Management of the oil stain challenges passion fruit crops

Brazil leads the world in passion fruit production and consumption, with about 70% of the global volume, estimated at 700 thousand tons annually, cultivated on 46 thousand hectares. The crop has relevant social and economic weight by supplying the domestic market and generating employment and income for producers of different sizes. Despite this scenario, the advancement of production coexists with phytosanitary obstacles that limit the performance of the crops, especially in regions of higher humidity. Among the main challenges is the greasy spot, a bacterial disease that mainly affects the leaves and compromises the productive potential of the orchards. In cases of inadequate management, losses can exceed 80%. The problem is more intense in areas of the Northeast, such as the Serra da Ibiapaba, in Ceará, where cultivation occurs throughout the year and the incidence increases in the rainy season, between December and June. According to Ricardo Joaquim Carvalho da Silva, from ...