Study of different spacing and thinning of fruit in tangerine resistant to alternaria brown spot

• Grant number: 11/12975-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Alves de Azevedo
• Grantee: Felipe Fukuda
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, producing with quality to meet the consumer has become very difficult because of the arrival of Brazil's main fungal disease of culture - Alternaria brown spot(ABS). Although the Brazilian citrus industry is a major agro-industrial activity in the country, is based on a low number of varieties, and this fact contributed to the vulnerability of the crop plant health problems ahead. Studies show that two main varieties sold in Brazil, Murcott, and Ponkan, are highly susceptible to the fungus that causes the ABS, putting at risk the sustainability of orchards, especially small producers, and lack of technological package for living with the disease. Given the seriousness of the ABS and the high damage in different producing regions, the citrus growers seek alternatives that contribute to continuing the commercial exploitation of their crops. Because the disease has a high severity has been observed an increase in production costs due to intensive use of fungicides. Thus, many producers are already considering the possibility of growing resistant varieties. In this context, research has sought alternatives for disease management - in addition to cultural and chemical control: how the selection of resistant varieties, the example of Fremont and Thomas tangerines, which are evaluated by the Centro APTA Citrus Sylvio Moreira/IAC. The adoption of new varieties by citrus farmers is no easy task, since changes in this order may result in significant changes both in crop management and marketing. However, this project proposes to evaluate management experiments, such as spacing, thinning fruit, and rootstock for Thomas Fremont, thereby providing greater confidence and security for the citrus farmer who intends to adopt these new varieties.(AU)