific article explaining why HLB is so difficult to control.
“Why is it so difficult to control huanglongbing (HLB)? Point of view” was published by the journal Scientia Agricola (Agricultural Science). It was authored by Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi and post-doctoral researcher Isabela Vescove Primiano, in collaboration with the late professor Armando Bergamin Filho of the University of São Paulo.
The work gathers and analyzes the most up-to-date scientific evidence to explain why HLB, also known as citrus greening, continues to be the biggest phytosanitary challenge in world citrus farming.
“In this work, we highlight that disease control is hampered by a combination of biological factors that favor both the multiplication of the bacteria and the action of the psyllid, its insect vector,” said Bassanezi.
The disease spreads rapidly, presents symptoms late, and deeply colonizes plant tissues, limiting the effectiveness of curative treatments and reinforcing the need for preventive strategies.
The article also shows how the psyllid’s behavior, especially its attraction to new shoots, creates continuous windows of vulnerability in plants.
“Furthermore, we face the difficulty of detecting all infected trees, since the bacteria are distributed unevenly in the branches, in addition to the logistical and economic challenges involved in eradicating diseased plants,” said Primiano. “We therefore reinforce the importance of coordinated regional actions, which have proven fundamental in Brazil to reduce inoculum pressure in neighboring areas and delay the advance of greening.”
The article notes that HLB was first detected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2004 and subsequently in Florida in 2005. At that time, the São Paulo/Triângulo Mineiro (SPTM) Citrus Belt produced approximately 378 million boxes of sweet oranges, while Florida produced around 150 million boxes. “However,” the article states, “20 years later, the impact of HLB is evident: By the 2023–24 season, SPTM’s production had decreased to around 307 million boxes, and Florida’s production had plummeted to just 18 million boxes.”
Read the full published article here.
Source: Fundecitrus
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