About the detection:

A possible outbreak of citrus leprosis was recently detected at the southeastern Mexican border between the State of Chiapas and the country of Guatemala.

Through diagnostic testing at the molecular virology and biology laboratory of the National Phytosanitary Reference Centre, the Plant Health Directorate confirmed citrus leprosis.

Actions taken: 

Due to the above, in collaboration with the State Government and the Plant Health Local Board of Citrus Growers of Soconusco, an emergency program to eradicate citrus leprosis was implemented. This program consist of eliminating sweet orange plants found in orchards and backyards, the biological control of the mite vector and a massive outreach program.

On August 26, 2005 three adult male specimens of Mediterranean fruit fly were found in the same trap in the urban area of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico, and on August 29 another specimen was found in the same trap. On August 27 as a preventive measure, the Emergency plan was placed in effect. Also, research is taking place to determine the origin of these specimens.

From the results of the research, the emergency actions to be applied were determined according to the information provided by the pest trapping and sampling system. Since then, there haven¡¦t been detections of any additional specimen, and fruit sampling hasn¡¦t detected pest larvae.

Actions applied with the Emergency program:

     Outreach activities. 4,500 leaflets with information on the preventive emergency plan were designed and distributed.

      Monitoring activities. The number of traps deployed (Jackson, C&C, yellow panel, Multilure and phase IV) was immediately increased in the area surrounding the outbreak, bringing the total to 184 additional traps. Since August 30 to date there have not been any detections of adults. There have been 8 days without specimen detection.

      Fruit sampling. To detect larvae, 44 kg of fruit was collected from trees in the urban area. Pest larvae have not been detected. There are no commercial hosts in the area.

      Mechanical control.- 1 250 kg of fruit from host plants have been collected  and destroyed.

      Chemical control. One hundred forty four litres of GF-120 (Spinosad) was applied as a ground spray to the core area (central km², protecting 126 ha accumulated); also, to strengthen this activity 50 killing traps baited with GF-120 were deployed.

On December 27, 2004 personnel from the General Directorate for Forestry and Soil Management-SEMARNAT (DGGFS-SEMARNAT) detected the presence of powdery mildew, caused by Olivea tectonae, in nursery plants and teak trees (Tectona grandis) of various ages in the municipality of Las Choapas, Veracruz. As a phytosanitary risk mitigation measure, the day after the detection of the fungi, a Benomyl based fungicide at a dose of 120 ml per 100 litres of water in the affected area for these pathogens (20 hectares) was applied. This detection was confirmed by personnel of the Regional International Organization for Agriculture and Animal Health (OIRSA) when they sampled 6 sites to determine the presence and distribution in the above-mentioned municipality during the period of February 14 to March 6, 2005 and in which it was determined that severity ranged from 30 to 90 percent.

The causal agent of powdery mildew was identified by the National Centre for Reference in Forestry Parasitology of the DGGFS-SEMARNAT, with the support of researchers from the Autonomous University of Chapingo and the National Institute for Forestry and Agricultural Research and ratified by researchers and technicians from the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama and the National Centre for Phytosanitary Reference of the Plant Health Directorate -SENASICA-SAGARPA. During sampling activities done by OIRSA personnel on the powdery mildew in the municipality of Las Choapas, Veracruz, the presence of the following hyperparasites fungi was detected: Cladosporium oxysporum and Acremonium recifei.

Gladiolus rust (Uromyces transversalis) was detected on November 15, 2004 in Gladiolus production lots in the states of Puebla, Mexico and Morelos. Since then, the Plant Health Directorate has sampled the main Gladiolus production areas in the states of Michoacan, Morelos, Puebla, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Veracruz and State of Mexico.

Sampling results have confirmed the presence of gladiolus rust in some plots of these states, except for the state of Sinaloa, which remains free from the disease.

Control measures implemented to reduce the risk of spread through shipments of cut flowers are:

·         Sampling and monitoring during crop development in the main Gladiolus production areas to determine the presence or absence of the disease.

·         Pesticide applications during the different phenological stages of the crop.

·         Technical advice and training to Gladiolus growers for the integrated management of the disease.

·         Phytosanitary certification of shipments of cut flowers for export through inspection and verification of disease freedom.

·         Distribution of a fact sheet for the integrated management of gladiolus rust to regional offices of the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), State Plant Health Committees, Mexican Flower Council and to the Gladiolus grower associations.