Collection

Citrus Diseases

Citrus are among the most widely grown and economically important crops in the world. Their primary products include fresh fruit and processed juice which represent a globally traded commodity. In addition, by-products of the citrus industry such as pectin and essential oil are widely used in different industries (cosmetics, cleaning, pharmaceutical, etc.) which contribute to increase the economic importance of this crop.

It is estimated that more than 50 % of the citrus production costs are due to pest and disease control. Bacteria, fungi, virus, viroids and oomycetes are microorganisms with negative impact on citrus production worldwide. Most of them are systemic, vector and/or grafting transmitted pathogens.

Although the exclusion of pathogen by the use of health propagative material is efficient, the current methods for controlling disease vectors, including chemical control, have proven to be low efficient and with high economic and environmental costs. It is urgent that new studies are conducted and made available to advance knowledge on biology, host and environmental interaction, epidemiology, diversity, diagnostic, genetic breeding, and alternative strategies so that disease management can be improved.

Editors

  • Alessandra de Souza

    Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Brazil

  • Helvecio Della Coletta-Filho

    Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Brazil

Articles (50 in this collection)