The European Union’s (EU) zero tolerance approach to citrus black spot (CBS) have forced South African citrus farmers who export Valencia oranges to EU countries, to stop exports from areas in Mzansi that are affected by this disease.
This follows ten CBS notifications of non-compliance (NONCs) on SA citrus which was detected this past season.
To better understand CBS and the impact of the EU’s restrictions on the South African citrus industry, Food For Mzansi spoke with Providence Moyo, plant pathologist at Citrus Research International.
What is citrus black spot?
Moyo describes CBS as a fungal disease found on citrus plants which infects the leaves and fruit. Symptoms are usually only visible on mature fruit as dark superficial spots. These spots, however, do not result in fruit decay.
Furthermore, black spot does not cause crop loss under South African conditions, however in terms of marketability, it may result in a down-grade in fruit quality classification, Moyo explains.
“A number of these external blemishes on citrus fruit make it cosmetically unsuitable for the fresh market or to be used to produce juice, which yields a much lower income per tonne produced.”
The fungus affects citrus plants in major citrus producing countries with warm, wet, and humid climates with summer rainfall.
“During warm, wet conditions, fruit can be infected when less than five months old, however these infections remain latent and will only form black spots when fruit matures.”
The most effective strategy for black spot control is a fungicide application during the period of fruit susceptibility, she says.
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Huge economic losses
As seen with South Africa recently, CBS has a significant economic impact on the citrus industry. However, Moyo cautions that this is not due to the dark spots on the rind and its effect on fruit marketability. “But rather because the citrus black spot-causing fungus is regarded as a quarantine pest in European Union. Consequently, the European Union has imposed a zero tolerance for fruit with black spot lesions.”
The presence of a single black spot lesion on a single fruit can result in the rejection of a total consignment of fruit with huge economic losses, she explains.
Moyo adds that it is extremely costly to control citrus black spots to the levels required for the zero tolerance on the European Union market.
“These growers will have to follow strict calendar spray programmes. These often also negatively impact on the integrated insect pest management programmes aimed at a more sustainable, environmentally friendly means of controlling citrus production pests.”
Interception at the orchard level
Meanwhile Khaya Katoo, an exporter of citrus from the Eastern Cape says CBS has severe financial implication for farmers that could lead to job losses and farm businesses ultimately shutting down.
“For example, for one to get an export certificate to the European market you are required to spray your trees from mid-September, six times a year, for them to be regarded as safe which could be extremely costly for farmers,” he points out.
Farmers who wish to export to that market must comply with strict regulations to survive there.
“We had an interception at the orchard level, so our fruit had to be diverted to other markets that pay less than the European Union. We were lucky because if the interception was in EU, we would have been banned for next season.”
Katoo says he is thankful that the problem was picked up by department of agriculture officials during inspections on their farm. Others, however, weren’t as lucky.
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