Utilization of rapid detection kit in measuring Huanglongbing outbreak level: case study in Koto Tinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a disease of citrus caused by bacterium Liberobacter asiaticus that can lead to plant death. Most farmers are unaware that their plants have been infected since the beginning of plant growth, and rather considers the condition as a result of nutrient deficiency. Detection of HLB usually is conducted in expensive and complicated laboratory test through PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Rapid detection is necessary in order to formulate a strategy to solve the HLB outbreak appropriately. HLB Rapid Detection Kit is an innovation that can identify the presence of HLB easily and inexpensive way, even farmers can do the test by themselves. An observation has done to apply the HLB Rapid Detection Kit in citrus plantation area of Koto Tinggi, Agam district, West Sumatera. The results revealed that the number of citrus plants that affected by HLB disease was 19.22% - 41.84%. HLB outbreak in citrus plantation suspected to be due to the use of citrus infected seedlings. The strategies for restoration citrus areas that have HLB outbreak are eradicating and replanting citrus plantation using certified disease-free citrus seedlings, those implementation should be integrated in citrus area.