App-ExploraCítricos, a digital development for integrate pest surveillance in citrus crops

Abstract

App-ExploraCítricos v2.0 is an application for measuring epidemiological variables with a spatio-temporal, multi-crop, multispecies-variety, multivariate, multi-pest, multiuser, and multicriteria approach for risk analysis in the citrus production chain. The objective of this work was to develop, and field validate an application for mobile devices with Android® 6.0 or higher, which would allow n-assessments in situ associated with a regional epidemiological process through a flexible design customized to a sanitary objective. The process begins by entering access codes for user authentication. Before an assessment, the user must configure the n-pests and/or n-diseases of interest associated with the citrus crop(s)/species(s), including the common and scientific name, and type of organism (fungus, virus, bacterium, etc.). The settings are stored locally for the further assessment process. Subsequently, n-scales with n-independent, qualitative or quantitative classes are configured to assess occurrence, severity, or infestation per organism. In addition, the presence/absence or vector infestation level can be assessed. Once the assessment criteria have been customized for a regional scenario, sampling begins in n-plantations with individual characterization using 26-epidemiological-productive variables, e.g., agronomic condition, age, crop, cultivar, irrigation type, nutrition, management, etc. The assessment is performed in n-plants per plantation. Per plant, the n-pests and/or n-diseases previously configured are assessed with the respective scales. The user may take up to three georeferenced photographs of pest infestation or symptoms for eventual further sampling for etiological purposes. The assessment(s) is virtually submitted to a web database, exported, or shared via email, Bluetooth, social media, or other device tools. The App was successfully validated on citrus crops of San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Chiapas states for CTV, CLas, CiLV, and their respective vectors with a total of 58 plantations and 37700 metadata generated. The App-ExploraCítricos v2.0 is a phytosanitary innovation that may contribute to the integration of large volumes of relevant, standardized, and quality data for risk analysis and management in citrus farming.