Watermelon/Cepea: Climate challenges affect São Paulo's second crop

The watermelon season in São Paulo is facing challenges due to high temperatures and rainfall shortages, leading to issues such as viruses, whiteflies, and burnt fruit skins in the Marília/Oscar Bressane region. These problems are expected to negatively impact the productivity of the first crops. However, in Presidente Prudente and Itápolis, viruses are less of a concern. The first harvest of watermelons started in early March and is predicted to intensify by the end of the month, with the second, shorter harvest ending in late April.

High temperatures and little rainfall have been a cause for concern at the beginning of the watermelon season in the state of São Paulo. In the Marília/Oscar Bressane region, phytosanitary problems such as viruses and whiteflies have been reported due to the excessive heat. In addition, watermelon growers have commented that due to high temperatures, some crops have had fruit with burnt skins, which has reduced their quality and, as a consequence, their commercial value. Therefore, the development of the first crops in this region may be lower than expected, generating lower-than-average productivity. In Presidente Prudente and Itápolis, problems related to viruses have occurred more sporadically and should not impact the development of the first areas. As for the harvest, ...