LIBRO-CONGRESO-CITRUS

S11
checked. The objective is to secure propagating material of commercial varieties for industry needs. Varieties
are selected from research projects and/or introductions and are subject to quarantine controls and a
sanitation process. The selected trees are shoot-tip grafted and indexed for Tristeza, Psorosis, Exocortis,
Cachexia, Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, Canker and Huanglongbing. Two hundred and thirteen scion and
rootstock varieties are maintained and evaluated annually for their agronomic characteristics and sanitary
status by visual observation and biological, immunochemistry and/or molecular diagnostics. Data obtained
on origin, botanical characteristics, agronomic performance, sanitary status and availability of propagation
material is recorded. The information is available at INTA’s website (www.inta.gov.ar/concordia). Basic
material is exported to citrus producing countries and sent to germplasm banks on request. The isolation,
annual evaluations, pest monitoring and disease diagnosis guarantee the quality of the material offered by
the Program to Argentine citrus industry.
S11P16
Labor-saving practices for ‘Shatangju’ mandarins in China
Ma P.Q., and Wu W.
Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Fruit Research Institute,
Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. mapeiqia@163.com
‘Shatangju’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is one of most important citrus variety in Guangdong, China. Some
current practices, like excessive fine pruning of the tree, and manual summer shoot tip removal to avoid fruit
drop, are expensive and inefficient. Experiments have been carried out using simpler branch pruning methods,
restraining summer shoot growth using chemicals or avoiding tip removal. The impact of such new practices
on production costs and fruit quality has been investigated. Results showed that there were lower costs
and better yields with the new method of branch pruning, due to 32% reduction of labor costs (4230 yuan/
ha versus 6225 yuan/ha with traditional pruning) and 17% increase of fruit set. Moreover fruit appearance
and quality were improved. Furthermore, chemical summer shoot restriction significantly increased fruit
retention (from 61.2% to 84.6%). Fruit set was also increased. However, the chemical induced blemishes on
some fruit and apparently produced phytotoxicity. On the other hand, keeping summer shoot growth greatly
reduced cultivation costs, but decreased production by 57.1%.
S11P17
FruTIC: An information and communication tool for an integrated health management of citrus
groves
Garrán S.M. 1 , Stablum A. 2 , Franco S. 2 , Ibarrola S. 2 , Mika R. 1 , Milera S. 2 , and Marnetto S. 2
1 Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Province of Entre Ríos, Argentina; and 2 Asociación Cultural para el Desarrollo
Integral (ACDI), Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. smgarran@correo.inta.gov.ar
In order to allow the implementation of integrated management practices (IPM), an information and
communication platform has been developed for the citrus growing area of the Uruguay River, in Argentina.
With this objective in mind, an environmental and phenological monitoring network has been established
throughout the whole region. This system, named FruTIC and based on the new ICTs, is accessible via
internet through its website (http://www.frutic.org.ar) as well as through automated alerts and warnings
implemented via SMS and e-mails. Information is hourly updated all year around, providing historical and
current data and also forecasts and models on the evolution of most of the environmental and phenological
variables required for fulfilling IPM practices. The system allows the access to both referential as well as
grove personalized information on these variables. It also facilitates the technical administration of citrus
groves since it allows that all recommendations and practices performed on every commercial plot be
registered on line, as well as providing automated reports of all management and monitoring practices
performed. This documentation is also needed for traceability requirements and the certification of the
production process. FruTIC is an innovative system for the management of the citrus crop, providing
elements for a precision, more sustainable and less contaminated citrus industry. It is also able to be
applied on any other citrus growing areas and crops.
186 - VALENCIA CONFERENCE CENTER, 18th-23rd NOVEMBER 2012