Update on the situation of Elsinoë citricola in Brazil: presence in three additional states and on Tahiti lime
Elsinoë citricola (EU Quarantine pest, 2019/2072 Annex II A) is a relatively new species to science, which was first described in 2017. It was isolated from a single Rangpur lime (Citrus × limonia) tree in December 2010 in Minas Gerais (Brazil) that showed lesions on the fruits, leaves and young stems (Fan et al., 2017). Since this report, no further reports of E. citricola have been published in Brazil or anywhere else in the world. However, several consignments of Tahiti lime (Citrus × latifolia) have been rejected from import by the European Union due to reported citrus scabs between 2022 and 2024 (Embrapa, 2024).
During a study to determine the presence of E. citricola and identify Elsinoë species present on Tahiti lime and Rangpur lime in Brazil, E. citricola was reported on C. × limonia trees in March 2024 in commercial orchards, farms and trees on roadsides and demonstration orchards in Minas Gerais (Viçosa municipality), Rio de Janeiro (Sumidouro and Nova Friburgo municipalities) and São Paulo (Santa Adélia municipality). Further findings were reported in September 2024 in São Paulo (on an isolated C. x latifolia in pasture in Santa Adélia municipality) and in December 2024 in Mato Grosso (on one C. × latifolia tree in Nova Mutum).
This is the first report of E. citricola in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Mato Grosso and the first report of E. citricola on C. × latifolia. E. citricola is considered as the dominant Elsinoë species on C. × limonia.
The identity of the pathogen was confirmed by morphological and molecular tests. Many samples reported from Rangpur lime were from unmanaged areas not subject to fungicide treatments.
Additionally, symptoms of scab on Citrus spp. (Citrus × latifolia, Citrus × limonia, Citrus limetta, Citrus reticulata) were reported from April to September 2024 from the following states: São Paulo (municipalities of Araraquara, Mogi Mirim, Águas de Lindóia, and Santa Adélia), Minas Gerais (municipality of Viçosa), Mato Grosso (municipality of Nova Mutum) and Paraná (Carlópolis municipality). However, pure cultures of Elsinoë sp. could not be obtained from these samples, so the cause of the scabs could not be identified.
The situation of Elsinoë citricola in Brazil can be described as: Present, restricted distribution.
Sources
de Andrade CC, da Silva AS, de Andrade Ogata L, Dalbosco M, Pires LM, Silva-Junior GJ, Barreto RW, Pereira CM (2026) Elsinoë citricola is prevalent in rangpur lime scab in Brazil and also occurs on Tahiti lime. European Journal of Plant Pathology 18, 1-8 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-026-03228-z
Embrapa (2024) Laboratório na Bahia ajuda produtores a exportar limão tahiti para a União Europeia – Portal Embrapa. https://www.embrapa.br/cultivos/busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/91288896/laboratorio-na-bahia-ajuda-produtores-a-exportar-limao-tahiti-para-a-uniao-europeia
Fan XL, Barreto RW, Groenewald JZ, Bezerra JDP, Pereira OL, Cheewangkoon R, Mostert L, Tian CM, Crous PW (2017) Phylogeny and taxonomy of the scab and spot anthracnose fungus Elsinoë (Myriangiales, Dothideomycetes). Studies in Mycology 87, 1-41 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.simyco.2017.02.001