‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ detected in Diaphorina citri in Colombia
At the end of 2015, the presence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (associated with huanglongbing – EPPO A1 List) was detected in specimens of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae – EPPO A1 List) collected from 2 municipalities (Distracción and Fonseca) of the La Guajira department, in Colombia. For the moment, the pathogen has only been detected in its insect vector and not in citrus plants. In Colombia, D. citri occurs in 25 departments and is found on Citrus spp. and other host plants such as Swinglea glutinosa and Murraya paniculata. The detection of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ has triggered a phytosanitary emergency in Colombia and measures are being implemented to prevent the spread of the disease to citrus production. Measures will include chemical and biological control measures against D. citri, the use of healthy planting material and intensive surveys. In Colombia, it is estimated that citrus are grown on approximately 70 000 ha.
The situation of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in Colombia can be described as follows: Present, detected in 2015 in the insect vector (Diaphorina citri) but not in citrus plants, under official control.
Sources
INTERNET
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario. Resolución 2390 de 2015. Diario Oficial No. 49.723 de 11 de diciembre de 2015. http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/col151548.pdf
Gobernación de Antioquia. República de Colombia. http://antioquia.gov.co/index.php/component/k2/item/290-cultivos-de-c
ProMed posting (no. 20160209.4005503) of 2016-02-09. Huanglongbing, citrus – Colombia: (LG). http://www.promedmail.org/post/4005503