IN TWO WEEKS THEY WILL BE COMPLETED 137 WHAT IS ALLOCATED IN THIS CAMPAIGN 2012/2013.

Two months ago, COAGRISÁN members began planting in greenhouses, thus beginning the campaign. 2012/2013, in which it is expected to have almost two million tomato growers in production.

However, This beginning has not been without complications. How could it be otherwise?, the pests that stalk crops, have conditioned the growth and development of plants to the point of causing serious damage to some plantations..

On this occasion, The virus responsible for the incidents is known as tomato browning., HELPFUL (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus) belonging to tospoviruses. Its transmission occurs through different families of thrips that have been previously infected during the larval phases..

TSWV damage to plants consists of the excavation of galleries inside which are characterized by bronze-colored edges., followed by dark spots. As the infection progresses, additional symptoms occur including dark streaks on the main stem and wilting of the top of the plant.

Virus infection, in addition to the characteristic staining, causes the plant to wither, the reduction of plant production and, possibly, death. Since there are no effective antiviral cures, The only prescription for infected plants is their removal and destruction in order to prevent the spread of the disease..

TSWV is common in warm climates and in regions with a high thrips population.. This virus is already an agricultural pest in Asia, America, Europe and Africa. In the last 15 years, Outbreaks of tomato wilt and spot disease have become more frequent in these regions. Therefore TSWV is described as an emerging viral plant disease..

According to COAGRISÁN technicians, thrips populations have not been extremely high., but they do highlight the virulence of the TSWV that they transmit to the plants whose damage they have assessed in a 10%. Prompt detection and rapid action have allowed its expansion to be controlled..

The technicians are very clear about the keys to its origin, which they have already conceptualized as “cyclical plagues”. They describe it in the following way: the pests, insects and viruses, They have lived with us for decades. However, Each year certain conditions are met that are appropriate to increase its proliferation.. Hence the cycle, in which the climate is the most important key.

The pest prevalent in these conditions displaces the rest, becoming more virulent, even attacking crops to which, normally, These pests do not usually affect. Like this, in the case of trip, On this occasion, the technicians have detected damage to the beans, beans, leeks, orange trees…

Added to this are the high summer temperatures that have caused thermal stress in the plant and it is not in optimal conditions to defend itself from the attack of pests and/or diseases.. Technicians indicate that another of the factors that has influenced are the reservoir crops for these pests and diseases that do not apply any control., nor do they comply with any regulations, using phytosanitary products irrationally and not making fallow lands.

Except for this incident for which an exhaustive protocol is applied, the campaign is developing normally, anticipating that the first tomatoes will begin to be packed in the first or second week of October.