Greening: The dreaded citrus disease. How can you protect your production?

What is Greening and why does it threaten citrus farming?

Greening, caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter, is currently the most serious threat to citrus farming worldwide. Transmitted by the psyllid (a small insect vector), this disease totally compromises fruit quality and orchard productivity.

Although it poses no risk to human health, greening makes the fruit bitter, acidic and unviable for consumption and sale. Once infected, the plant needs to be eradicated, which generates considerable losses for the producer.

How does Greening spread in plantations?

The psyllid acquires the bacteria by feeding on contaminated plants and transmits the disease to healthy plants during feeding. Infected plants that are not eliminated become hotspots, accelerating the spread of the disease throughout the plantation.

The first signs of the disease appear on the leaves (yellowing and premature fall) and on the fruit, which becomes small, deformed and tastes altered. The presence of greening drastically compromises fruit production and threatens the entire citrus chain.

Essential strategies for controlling greening

Effective greening management depends on rigorous preventive and corrective actions. The main strategies involve:

• Proper orchard planning and renovation;
• Use healthy, bacteria-free seedlings;
• Constant monitoring of the psyllid vector;
• Quick elimination of infected plants;
• Efficient control of the insect vector.

Implementing these practices can make all the difference in protecting your production. But there's also a way to boost this care in a more intelligent way. Want to know how?

LarvShield: Advanced technology to protect your orchards

To support the fight against greening, Revella Agritech has developed LarvShield, an innovative solution based on microencapsulated natural compounds. This technology protects the active ingredients from degradation by light and temperature, maintaining their effectiveness for much longer.

LarvShield is effective even at low concentrations (from 0.12%), providing efficient defense against the greening vector and other pests, without harming beneficial insects or polluting the environment.

LarvShield's main benefits

The use of LarvShield offers several advantages for citrus growers, including:

• Highly effective in pest control;
• Prolonged protection of active ingredients;
• Easy application and no clogging of spray nozzles;
• Compatibility with different formulations on the market;
• Significant reduction in the use of inputs and costs.

Want to understand how LarvShield differs in practice? See what the field tests say.

Field results prove LarvShield's effectiveness

In tests carried out, LarvShield showed total control of Aedes aegypti larvae in the first 24 hours of exposure at concentrations of just 0.15%. The technology demonstrated consistent and selective efficacy, reinforcing its potential for controlling insect vectors of greening.

In addition, the comparison between LarvShield and conventional neem oil revealed that it is possible to replace 1 liter of neem with just 100 mL of LarvShield in the syrup, providing up to a 52% cost reduction with no loss of efficacy.

Why choose Revella technology to protect your orchard?

LarvShield combines high technology with environmental responsibility, following the principles of green chemistry. It offers:

• Greater performance and efficiency in the field;
• Sustainable protection against pests;
• Significant savings on inputs;
• Preservation of natural enemies and the environment.

Strengthen your orchards with innovative and safe solutions. Your citrus production deserves the latest in protection and performance.

Talk to Revella's experts

Do you want to know all the details about LarvShield and find out how it can be applied efficiently on your property? Get in touch with our experts and make sure your orchard is protected against greening and other threats.