Author
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Wutscher, Heinz |
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Submitted to: International Citrus Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: The introduction of new citrus rootstocks into Yucatan brings the danger of citrus blight and other diseases becoming a major problem. Because Yucatan is very similar to Cuba, in climatic and soil conditions, where blight is a major problem, there is the danger that citrus blight will become prevalent. This means that blight, a problem already appearing in groves on susceptible rootstocks, could become a worse problem than tristeza which at this point is only a threat, not yet a problem. Technical Abstract: It is generally believed that citrus blight does not exist in Mexico. One reason for this is the widespread use of sour orange rootstock which is highly resistant to citrus blight, another is the dry climate of most of Mexico's citrus growing areas. Blight does not exist in dry areas worldwide. In Yucatan's humid climate, considerable acreage on a variety of common rootstocks has been planted in the last 20 years in response to predictions of the arrival of tristeza virus disease. The climate and soils of Yucatan are very similar to those of Cuba which has a major blight problem. It is therefore not surprising that we have found blight in Yucatan in trees on Volkameriana and Cleopatra rootstocks, confirmed by the three standard diagnostic tests of water absorption in trunk injection, wood analysis for zinc and blight-specific proteins in the leaves. This means that citrus blight and other diseases have to be taken into account when choosing replacements for sour orange. |
