Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172840
Title: NATIONWIDE DETECTION OF CITRUS LEPROSIS VIRUS IN BRAZIL USING RT-PCR

Author
item FREITAS-ASTUA, J. - CENTRO APTA CITROS, BR
item LOCALI, E. C. - CENTRO APTA CITROS, BR
item ANTONIOLI-LUIZON, R. - CENTRO APTA CITROS, BR
item KITAJIMA, E. W. - NAP/MEPA/ESALQ/USP, BR
item Hilf, Mark
item Gottwald, Timothy
item MACHADO, M. A. - CENTRO APTA CITROS, BR

Submitted to: International Organization of Citrus Virologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2005
Publication Date: 3/18/2005
Citation: Freitas-Astua, J., Locali, E., Antonioli-Luizon, R., Kitajima, E., Hilf, M.E., Gottwald, T.R., Machado, M. 2005. Nationwide detection of citrus leprosis virus in brazil using rt-pcr. International Organization of Citrus Virologists Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV) is transmitted by the Tenuipalpidae mite Brevipalpus phoenicis and causes estimated yearly losses of US $60-100 million in Brazil. Two forms of CiLV have been recognized based on particle morphology and cytopathology: the prevalent cytoplasmic type (CiLV-C) and the rare, nuclear type (CiLV-N). Using RT-PCR with primers that specifically amplify a region within the putative movement protein gene of the CiLV-C, we detected the virus in a limited number of citrus samples from several municipalities within Sao Paulo State, Brazil. To expand upon these initial findings, we analyzed 152 symptomatic samples of five species and 21 varieties of citrus from 57 municipalities in nine states representing the main citrus producing areas of the country. Citrus leaves, but also fruits and stems were assessed using both symptomatic and asymptomatic samples. RT-PCR analysis of nucleic acid extracts from all samples with typical leprosis symptoms yielded bands of the expected size as assessed in agarose gels. Using the same conditions, RT-PCR did not amplify any bands from extracts from asymptomatic samples. The results demonstrate the usefulness of RT-PCR as a tool for the detection of CiLV isolates from different citrus varieties and geographic regions.