Relative Contribution of Windbreak, Copper Sprays, and Leafminer Control for Citrus Canker Management and Prevention of Crop Loss in Sweet Orange Trees

Abstract

The management of citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, has been widely studied in endemic areas because of the importance of the disease in several citrus-producing countries. A set of control measures is well established, but no study has investigated the efficiency of each measure individually and their combination for disease suppression. This study comprised a 3-year field study to assess the relative contribution of three measures for the control of citrus canker and reduction of crop losses. Windbreak (Wb), copper sprays (Cu), and leafminer control (Lc) were assessed in eight different combinations in a split−split plot design. The orchard was composed of ‘Valencia’ sweet orange trees grafted onto ‘Rangpur’ lime. Casuarina cunninghamiana trees were used as Wb. Cu and Lc sprays were performed every 21 days throughout the year. Individually, Cu showed the highest contribution for canker control, followed by Wb. Lc had no effect on reducing citrus canker. Wb+Cu showed the highest efficiency for control of the disease. This combination reduced the incidence of diseased trees by approximately 60%, and the incidence of diseased leaves and fruit by ≥90% and increased the yield in 2.0- to 2.6-fold in comparison with the unmanaged plots. Cu sprays were important for reducing disease incidence and crop losses, whereas Wb had an additional contribution in minimizing the incidence of cankered, non-marketable fruit. The results indicated that the adoption of these measures of control may depend on the characteristics of the orchard and destination of the production.