Citrus greening severity rises to 27% in Brazil

Citrus greening severity increased in Brazil in 2026 despite a slowdown in the disease’s incidence growth rate, according to Fundecitrus’ annual citrus disease survey.

Average severity increased from 22.7% to 27% across orchards of all ages and from 25.9% to 31% in bearing orchards. The proportion of diseased trees with more than half of their canopy affected rose from 22.5% to 28.5%, while the share with symptoms on less than half of the canopy declined from 25.1% to 19.6%.

© Fundecitrus

“The rise in trees at a critical stage of infection is primarily linked to low eradication rates of diseased trees in older orchards,” said Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi. “Leaving these trees in the field contributes to a reduction in the number of fruits per tree and an increase in premature fruit drop.”

Regional differences remain. Average severity reached 54.7% in the high-incidence Limeira region, compared with 0.04% in Triângulo Mineiro. The smallest increases occurred in the North and Northwest sectors and Matão, where temperatures are higher, and incidences of the psyllid vector and infected plants are lower.

The survey also assessed other citrus diseases. Citrus variegated chlorosis was detected in 0.14% of plants. Citrus canker was present in 36.26% of orange groves, up 10.9% from the previous period.

An estimated 6.61% of orange trees in commercial orchards showed symptoms of leprosis, corresponding to 14.04 million trees.