Certificación de material vegetal sano en Colombia: un análisis crítico de oportunidades y retos para controlar enfermedades ocasionadas por virus Certification of healthy plant material in Colombia: A critical analysis of opportunities and challenges to control virus

Phytopathogenic viruses greatly affect Colombian agricultural production. Several studies indicate that economic losses caused by these phytosanitary problems could be avoided by having a better understanding of these pathogens and using a standard procedure for preventive management as a guide. Producers, nurseries, distributors and consumers would benefit from quality products by controlling the sources of virus transmission. Free trade agreements have resulted in an expansion of agricultural production and the proliferation of hundreds of nurseries that could not have undergone thorough inspection by the state. This article presents the main viruses that affect two important exotic fruits exported from Colombia, cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and Passiflora (Passiflora sp.). The article then outlines a certification program for healthy plant material for nurseries and the establishment of a national agricultural certification program, addressed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA). This program would be also assisted by agricultural universities, research centers and phytosanitary laboratories that would provide monitoring and control systems for the plant material. In addition, it would be a support for municipal agricultural technical assistance units. This inter-agency initiative would also support the implementation and adjustment of phytosanitary ICA resolutions for seeds (R.2046/2003), propagation material in fruit (R.3180/2009) and internal transport of plant material (R.3973/2016). The competitiveness of Colombian agriculture in international markets depends on the use of healthy plant material. INTRODUCCION de investigacion y laboratorios de diagnostico fitosanitario que proporcionarian un sistema de supervision y control adecuados, para el material vegetal. Adicionalmente, serian un soporte para las unidades municipales de asistencia tecnica agropecuaria. Esta iniciativa interinstitucional tambien apoyaria la implementacion y ajuste de las resoluciones fitosanitarias del ICA en semillas (R.2046/2003), material de propagacion en frutales (R.3180/2009) y transporte interno de material vegetal (R.3973/2016). La competitividad de la agricultura colombiana en los mercados internacionales depende del uso de material vegetal sano. Additional keywords: nurseries, phytosanitary problems, cape gooseberry, passion fruit, plant protection. Fecha de recepcion: 15-04-2016 Aprobado para publicacion: 14-05-2016 Los virus tienen una importancia en los programas de control fitosanitario, debido a que no se pueden tratar curativamente por lo que los procedimientos preventivos se convierten en una medida eficiente de manejo. La transmision viral es distinta para los diferentes tipos de virus, por lo cual un correcto y confiable diagnostico es indispensable para poder evitar la infeccion. Estas transmisiones virales pueden ocurrir, por ejemplo, en el caso de los potyvirus mediante afidos, semillas o mecanicamente y en el caso de virus mas estables, a traves del suelo o el agua (Hong et al., 2014). Tambien es necesario considerar que tanto hongos, nematodos y polen pueden ser transmisores de virus (Buttner et al., 2015). En este sentido, se debe tener en cuenta que la transmision de muchos virus se hace mediante