Detection of Citrus Psorosis Virus by ELISA, Molecular Hybridization, RT-PCR and Immunosorbent Electron Microscopy and its Association with Citrus Psorosis Disease

Psorosis is a citrus disease of undemonstrated etiology that can be diagnosed by biological indexing on sweet orange seedlings followed by a cross protection test. Its presumed causal agent is Citrus psorosis virus(CPsV), type species of the genus Ophiovirus. We compared detection of CPsV by ELISA, RT-PCR, molecular hybridization and immunosorbent electron microscopy, and examined its association with psorosis disease in 11 biologically characterized isolates and in 47 uncharacterized field sources by observation of field symptoms and by biological indexing including the cross protection test. Detection of CPsV by any of the four procedures always coincided with diagnosis of psorosis by cross protection, but it did not always correlate with observation of symptoms thought to be specific, in field trees or in graft-inoculated indicator plants. Trials to detect CPsV by ELISA, molecular hybridization and RT-PCR in citrus sources from different geographical origins, presumed to be psorosis-infected on the basis of field symptoms or reaction of indicator plants, were sometimes unsuccessful, indicating that psorosis symptoms may be induced by causes other than CPsV.     

Occurrence of Citrus psorosis virus in Campania, southern Italy

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), genus Ophiovirus, is associated with a severe disease of citrus worldwide. Double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA using a polyclonal antiserum, and triple antibody sandwich (TAS) ELISAs, employing the IgG monoclonal antibody (mab) 13C5, and the IgM mab 2A3, were used to detect CPsV in orchards of different citrus varieties in Campania, southern Italy. TAS ELISA with 13C5 detected all the infections detected by DAS ELISA. Overall, 14% of trees younger than 15 years were positive, but only 1% of older trees, suggesting that infected propagating material has been increasingly used in recent years, in the absence of certification. Highest infection rates were in younger trees of sweet orange (22.8%) and clementine (18.6%). CPsV could easily be detected at all seasons of the year tested (June–January); these and earlier results indicate that TAS ELISA using 13C5 is a sensitive, broad-spectrum and reliable diagnostic method useful for routine tests and certification programmes. Of 44 field isolates responding strongly to DAS ELISA and 13C5-TAS ELISA, mab 2A3 gave similar results with 29 isolates, but gave low values with the others, thus providing a degree of differentiation among isolates. To confirm that the ELISA tests were indeed detecting CPsV, samples of 42 ELISA-positive plants were analysed by ISEM in a blind test, and in 38 of these, characteristic virus particles were clearly seen. Although CPsV was frequently and consistently detected in the area sampled, bark scaling symptoms were not seen: possible reasons for this are discussed.     

Improved detection of citrus psorosis virus using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Citrus psorosis is a serious and widespread disease associated with citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), a novel filamentous negative-stranded virus in the genus Ophiovirus . Laborious and costly indexing on test plants has been the only routine diagnostic method available, but recently an antiserum usable in double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA has been prepared. Here, major improvements to the DAS-ELISA protocol, a new purification method, and production of two monoclonal antibodies (mabs) to CPsV, an IgG and an IgM are reported. A highly sensitive triple antibody sandwich (TAS) ELISA making use of the mabs is described. In glasshouse citrus the homologous virus was still detectable at a tissue dilution of 1/6250 in DAS and at 1/31250 in TAS-ELISA. Both the DAS and IgG mab-TAS formats detected all CPsV isolates so far tested (from Argentina, Italy, Lebanon, Spain and the USA). A few isolates were not detected by the IgM mab.     

Association of citrus psorosis B symptoms with a sequence variant of the Citrus psorosis virus RNA 2

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), the type species of genus Ophiovirus, is the presumed causal agent of a bark scaling disease in citrus plants. CPsV virions are kinked filaments composed of three negative‐strand RNA molecules and a ～48‐kDa coat protein. The virus induces two different syndromes: psorosis A (PsA), characterized by limited bark scaling lesions in the trunk and main limbs, and a more aggressive form of the disease called psorosis B (PsB) with rampant bark lesions affecting even thin branches and chlorotic blotches in old leaves. In the greenhouse, the PsA and PsB syndromes can be induced by graft inoculating healthy citrus seedlings with non‐lesion or with lesion bark inoculum from PsA‐affected field trees. PsA‐ and PsB‐inducing CPsV sub‐isolates obtained by this procedure from the same tree showed identical single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) profiles in homologous segments of the RNAs 1 and 3, whereas segments of the RNA 2 enabled discrimination between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated sequence variants. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population present in different tissues of psorosis‐infected plants showed that: (i) PsA‐inducing isolates contain PsB‐associated sequence variants at low frequency, (ii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant is predominant in blistered twigs and gummy pustules affecting old leaves, characteristic of PsB isolates, and (iii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant accumulates preferentially in bark lesions of the trunk and limbs. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population also enabled monitoring of interference between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated variants in plants co‐inoculated with both psorosis types.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus psorosis virus</Emphasis> in Japan

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) was detected from citrus trees for the first time in Japan. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular, serological, and biological indexing. RT-PCR detected CPsV from two citrus trees among ca. 200 tested. Both trees were variety Shiranui of [Citrus unshiu Marc. × C. sinensis (L.) Osb.] × C. reticulata Blanco, and neither had the bark scaling symptom typical of CPsV. The CPsV isolate could be genetically related to those from Spain, Italy, Florida, and California.     

运用一步法RT-PCR检测柑橘鳞皮病毒及其在橘橙不同部位中的全年分布

2005年5月到2006年4月逐月采样,运用一步法RT-PCR检测Citrus psorosis virus(CPV)在Dweet橘橙苗木叶片和枝皮中的分布。保存在控温温室中的Dweet橘橙病株中老叶、老皮、嫩叶和嫩皮全年都可以检测出CPV;保存在网室中的Dweet橘橙病株中老叶、老皮全年均能检测到CPV,而夏梢的嫩叶、嫩皮不能稳定地检测出CPV,春、秋梢的嫩叶、嫩皮均可检测到CPV,表明一步法RT-PCR检测CPV最佳取样部位为老叶和老皮。     

Effect of temperature on RNA silencing of a negative‐stranded RNA plant virus: Citrus psorosis virus

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), genus Ophiovirus, causes a bark scaling disease of citrus. CPsV virions are kinked filaments with three negative‐stranded RNA molecules (vRNA) and a 48 kDa coat protein. The effect of temperature on symptom expression, virus accumulation and RNA silencing was examined in sweet orange seedlings (Citrus sinensis) graft‐inoculated with three different CPsV isolates and grown in a glasshouse at 26/18°C or 32/26°C (day/night). Most plants kept in the cooler glasshouse showed a shock reaction in the first flush with shoot necrosis, and then moderate to intense chlorotic flecking and spotting in young leaves, whereas plants incubated at 32/26°C did not exhibit shoot necrosis, and young leaf symptoms were milder. Virus titre estimated by ELISA and by northern and dot blot hybridization paralleled symptom intensity, with significantly higher virus accumulation in plants incubated at 26/18°C. The amount of CPsV‐derived small RNAs (CPsV‐sRNAs) slightly increased at 32/26°C, with the ratio of CPsV‐sRNA/vRNA being higher at 32/26°C than at 26/18°C. These results suggest that (i) CPsV infection induces RNA silencing in citrus plants, (ii) symptom intensity is associated with virus accumulation, and (iii) temperature increase enhances the RNA silencing response of citrus plants and decreases virus accumulation.     

柑橘鳞皮病研究进展

柑橘鳞皮病是一种分布在包括南美洲和地中海等广大地区的重要病毒性病害,随着大量国外优良柑橘品种的引进,增加了柑橘鳞皮病随同苗木、接穗传入我国的可能性。本文对柑橘鳞皮病的类型、研究历史、病原、传播方式、检测技术以及防治方法作一综述,为今后我国对柑橘鳞皮病的检疫和防治研究提供基础。     

Elimination of Citrus psorosis virus by somatic embryogenesis from stigma and style cultures

Somatic embryogenesis was used to eliminate Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) from three citrus species (common mandarin, sweet orange and Dweet tangor), all of which regenerated somatic embryos with different embryogenic potential from stigma and style explants. CPsV was detected by double antibody sandwich‐indirect‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (DASI-ELISA) in explants and embryogenic callus, but was not detected in any of the plants obtained from somatic embryos, even 24 months after regeneration. Loss of juvenile characters (disappearance of thorns) was observed in the first year of growth and was retained in plants propagated by grafting from thornless stems. Somatic embryogenesis appears to be a very promising technique for the production of healthy citrus stocks.     

Detection of Citrus Leaf Blotch Virus Using Digoxigenin-Labeled cDNA Probes and RT–PCR

Citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV) was detected by dot-blot hybridization (DBH), and tissue print hybridization (TPH) and by one-step RT–PCR in citrus plants growing both in the greenhouse and in the field. DBH with digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probes allowed CLBV detection in dsRNA-rich and total RNA preparations equivalent to 5 and 0.1mg of infected tissue, respectively. DBH gave intense signals with RNA extracts from young bark, tender shoots and young leaves, whereas the best hybridization signals with TPH were obtained using tender shoots and young leaf petioles. One-step RT–PCR was 10-fold more sensitive than DBH and amplification was obtained with all infected tissues. CLBV was readily detected in young leaves of infected Eureka lemon, Marsh grapefruit, Nules clementine, Navelina orange and Nagami kumquat in the greenhouse, using either hybridization or RT–PCR, but not in leaves of Pineapple sweet orange. Detection in field trees was less consistent and was only achieved by RT–PCR and DBH. CLBV was detected by DBH and RT–PCR in different citrus varieties from several geographic areas showing bud union crease on trifoliate rootstocks, but not in neighbor trees with the same symptoms or in other varieties showing bud union crease on those rootstocks. Failure to detect CLBV in trees with bud union crease could be due to low virus titer or uneven distribution within the plant. Alternatively, a different agent could be involved in causing bud union crease.     

Uncontrolled Citrus psorosis virus infection in Citrus sinensis transgenic plants expressing a viral 24K-derived hairpin that does not trigger RNA silencing

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) is the causal agent of psorosis disease of citrus. Pineapple sweet orange plants were transformed with a hairpin construct derived from the viral 24k gene (lines ihp24K). Contrary to expectations, these lines did not trigger efficient RNA silencing, and when infected with CPsV they showed a phenotype of exacerbated symptoms with a persistent and homogeneous infection without the recovery observed in non-transgenic plants. Ihp24K lines did not behave similarly when challenged with Citrus tristeza virus. All these results indicate that hypersusceptibility is likely related to the specific action of 24K-derived hairpin over CPsV multiplication.     

Effect of temperature on peroxidase activity,isozyme patterns and concentration of threadlike particles in tristeza—infected citrus plants

Peroxidase activity (PA) in various tristeza-infected citrus varieties was significantly higher than in healthy controls. In leaves and bark of Egyptian sour lime and Palestine sweet lime, PA was correlated with symptom severity and content of threadlike particles (TLP). In infected roots of Egyptian sour lime, there was an increase in PA but TLP content was minimal. Temperatures above 22°C caused a gradual decrease in PA in both healthy and infected leaves of Egyptian sour lime trees. At 36°C, no differences in PA between infected and healthy samples were observed. In these plants TLP content was minimal and almost no symptoms were observed. No new isozymes were found in various host tissues infected with tristeza, psorosis, exocortis or impietratura. One isozyme appeared earlier in tristeza-infected plants than in healthy controls, suggesting that isozymes associated with senescence are activated at an earlier stage in infected plants than in healthy ones.     

Detection of citrus psorosis-ringspot virus using RT-PCR and DAS-ELISA

Psorosis, sometimes also associated with ringspot symptoms, is a widespread and damaging disease of citrus in many parts of the world including South America and the Mediterranean basin. We describe the application of RT-PCR and DAS-ELISA diagnostics to an isolate of citrus ringspot virus (CtRSV-4) and other virus isolates associated with this disease. Fragments of cDNA from bottom-component RNA of CtRSV-4 were cloned and sequenced, and PCR primers were designed, 5'ACAATAAGCAAGACAAC upstream, and 5'CCATGTCACTTCTATTC downstream. RT-PCR experiments using these primers allowed detection of CtRSV-4 in infected citrus leaves down to a tissue dilution of 1/12 800 representing 2 μg of tissue, and less sensitive detection of the related citrus psorosis-associated virus (CPsAV90-1-1) and four other psorosis isolates from Argentina and the USA. In addition, CtRSV-4 particles were partially purified from local lesions in Chenopodium quinoa, and the preparations used to raise a rabbit antiserum. The antiserum was absorbed with extracts of healthy C. quinoa leaves, and a DAS-ELISA kit was prepared and tested for detection of CtRSV-4, CPsAV90–1-1, and other psorosis isolates from Argentina, the USA, Italy and Spain. The ELISA detected CtRSV-4 down to a tissue dilution of 1/1600, and most other psorosis isolates down to dilutions of 1/200–1/800. Three of a total of 20 heterologous isolates were consistently negative. Comparison of the PCR and ELISA results suggests that both methods can be used for detection of a range of psorosis isolates, but that variation of the viruses in the field might cause problems for any one diagnostic test.     

Biological diversity of citrus ringspot isolates in Spain

Eight isolates of citrus ringspot were selected by symptoms induced in field trees and compared with a citrus psorosis isolate for symptom expression on several citrus species under temperature-controlled glasshouse conditions. Symptom expression in each host-isolate combination was quantified by a pathogenicity index (PI) that considered symptom intensity and the number of plants showing each symptom. A general pathogenicity index (GPI) was defined for each isolate as a weighted mean of the different PI. A wide range of symptoms could be observed depending on host-isolate combination and incubation temperature. On the basis of symptoms induced in the glasshouse, cross protecting reaction against psorosis B challenge inoculation, mechanical transmissibility to Chenopodium quinoa , and presence of a c. 48-kDa protein associated to fractions of a sucrose gradient infective on C. quinoa (Navas-Castillo et al, 1993), six of the ringspot isolates (RS-ALC, RS-SOR, RS-GR, RS-INV, RS-CV and RS-SR) could not be distinguished from the psorosis isolate used as control, whereas the other two isolates (RS-ALM and RS-BUR) were clearly different. Field symptoms induced by these two isolates also differed from those induced by psorosis or by the other ringspot isolates.     

Plum pox virus detection in dormant plum trees by PCR and ELISA

An immunocapture polymerase chain reaction (IC-PCR) protocol and ELISA were compared for their effectiveness in detecting plum pox virus (PPV) in dormant plum material. Although the IC-PCR was about one thousand times more sensitive than ELISA, PPV was detected by ELISA in 71–80% of bark samples collected in December, January and March 1996/97 from pot-grown rootstock trees inoculated with PPV the previous March, compared with 85–86% detection in the same samples by IC-PCR. In similar samples from one-year-old shoots taken from infected branches of orchard trees, 66–81% were positive by ELISA compared with 81–87% by IC-PCR. With bulked samples taken from the fibrous roots of the pot-grown trees, PPV was detected in 92–100% of samples by IC-PCR in winter compared with only 38–65% by ELISA. These results were confirmed in samples from the roots and shoots of the same trees in 1997/98. Three samples per shoot would have been sufficient to detect PPV by ELISA in 87 of the 88 infected shoots tested during the two winters. However, infected shoots are irregularly distributed in diseased trees and PCR assays of root samples offer the potential for improving the reliability of identifying trees infected with PPV.     

植物挥发性成分对柑桔潜叶蛾产卵行为的影响

柑桔潜叶蛾成虫对寄主和产卵部位的选择是其生存和种群发展的生物学基础。人工叶片法试验结果表明，寄主植物幼嫩叶中的挥发性化学物质对柑桔潜叶蛾成虫产卵有明显的引导作用，但不同柑桔品种对成虫产卵的影响没有显著差异，显示其含有相同的挥发性物质。用非寄主植物叶片试验发现，其挥发性物质对成虫产卵有明显的驱避干扰作用。马缨丹和印楝叶对成虫产卵的驱避中量(ORD50)分别为13．5和49．4mg鲜叶。     

Peach red marbling and peach sooty ringspot, two new virus-like degenerative diseases of Prunus

More than 600 Prunus samples were examined by using a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe specific for hop stunt viroid (HSVd). Prunus salicina and Prunus armeniaca appeared to be better hosts than Prunus persica . The weak viroid concentration in flowers and young leaves of peach trees growing in the field did not permit its detection in such samples. The diagnosis was more reliable (about 85%) with bark and leaves aged 4 months and more, from regrowths of GF 305 peach seedlings inoculated and kept in the greenhouse. Detection of HSVd in leaves and bark of apricot and Japanese plum plants aged 3 months or more also proved reliable (about 80% and 90%, respectively). HSVd could be transmitted in apricot, peach and plum nucleic acid preparations to GF 305 peach seedlings by repeated stem slashing, and to cherries ( Prunus avium and Prunus serrulata ) by approach grafting with an infected P. salicina source. The viroid was eliminated from 18% of the clones obtained after thermotherapy.
In the course of this study, 25 selected Prunus accessions suspected to be infected by unusual diseases were analysed by hybridization with a HSVd-specific probe and by indexing on GF 305 peach seedlings in the greenhouse. Fifteen of these accessions were found to be infected by HSVd, 19 induced reddish marbling, and four induced small blackish spots on the leaves aged about 4 months. Repeated assays showed that these foliar symptoms were not caused by the viroid. Peach red marbling (PRMa) has not been associated with any known virus and seems to be caused by an infectious agent not yet described. That could also be the case with the agent of peach sooty ringspot (PSRS). PRMa and PSRS symptoms were reproduced by grafting and indexing, and their causal agents eliminated by thermotherapy in a significant fraction of the treated plants. They behave like viral agents and can infect the different Prunus species studied.     

Citrus viroid II variants associated with ‘Gummy Bark’ disease

A viroid etiology for citrus gummy bark (CGB) disease of sweet orange is supported by the similarity of symptom expression to cachexia disease of mandarins and tangelos caused by the hop stunt viroid (HSVd) related citrus viroid II (CVd-II), as well as the detection of CVd-II variants in CGB infected Washington navel and Dörtyol sweet orange, a Turkish cultivar. A survey was made of 67 clones of CVd-II related variants recovered from severe CGB symptomatic and non-symptomatic trees of the same cultivars growing in close proximity. Only CVd-IIa, a non-cachexia inducing variant, was found in non-symptomatic Washington navel trees and no CVd-II variants were recovered from the Dörtyol control. CGB infected sources contained a number of CVd-II related variants with the predominant species detected closely related to CVd-IIc, a known cachexia inducing viroid. Biological activity of representactive variants from CGB sources was determined by transmission to citron (Citrus medica) as well as by bioassay on the indexing host for cachexia, Parson's Special mandarin (Citrus reticulata).