RNAi-induced silencing of the succinate dehydrogenase subunits gene in Colletotrichum abscissum, the causal agent of postbloom fruit drop (PFD) in citrus.

The citrus crop is one of the most important culture worldwide, being Brazil the world highest producer of sweet oranges. The challenge for this culture is the constant attack by several pathogens that cause economically losses. Among the fungal diseases the post-bloom fruit drop causes dramatically losses in production, characterized by damages in the blossoms that causes fruit infeasibility and early drop, one of the causal agent is Colletotrichum abscissum.

Diaporthe endophytica and D. terebinthifolii from medicinal plants for biological control of Phyllosticta citricarpa.

The citrus industry is severely affected by citrus black spot (CBS), a disease caused by the pathogen Phyllosticta citricarpa. This disease causes loss of production, decrease in the market price of the fruit, and reduction in its export to the European Union. Currently, CBS disease is being treated in orchards with various pesticides and fungicides every year.