A mutant strain of the fungus is affecting 40% of trees in this country and is raising concerns due to its spread potential.
This aggressive variety of rust attacks the leaves of plants and reduces their productivity, and it finds better conditions in low-altitude sites, where it is warmer and there is more moisture.
Panama toughens Phytosanitary measures after outbreaks in Brazil and Colombia.
An outbreak of Fusarium guttiforme has blighted pineapple plantations in Brazil and Colombia and has triggered alarm bells in Panama, which has intensified its phytosanitary measures to prevent the entry of disease.
The size of the agrochemical market is around $30 million, a figure which should decrease based on demands from the buying countries and the prohibition to use 16 different pesticides.
The Institute of Agricultural Research (IDIAP) has recommending farmers to create management programs based on crop monitoring, for effective pest control.
Health authorities have restricted the entry to the country of citrus plants to prevent an outbreak of Huanglongbing.
The recent emergence of the disease in Nicaragua alerted authorities who restricted the entry of plants from the United States, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
The "yellow dragon" plague, which has already created havoc throughout the world, could affect 6,000 hectares of orange farms in Panama.
The insect of the plague was detected in Florida, U.S.A. and has already arrived in Belize. The threat of the plague, which could affect more than 1,000 Panamanian producers, caused the Department of Farm Development (MIDA) to declare a phytosanitary emergency. The director of vegetable health at MIDA, Ariel Espino, told Laestrella.com.pa that "they have closed the borders to incoming plants processed from the U.S., mainly from Florida, in addition to those from Brazil and the Caribbean islands where the insect has also wreaked havoc."
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