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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151872
Title: EXAMINATION OF STEM-PITTING DETERMINANTS OF CITRUS TRISTEZA VIRUS

Author
item FOLIMONOVA, S. Y. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item FOLIMONOV, A. S. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item ROBERTSON, C. J. - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item GARNSEY, S. M. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Hilf, Mark
item DAWSON, W. O. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2003
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Folimonova, S., Folimonov, A., Robertson, C., Garnsey, S., Hilf, M.E., Dawson, W. 2004. Mapping determinants of stem-pitting in citrus tristeza virus. Phytopathology. 94:S131.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), a member of the Closteroviridae, is limited to phloem-associated cells in citrus trees and is transmitted by aphids in a semi-persistent manner and by vegetative propagation. Some strains of CTV cause disorders of the vascular cambium resulting in formation of stem-pitting (SP) symptoms. Severe SP strains of CTV debilitate citrus trees and decrease fruit yield, size, and quality. We are attempting to map SP determinants of CTV with the ultimate goal of developing a strategy to control this disease, which is an increasing problem for the citrus industry. We are creating hybrids between a SP strain of CTV (T68), and a non-SP strain (T36). The procedure involves substitutions of T68 cDNA fragments into a T36 infectious cDNA clone, establishment of replicating hybrid viruses in N. benthamiana protoplasts, and repeated protoplast passages to achieve sufficient amplification of inoculum to establish an initial infection in citrus seedlings by slash inoculation. Subsequent inoculations were made from this initial infection by grafts to sweet orange and grapefruit seedlings to assess SP expression. The relationship of CTV sequences to SP symptom phenotype will be discussed.