The Mal Seco disease is advancing in Murcia, and the Plant Health Department is asking for help in eradicating it.

The first outbreak of Mal seco (dry disease) in lemon trees in the Region of Murcia was detected in June 2020, in a plantation in Abanilla, where there were also numerous infected trees in two neighboring plantations. New cases were subsequently found in plantations in the same area, in Blanca and La Matanza.

The Ministry of Agriculture published Order No. 60 of March 13, 2021, declaring the presence of the disease and establishing mandatory measures for the control and eradication of citrus plantations affected by the disease.

The disease primarily attacks lemon trees, destroying the sap-conducting vessels. This causes severe dehydration, defoliation that leaves the leaf petiole attached to the branch, rapid drying of affected branches, and can lead to the death of the tree within one to three years.

The most effective control measure is the immediate and complete removal of affected trees as soon as the disease is detected, and the same action should be applied to neighboring trees, even if they do not show symptoms. Eradication should include root removal and burning of all plant debris. Citrus trees should not be planted in the same plot for a minimum of two years.

The Region of Murcia is seeking to involve citrus producers in collaborating in controlling the disease, outbreaks of which are beginning to be detected in other parts of the region, farther from the original outbreaks. To this end, the Plant Health Service has just published an informative brochure To facilitate awareness and identification of disease symptoms by technicians, farmers, and industry workers, as well as a list of recommended actions for its prevention and eradication.

Anyone who observes symptoms in their citrus fruits that may be compatible with those of Dry Disease, should contact the administration, either through the Regional Agricultural Office in their area or directly, to the Plant Health Service at the telephone number 968 36 54 39 or by email sanidadvegetalmurcia@carm.es

From Genoma Laboratorio we make our service available to the farmers of the Region detection of the fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus, responsible for the disease, through Real-time PCRThe protocol used in our laboratory is the one recommended by the EPPO in it PM7/048.