The Unió de Llauradors agricultural union has warned that in recent weeks it has detected a physiopathy in oranges and tangerines that is reflected in a considerable elongation of the fruit to give it a very different shape from what should be usual at this point in the campaign , probably as a result of extreme weather.
In a statement, the Unió has indicated that this elongated shape, more pear-shaped than orange or tangerine, could be a consequence of the effects of the extreme weather experienced throughout this spring and summer, which causes physiological and behavioral damage. different in plants.
In these specific cases, it could be due to flowering stress, according to the organization, which has indicated that at the moment it is not a matter of concern in all citrus farms in the Valencian Community, but it is being observed more and more. .
The general secretary of La Unió, Carles Peris, has indicated that "to date the damage seen in the fields is not too alarming, but they do come to convey to us that the weather has lately shown us more extreme phenomena that affect behavior common to plants.
Within the climate damage report that the Valencian Ministry of Agriculture prepares each semester in collaboration with agricultural organizations and cooperatives, the Unió has already reported the existence of this circumstance so that they are taken into account when it comes to possible tax exemptions for producers.
The union has also requested that this type of physiopathies be included within the coverage for exceptional risks of the current citrus insurance line, since they are not currently included and their presence is becoming common due to the weather.
