Identification of cultivars with certain levels of resistance to citrus canker and desirable agronomic and commercial features is of great importance for the management of this disease. Evaluation of promising genotypes can be performed under controlled conditions or in the field. This study aimed to evaluate genotypes of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and hybrids for resistance to citrus canker at different times. The experiment was conducted in an experimental orchard in Maringá, Paraná State. To determine the mean severity of the disease, diagrammatic scales were used to evaluate four plants per block, and branches in the middle portion of each plant were sampled. In addition, we calculated the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). According to the obtained data, there were significant differences in the severity and AUDPC along the evaluations, and the severity varied from 0.25% to 4.88%, while AUDPC varied from 49.80 to 742.65. The citrus varieties Tang. Ponkan, Rosehaugh Nartjee, Harris, De wildt, Dekopon, Lee, South Africa, Tarocco#23, Solid Scarlet, Satsuma Okitsu SPA 29, "Cristalina", Shamouti and "Pêra Olimpia" had the lowest severity levels and were classified as resistant. Results suggest that these genotypes can be important tools in breeding programs of citrus genotypes for resistance to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.
Citrus canker; variety resistance; severity
