Improved PFD control in São Paulo and Florida: using weather forecasts to anticipate disease risk in citrus groves

• Grant number: 13/50116-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Agreement: University of Florida
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Amorim
• Grantee: Lilian Amorim
• Principal researcher abroad: Natalia A. Peres Lautentti
• Institution abroad: University of Florida, Gainesville (UF), United States
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/54176-4 - Molecular epidemiology and management of postbloom fruit drop of citrus in new planting areas in São Paulo State, AP.TEM

Abstract

The PFD decision system was developed in Florida and evaluated in São Paulo during 1999 and 2002. In spite of the good results obtained under experimental conditions, this system has not been adopted by citrus growers from the southwestern region of São Paulo. However, growers empirically use weather forecast to plan their spraying against PFD. The lack of weather forecast information on PFD decision system is one of the reasons for not adopting this model to control the disease. Another possible reason is related to the need to include the estimated amount of inoculum in the system before its use. According to the data obtained by the Project 2008/54176-4, to which this proposal is related, the amount of inoculum can be disregarded as predictive variable for PFD epidemics. In this Project we propose to modify the current PFD system, including weather forecast and eliminating the inoculum estimation for the decision support. We propose two meetings: the first in Brazil and the second in Florida to discuss the implementation of this new system and to set up a new Project where this system should be validated and spread by a web platform. (AU)