Huanglongbing, disease that infects cit-
rus trees, also known in Brazil as green-
ing or yellow dragon disease, is one of the
most serious threats to this supply chain
in Brazil. HLB is the most severe citrus dis-
ease in the world, and researchers are try-
ing to come up with alternatives that mit-
igate the problems in the short run, while
no permanent solution is discovered. Ac-
cording to Renato Bassanezi, research-
er at the Citrus Defense Fund (Fundecit-
rus), there is no resistant citrus variety and
there are no efficient and economically vi-
able methods to cure the infected plants.
Bassanezi explains that the absence of
commercial varieties resistant to the dis-
ease prompts researchers to pursue, in
the long run, varieties with resistance or
tolerance to this disease, through selec-
tion work, conventional enhancement
and genetic transformation. “The latter
is for turning the plant resistant to the
bacterium or repellent to the insect that
transmits the disease” he adds.
According to him, other research lines
are seeking curing methods, which are
now under evaluation. They include nu-
tritional and hormonal programs, with
Yellow
light
54
HLB, best known as
citrus greeningdisease,
is expanding across the
Brazilian territory and
becomes one of the
biggest threats to the
quality of citrus fruit
