Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

A supply of healthy germplasm is the key to survival of the Bhutanese citrus industry

Author(s):

Nerida Donovan ¹*, Kinley Dorji ², Lakey Wangdi ³, Graeme Sanderson ⁴

Recieved Date: 2016-06-10, Accepted Date: 2016-09-20

Abstract:

Citrus is an important crop in Bhutan, supplying both domestic and export markets. Since the detection of the devastating citrus disease, huanglongbing, in Bhutan in 2003, there has been widespread decline of citrus trees and replanting of orchards. The percentage of bearing citrus trees has decreased and the gap between production and export volume has widened due to poor fruit quality likely due to huanglongbing infection. There are no known cures for graft-transmissible diseases like huanglongbing, so management relies on the use of health-tested propagation material. The Bhutanese government, with the assistance of foreign aid, has introduced measures to manage huanglongbing, including establishing a National Citrus Repository and designating the National Seed Centre the only legal supplier of nursery trees to industry. However, further work is needed to save the Bhutanese citrus industry from further decline by making healthy nursery trees available to industry and raising grower awareness to encourage adoption.

Keywords:

Bhutan, citrus, graft-transmissible disease, huanglongbing, Asian citrus psyllid, germplasm, management, production

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2016
Volume: 14
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 23-28

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