Healthy citrus propagative material to avoid the introduction of transboundary pests/pathogens (BIOFRUITNET Practice Abstract)

Abstract

The use of 'healthy' plant material and efficient quarantine measures is economically and environmentally more efficient than eliminating the newly introduced pests/diseases. Practical recommendation The use of 'healthy' plant material and efficient quarantine measures is economically and environmentally more efficient than eliminating the newly introduced pests/diseases. • The choice of nursery plants is the first action toward sustainable and quality production. • The use of healthy citrus propagative material is the only valid strategy to prevent the introduction of devastating pests/pathogens such as the recently introduced Orange spiny whitefly in Italy, Croatia and Greece. mealybug Delottococcus aberiae in Spain, which are seriously threatening the Mediterranean citriculture. • If the certified citrus propagative material is unavailable in the specific EU regulatory context of organic plant material production, the farmers can rely on the conventional certified propagative material in the framework of the conversion period. • The citrus propagative material needs to be imported into the EU countries only if accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate confirming their compliance with the EU legislation