CÍTRICOS: VERDEADO O GREENING
EXITOSA COLECTA DEL ORGANIC CENTER PARA LUCHAR CONTRA ENFEREMEDAD DE LOS
CÍTRICOS. (http://www.freshplaza.com/sector/9/organic,
. Sep. 25, 2014) (ENGLISH VERSION BELOW)
El Organic Center, una organización independiente sin fines de lucro para la investigación orgánica que opera bajo los auspicios de la Organic Trade Association (OTA), lanzó un estudio plurianual y campaña financiera para encontrar soluciones orgánicas contra la enfermedad bacteriana conocida como verdeado de los cítricos (citrus greening disease) o Huanglongbing (HLB), y ayudar a los citricultores en su lucha contra la enfermedad sin hacer uso de peligrosos agroquímicos o de la transgenia.
El Organic Center, una organización independiente sin fines de lucro para la investigación orgánica que opera bajo los auspicios de la Organic Trade Association (OTA), lanzó un estudio plurianual y campaña financiera para encontrar soluciones orgánicas contra la enfermedad bacteriana conocida como verdeado de los cítricos (citrus greening disease) o Huanglongbing (HLB), y ayudar a los citricultores en su lucha contra la enfermedad sin hacer uso de peligrosos agroquímicos o de la transgenia.
Image: Asian psilid, coralspring.com
El Centro se puso un objetivo de
US$ 310.000 para financiar los tres años de estudio, a partir de la base de un
subsidio de U$ 35.000 de la Fundación UNFI. Hasta el momento se juntaron U$78,167
gracias a donaciones que van desde U$ 5 hasta U$ 5.000, excediendo el objetivo
original de U$ 15.000 para la primera etapa de la investigación del Organic
Center que busca soluciones orgánicas ala devastadora enfermedad que amenaza a
la industria citrícola de los EEUU.
La primera etapa de la investigación a completarse a principios del 2015, se centró en la búsqueda de materiales no tóxicos, incluyendo pulverizaciones semanales de materiales químicos aprobados para agricultura orgánica en el control del psílido Asiático de los citrus, el vector que propaga la enfermedad.
La primera etapa de la investigación a completarse a principios del 2015, se centró en la búsqueda de materiales no tóxicos, incluyendo pulverizaciones semanales de materiales químicos aprobados para agricultura orgánica en el control del psílido Asiático de los citrus, el vector que propaga la enfermedad.
El próximo paso será desarrollar procedimientos de control del psílido que no afecten a la población de insectos beneficiosos como los insectos polinizadores, vaquitas, arañas y la pequeña avispa Tamarixia radiata, enemigo natural del psílido. Los métodos corrientes de control se basan en el uso de pesticidas tóxicos, los que han sido relacionados a la muerte masiva de abejas y otros insectos beneficiosos.
Otro aspecto encarado en el estudio del Organic Center es la búsqueda de plantas orgánicas de citrus con resistencia natural a la enfermedad. Se ha descubierto uno y quizás dos cultivos cítricos en Florida que parecen ser resistentes al verdeado. Se examinarán estas plantas resistentes que podrían ser usadas para desarrollar variedades resistentes por hibridación natural sin el uso de la bioingeniería.
Los resultados que se obtengan del estudio del Organic Center serán volcados en un documento de extensión que sirva de base para desarrollar protocolos para cultivadores de diversas regiones de los EEUU. También conducirá un análisis de costo/beneficio de los métodos para asegurar que estos resultan factibles para los cultivadores.
Las nuevas herramientas holísticas podrían beneficiar también a los cultivadores convencionales que hasta ahora no han tenido mucho éxito con los pesticidas tradicionales, en especial dado que el psílido Asiático desarrolla resistencia a los agroquímicos.
"Esta es la clase de estrategias que pueden ser incorporadas en protocolos de control del verdeado de los cítricos, no importa si se decide por el uso de métodos orgánicos o convencionales”, dijo la directora de Programa de Investigación del Organioc Center, Jessica Shade
Para más información: Jessica
Shade , Organic Center; Email: jshade@organic-center.org.
Artículo original (en Inglés): http://www.freshplaza.com/article/127718/Organic-Center-tops-crowdfunding-goal-in-its-fight-against-citrus-disease
Artículo original (en Inglés): http://www.freshplaza.com/article/127718/Organic-Center-tops-crowdfunding-goal-in-its-fight-against-citrus-disease
Fecha de publicación: 9/25/2014
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ORGANIC CENTER TOPS CROWDFUNDING GOAL IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST CITRUS
DISEASE (http://www.freshplaza.com/sector/9/organic,
. Sep. 25, 2014)
The Organic Center, an independent non-profit educational and research organization operating under the auspices of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), launched a major multi-year study and fundraising campaign in early summer to find organic solutions to ward off the deadly bacterial disease of Huanglongbing (HLB), known as citrus greening, and help citrus growers fight the disease without resorting to dangerous chemicals or genetic engineering.
The Organic Center, an independent non-profit educational and research organization operating under the auspices of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), launched a major multi-year study and fundraising campaign in early summer to find organic solutions to ward off the deadly bacterial disease of Huanglongbing (HLB), known as citrus greening, and help citrus growers fight the disease without resorting to dangerous chemicals or genetic engineering.
The Center set a fundraising target of
$310,000 to finance the three-year study, with a $35,000 grant from the UNFI
Foundation laying the foundation for the drive. So far, a total of $78,167 has
been raised. Thanks to donations ranging from $5 to as large as $5,000, The
Organic Center has raised $20,417 through its first-ever crowdfunding drive – easily
exceeding its goal of $15,000—as part of a major campaign to fund The Center's
research effort to find organic solutions to a devastating disease threatening
the nation's citrus industry.
The first wave of research has focused on non-toxic materials, including weekly sprays of organically approved materials, which can be used to control the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that spreads the disease. This research is set to be completed in early 2015.
The next step in the research process is to develop procedures that control the psyllid while maintaining healthy populations of beneficial insects such as predatory insects and pollinators. Maintaining healthy ecosystems of insects like lady beetles, spiders, and a small wasp called Tamarixia radiata is critical for the long-term control of the Asian citrus psyllid. Current conventional control methods rely heavily on toxic pesticides, which have been linked to the massive deaths of bees and other beneficial insects.
Another aspect of The Organic Center's research agenda looks at naturally occurring resistant organic citrus trees. At least one and perhaps two citrus groves have been discovered in Florida that appear to be resistant to citrus greening. The Organic Center's research will examine these resistant trees, which could be used to develop resistant varieties through natural breeding techniques that do not rely on genetic modification.
The Organic Center plans to incorporate its findings into a farmer-focused document that lays out protocols for growers in different citrus-growing regions across the United States. The Organic Center will also conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its methods to ensure that they are feasible for farmers.
New, holistic tools could benefit conventional growers who haven't had much success using pesticides, especially as the Asian citrus psyllid develops resistance to the chemicals.
"These are the kind of strategies that can be incorporated into all citrus greening control protocols, regardless of whether people choose to grow using organic or conventional methods," said the Organic Center's Director of Research Programs Dr. Jessica Shade.
For more information: Jessica Shade , Organic Center; Email: jshade@organic-center.org.
Full article http://www.freshplaza.com/article/127718/Organic-Center-tops-crowdfunding-goal-in-its-fight-against-citrus-disease
The first wave of research has focused on non-toxic materials, including weekly sprays of organically approved materials, which can be used to control the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that spreads the disease. This research is set to be completed in early 2015.
The next step in the research process is to develop procedures that control the psyllid while maintaining healthy populations of beneficial insects such as predatory insects and pollinators. Maintaining healthy ecosystems of insects like lady beetles, spiders, and a small wasp called Tamarixia radiata is critical for the long-term control of the Asian citrus psyllid. Current conventional control methods rely heavily on toxic pesticides, which have been linked to the massive deaths of bees and other beneficial insects.
Another aspect of The Organic Center's research agenda looks at naturally occurring resistant organic citrus trees. At least one and perhaps two citrus groves have been discovered in Florida that appear to be resistant to citrus greening. The Organic Center's research will examine these resistant trees, which could be used to develop resistant varieties through natural breeding techniques that do not rely on genetic modification.
The Organic Center plans to incorporate its findings into a farmer-focused document that lays out protocols for growers in different citrus-growing regions across the United States. The Organic Center will also conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its methods to ensure that they are feasible for farmers.
New, holistic tools could benefit conventional growers who haven't had much success using pesticides, especially as the Asian citrus psyllid develops resistance to the chemicals.
"These are the kind of strategies that can be incorporated into all citrus greening control protocols, regardless of whether people choose to grow using organic or conventional methods," said the Organic Center's Director of Research Programs Dr. Jessica Shade.
For more information: Jessica Shade , Organic Center; Email: jshade@organic-center.org.
Full article http://www.freshplaza.com/article/127718/Organic-Center-tops-crowdfunding-goal-in-its-fight-against-citrus-disease
Publication date: 9/25/2014
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