Detection and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus tristeza virus</Emphasis> stem pitting isolates in Jamaica

An island wide survey for Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in citrus orchards across Jamaica (13 regions) was conducted over 2 years. Trees (1, 885) showing virus-like symptoms as well as asymptomatic trees were randomly sampled for testing by ELISA and 55 samples from the 6 major citrus growing regions were graft inoculated on indicator plants. Most samples (74%) reacted to polyclonal antibodies against CTV in ELISA, while 20% were positive in tests using monoclonal antibodies specific to severe CTV strains. Samples collected from the 6 major citrus growing regions produced vein clearing and stem pitting symptoms on Mexican lime indicator plants (87%). In addition, stem pitting symptoms were induced on Duncan grapefruit, sweet orange, sour orange or sweet orange grafted on sour orange. Nucleotide sequencing of the coat protein gene sequences isolated from these samples indicated high identities (88 to 95.5%) among the Jamaican isolates and previously reported stem pitting strains from Central and North America and Eurasia (88 to 100%). The results suggest a shared ancestry with isolates from other geographical locations, rather than geographical speciation, and presumably separate CTV introductions into Jamaica.     

Characterization of Citrus tristeza virus isolates in northern Iran

The biological and molecular properties of four Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates isolated from infected Satsuma trees imported from Japan, and growing in citrus groves in northern Iran (Mahdasht orchards, Mazandaran Province), were investigated. CTV-infected samples were collected from sweet orange trees and grafted onto Alemow (Citrus macrophylla Wester) seedlings. On indicator plants, these isolates produced various symptoms including vein clearing and stem pitting on Mexican lime, Alemow, and Citrus hystrix, and yellowing and stunting on sour orange and grapefruit seedlings. Citrus samples were also surveyed for CTV using serological tests. The coat protein (CP) gene of these isolates was amplified using specific primers, yielding an amplicon of 672 bp for all isolates. Sequence analysis showed 98%–99% sequence homology of Iranian isolates with the Californian CTV severe stem-pitting isolate SY568 and 97%–98% homology with the Japanese seedling yellows isolate NUagA. The Iranian isolates were compared by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the CP amplicon for further classification.     

Biological characterization of citrus tristeza virus isolates by in vitro tissue cultures

Stem segments from Mexican lime, sweet orange, grapefruit, Citrus excelsa and alemow, infected with five citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates, were cultured in vitro . Regeneration of roots and shoots were modified as a result of infection. The effect of CTV on the morphogenesis of stem segments cultured in vitro depended on the CTV isolate and the plant host, and showed a correlation with the in vivo effects observed in biological indexing. Evaluation of the morphogenic response of stem segments of Mexican lime and grapefruit can be used as an additional tool for the biological characterization of CTV isolates. The symptoms on sweet orange plants obtained from regenerated shoots indicated that CTV is unevenly distributed in the host plant cells and that the regeneration process may be utilized as a tool to separate strains from complex field isolates.     

Investigation of biological properties, double-stranded RNA patterns and antigen concentration in citrus species infected with citrus tristeza virus

Biological properties and dsRNA patterns of one Cyprus and three Turkish isolates of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were investigated. In addition, CTV antigen concentration and effect of tissue sampling time from naturally infected Shamouti sweet orange trees grown in the field of Icel Province, Turkey, were also determined. The Cyprus isolate showed vein clearing symptoms on grapefruit, ‘Madam Vinous’ and Mexican lime and stem pitting symptoms on Mexican lime. The three Turkish isolates showed only vein clearing symptoms on Mexican lime. All four isolates showed a full-length major double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) band of 13.3 × 10⁶ Da mol. wt in extracts from infected Madam Vinous sweet orange trees, and major or minor dsRNA bands with 2.0. 0.8 and 0.5 × 10⁶ mol.wt. All seven different citrus varieties inoculated with the Igdir (D) strain contained full-length dsRNA. The additional two dsRNA of 0.8 and 0.5 × 10⁶ mol.wt were also detected as clearly as full-length dsRNA in these hosts, but were weaker inCitrus exelsa and ‘Interdonat’ lemon. Madam Vinous, rough lemon and Mexican lime were the best hosts for dsRNA analysis. ELISA values were highest in April (OD_405nm =0.476), decreased steadily until August, and then increased gradually through December. ELISA values were lowest in July and August (OD_405nm =0.157 and 0.141, respectively). dsRNA recovery from a field tree infected with isolate Igdir D was good in March, April and May and poor in January and February. No dsRNA band was detected in August or September. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 9, 2002.     

Separation and interference of strains from a citrus tristeza virus isolate evidenced by biological activity and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) analysis

Separation of strains of citrus tristeza virus (CTV), differentiated by their double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) profiles, was obtained by graft-inoculating citron plants from a Mexican lime that had been recently aphid- or graft-inoculated with a mild CTV isolate (T-385). Up to 24 sub-isolates with differing dsRNA profiles were obtained from the aphid-inoculated lime. Some of these sub-isolates induced stronger symptoms in several citrus species than the original T-385 isolate. One sub-isolate, T-385-33, was mild in Mexican lime, but induced stem pitting on sweet orange. Inoculation of this isolate on Mexican lime, sour orange and Eureka lemon induced mild or no symptoms when inoculum was taken from citron, but very severe symptoms when the inoculum was from sweet orange. Mexican lime and sweet orange plants co-inoculated with T-385-33 from sweet orange in combination with the other 23 sub-isolates showed mild symptoms. The results obtained suggest that there is natural cross-protection among sub-isolates in the original T-385 isolate.     

应用改进的多克隆抗体Western blot技术研究柑桔速衰病毒蛋白

 本文利用多克隆抗体发展了一种无背景的Western blot技术并用于研究柑桔速衰病毒(CTV)的蛋白。结果表明,利用CTV兔多克隆抗体1212和1052发展的Western blot技术可以检测到感染CTV的墨西哥酸橙或Citrus excelsa植株内CTV的4种蛋白P1、P2、P3和P4。在健株或病株内杂交反应均无非特异性背景。从不同寄主上分离到的CTV不同分离物的蛋白条带是不同的。利用1212和1052抗体均可以检测到感染6个CTV分离物的墨西哥酸橙幼苗内的P1、P2和P3。利用1052抗体能检测到感染严重型分离物T36、T3和Mm2的墨西哥酸橙幼苗内微弱的P4,但感染轻型分离物T30、T26和T4的幼苗内则检测不到。利用1212抗体检测不到P4。在C. excelsa内,1212和1052抗体均能检测到感染所有分离物的病株内的P1。在感染T3、T26、T4或Mm2的病株内能检测到P2,但在感染T30和36分离物的病株内则检测不到。在感染T36、T3、T26、T4和Mm2的病株内可检测到P3,但在感染T30的病株内则检测不到。在大多数植物内,P1、P2、P3和P4的分子量分别约为25kDa,24kDa,21kDa和18kDa。在感染T36分离物的C. excelsa植株体内,P1和P3的分子量分别约为27kDa和22kDa,比感染其它分离物的C. excelsa和墨西哥酸橙内的P1和P3分子量略大。P1、P2和P3的分子量与利用单克隆抗体检测的CP,CP1和CP2的分子量相等。因此,P1、P2和P3可能是CTV的外壳蛋白CP,CP1和CP2。P4的特性不清楚。研究结果也表明,利用特异性的多克隆抗体进行的Western blot是研究CTV的一种有用的技术。应用该技术,病株内不同的CTV分离物或株系就可以通过特异性蛋白条带区分开来。     

Aphid Transmission Alters the Genomic and Defective RNA Populations of Citrus tristeza virus Isolates

ABSTRACT A total of 14 Spanish isolates of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) and 1 isolate from Japan were transmitted by Aphis gossypii, and the subisolates obtained were compared with the source isolates for symptom expression and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) pattern. Of the 14 Spanish isolates, 9 showed altered dsRNA patterns after aphid transmission but only minor variations in the intensity of symptoms induced on Mexican lime. Northern blot hybridization with complementary DNA (cDNA) probes corresponding to both the 5' and the 3' termini of the CTV genomic RNA (gRNA) showed that the dsRNA bands that could be used to discriminate between the dsRNA pattern of the source and the aphid-transmitted isolates were the replicative forms of defective RNAs (D-RNAs). Conversely, the Japanese isolate and two subisolates obtained from it by aphid transmission had the same dsRNA pattern, but one of the subisolates induced milder symptoms in several hosts. Dot-blot hybridization with cDNA probes representing several regions of the gRNA showed that most of the aphid-transmitted isolates differed from the corresponding source isolate by their hybridization pattern. Our results indicate that aphid transmission often sorts the populations of gRNA variants and D-RNAs present in CTV isolates.     

Biological diversity of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates in Spain

A survey of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates was carried out in most citrus-growing areas in Spain. Twenty-two isolates were selected by geographical origin, cultivar of source tree, and symptoms observed on the host or in preliminary tests, and were biologically characterized.
A wide range of variation in transmissibility by aphids and symptom intensity on nine different indicator species or scion-rootstock combinations was observed among CTV isolates. Mexican lime. Citrus macrophylla , and to a lesser extent citron were the most useful hosts for characterizing these isolates, and leaf symptoms and stem pitting were the most discriminating traits. Positive correlation was observed between symptoms induced on Mexican lime and C. macrophylla , but not between the symptoms induced on these indicators under greenhouse conditions and the homologous symptoms on plants grown in the screenhouse. Some of the traits studied enabled us to establish relatively well-defined groups of isolates, but in most cases a continuous range of variation was obtained and no clear group could be defined.     

枸头橙种子中柑桔衰退-茎陷点病毒的鉴定

 采用双抗体夹心-酶联免疫吸附测定试验(DAS-ELISA)对枸头橙种子中柑桔衰退-茎陷点病毒的带毒情况进行了鉴定。结果表明,从严重感染茎陷点病的枸头橙罹病树采集的种子可检测到柑桔衰退病毒(CTV)。种子带毒量以内种皮为较高,剥皮种子次之,外种皮呈阴性。种子在4℃冰箱内贮藏1~2年后仍带毒,但带毒量有所下降。对带毒种子繁殖的实生苗及嫁接在实生苗上的墨西哥来檬的检测结果,有部分呈阳性,种植在防虫隔离网室内的100余株2年生枸头橙实生苗,用无毒珠心系的墨西哥来檬芽嫁接进行生物鉴定,经2年观察未发现症状     

Host range and symptomatology of a graft-transmissible pathogen causing bud union crease of citrus on trifoliate rootstocks

A graft-transmissible pathogen causing bud union crease of Nagami kumquat SRA–153 on Troyer citrange was characterized for host range and symptomatology. Buds of Marsh grapefruit, Nules clementine, Eureka lemon and Pineapple sweet orange preinoculated with kumquat SRA–153 were propagated on citrange rootstocks. Some plants of Nules clementine and Eureka lemon had developed bud union crease six months after propagation, whereas all Marsh grapefruit and Pineapple sweet orange plants still showed normal bud union after one year. On indexing these preinoculated species, Nules clementine and Eureka lemon caused vein clearing in Pineapple sweet orange and Dweet tangor, chlorotic blotching in Dweet tangor and stem pitting in Etrog citron, whereas Marsh grapefruit and Pineapple sweet orange caused only chlorotic blotching in Dweet tangor and stem pitting in Etrog citron. Following shoot-tip grafting in vitro of kumquat SRA–153, kumquats 38–1 and 497–2 obtained from it caused chlorotic blotching in Dweet tangor and stem pitting in Etrog citron, but not vein clearing in Pineapple sweet orange and Dweet tangor or bud union crease when propagated on citrange. These results suggest the presence of at least two pathogens or pathogen strains in kumquat SRA–153 and the elimination of one of them after shoot-tip grafting in vitro or inoculation on Marsh grapefruit or Pineapple sweet orange. They also indicate that the pathogens in kumquat SRA–153 can be detected by indexing on Dweet tangor or Etrog citron.     

Nucleotide Sequence of Citrus Tristeza Virus Seedling Yellows Isolate

The complete nucleotide sequence of a seedling-yellows-inducing isolate NUagA of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was determined. It consisted of 19302 nucleotides and contained 12 open reading frames (ORF) organized identically to those of previously sequenced isolates. This genome is the largest among the CTV genome sequenced so far ; it is 6 nucleotides (nt), 76 nt, 43 nt, and 53 nt longer than that of T36 (quick decline, Florida), VT (seedling yellows, Israel), T385 (mild, Spain), and SY568 (stem pitting, California), respectively. Sequence comparison of NUagA and the other isolates revealed approximately 90% identities throughout the 3′ half of the genome. The 5′ half of the genome was only about 70% identical to that of T36 but still high at about 90% to those of VT, SY568, and T385. Comparison of amino acid sequences on ORF1a encoding polyproteins, the most variable region, reflects the CTV isolate relationship ; NUagA is closely related to VT, SY568, and T385, but distantly related to T36. Received 29 May 2000/ Accepted in revised form 16 November 2000     

摩洛哥脐血橙植株上一种机械传播性病毒的鉴定

 本文采用叶片接种法和枝条接种法对25个柑桔种类体细胞杂种或品种进行了抗脚腐病鉴定,结果表明:体细胞杂种中枳+酸橙、枳+甜橙为高抗类型;酸橙+兰普来檬、枳+印度酸桔;蚝壳刺+哈姆甜橙、酸橙+澳洲指桔为抗性;酸橙+印度酸桔为中抗。建立了叶片接种法的抗病性分级标准。初步分析了柑桔体细胞杂种的抗性规律。     

我国部分地区沙地葡萄茎痘相关病毒分离物外壳蛋白序列变异分析

为明确我国葡萄中沙地葡萄茎痘相关病毒（GRSPaV）的感染情况及病毒外壳蛋白（coat protein,CP）基因的变异特点,从而为其致病性、病害的防治以及抗病毒基因工程等研究提供依据,本研究对采自我国16个省市自治区的65个葡萄品种305株葡萄样品中的GRSPaV进行RT-PCR检测,根据地区与品种差异选取了24个阳性样品进行cp基因克隆与测序分析,并对不同RNA提取方法进行了比较。结果显示,114株样品被GRSPaV侵染,平均带毒株率为37.4%;分离物间及同一分离物不同克隆间的序列差异较大,从24个分离物克隆获得的37条cp基因序列与来源于不同国家的12个GRSPaV分离物的核苷酸序列同源性为80.5%~99.7%,氨基酸序列同源性为88.8%~100%;各个分离物的遗传距离无明显地域差异;SiO₂吸附法比SDS法和CTAB法更适宜葡萄样品RNA的提取。     

Molecular variability of the 5'- and 3'-terminal regions of citrus tristeza virus RNA

ABSTRACT Isolates of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) differ widely in their biological properties. These properties may depend on the structure of viral RNA populations comprising the different isolates. As a first approach to study the molecular basis of the biological variability, we have compared the sequences of multiple cDNA clones of the two terminal regions of the RNA from different CTV isolates. The polymorphism of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) allowed the classification of the sequences into three groups, with intragroup sequence identity higher than 88% and intergroup sequence identity as low as 44%. The variability of an open reading frame (ORF) 1a segment adjacent to the 5' UTR supports the same grouping. Some CTV isolates contained sequences of more than one group. Most sequences from Spanish isolates belonged to group III, whereas a Japanese isolate was composed mostly of sequences of groups I and II. The mildest isolates contained only sequences of group III, whereas the most severe isolates also contained sequences of groups I, II, or both. The most stable secondary structure predicted for the 5' UTR was composed of two stem-loops and remained essentially unchanged as a result of compensatory mutations in the stems and accommodation of most of the variability in the loops. In contrast to the 5'-terminal region, the variability of the 3'-terminal region of CTV RNA was very much restricted, with nucleotide identity values higher than 90%. The presence of a conserved putative "zinc-finger" domain adjacent to a basic region in p23, the predicted product of ORF 11, suggests that this protein might act as a regulatory factor during virus replication.     

Biological diversity of Rhizoctonia solani (AG-3) in a northern potato-cultivation environment in Finland

A total of 119 isolates of Rhizoctonia were collected from stem canker lesions, stolon and root lesions, hymenia on stems, or from black scurf on tubers of potato plants ( Solanum tuberosum ) in Finland (latitudes 60–67°N). All isolates except three belonged to anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) of R. solani , as determined by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Sensitivity of the 119 isolates to the fungicide flutolanil was tested in vitro (EC₅₀ values 0·14–0·75  µ g active ingredient mL⁻¹). The isolates also varied considerably in growth rate (5·1–14·8 mm day⁻¹). The severity of disease caused by 99 isolates was determined based on the proportion of potato sprouts affected by lesions, discoloration or death, which was c . 1–60%. Only two isolates that were able to cause severe symptoms showed particularly low sensitivity to the fungicide and rapid growth rate. One isolate each of anastomosis groups AG-2-1 and AG-5 and an unknown, binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were detected. The AG-5 isolate and the binucleate isolate caused mild symptoms on potato sprouts, whereas the AG-2-1 isolate was not pathogenic. Taken together, AG-3 of R. solani was the predominant causal agent of the stem canker and black scurf diseases of potato in Finland and showed considerable variability in disease severity, fungicide sensitivity and growth rate in vitro .     

Comparison of viral RNA populations of pathogenically distinct isolates of Citrus tristeza virus : application to monitoring cross-protection

The population of sequence variants of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates of different geographic origins and pathogenicity properties was characterized by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of cDNA of the genes p18, p13, p20 and p23. The mild isolates analysed here usually yielded a SSCP profile with two DNA bands, suggestive of a predominant sequence variant, whereas the SSCP profile of the most virulent isolates contained more than two DNA bands, indicating that their viral populations are likely to be more complex. The set of SSCP profiles of the four genes allowed identification of individual isolates, but no profile characteristic of a geographic area or a biogroup was found. Sweet orange plants singly inoculated with a mild or with a severe isolate yielded the SSCP profile characteristic of each isolate, whereas the SSCP profile of plants successively inoculated with both isolates was a composite of the two individual profiles. The SSCP profile of plants singly inoculated remained constant, but the profile of doubly inoculated plants varied with time. Plants in which the SSCP profile of the severe isolate became predominant showed stem pitting, and those in which the predominant profile corresponded to the mild isolate remained symptomless. The results indicate that SSCP analysis can be used to study changes in RNA populations of doubly inoculated plants and to monitor cross-protection between mild and severe isolates.     

Comparison of the minor coat protein gene sequences of aphid-transmissible and -nontransmissible isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus tristeza virus</Emphasis>

The nucleotide sequences for the minor coat protein (CPm) gene and its deduced amino acid sequences for two aphid-transmissible and two nontransmissible isolates of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) from symptomless orchard trees of Miyagawa satsuma [Citrus unshiu (Macf.) Marc.] on trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliate (L.) Raf.] and declining Washington navel [C. sinensis (L.) Osb.] trees on sour orange (C. aurantium L.) rootstocks were analyzed and compared with those of highly transmissible CTV strains available in GenBank. The isolates produced severe symptoms on indicator plants and their aphid transmissibility was assayed through acquisition by A. gossypii of CTV and subsequent inoculation feeding on young Mexican lime seedlings. The CPm gene nucleotides and coded amino acid sequences were very similar among the nontransmissible isolates and among the transmissible. Five of 73 nucleotide substitutions that existed between CPm gene nucleotide sequence of nontransmissible and transmissible isolates caused changes in the deduced amino acid sequences of the nontransmissible isolates. Two nucleotide substitutions yielded new amino acids with similar properties. However, the three remaining mutations led to substitution of new amino acids with a different charge and polarity at positions 14, 238 and 239. The last two mutations occurred at the C-terminal region of the CPm, which is implicated in the formation of a salt bridge that helps to maintain the protein’s tertiary structure. Amino acid substitutions can affect aphid transmission efficiency by altering the conformation of the proteins or masking motifs involved in the interaction between CPm and aphid stylets.     

Two paths of sequence divergence in the citrus tristeza virus complex

ABSTRACT Comparison of a sampling of complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences from the Florida citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates T3 and T30 to the sequence of the genome of the Israeli isolate VT showed a relatively consistent or symmetrical distribution of nucleotide sequence identity in both the 5' and 3' regions of the 19.2-kb genome. In contrast, comparison of these sequences to the sequence of isolate T36 showed a dramatic decrease in sequence identity in the 5' proximal 11 kb of the genome. A cDNA probe derived from this region of the T36 genome hybridized to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of only 3 of 10 different Florida CTV isolates. In contrast, analogous probes from T3 and T30 hybridized differentially to the seven isolates not selected by the T36 probe. Primers designed from cDNA sequence for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) selectively amplified these 10 isolates, allowing them to be classified as similar to T3, T30, or T36. In contrast, individual cDNA probes derived from the 3' terminal open reading frames of the T3, T30, and T36 genomes all hybridized to dsRNA from all Florida CTV isolates tested, and PCR primers designed from the T36 capsid protein gene sequence amplified successfully from all isolates. Based on these data, we propose the creation of two groups of CTV, exemplified by the VT and T36 isolates, respectively. Isolates in the VT group, which include isolates VT, T3, and T30, have genomic sequence divergence that is relatively constant in proportion and distribution throughout the genome, and candidate isolates for that group could be considered strains of the same virus. The T36 group is differentiated from the VT group by the highly divergent 5' genomic sequence. This 5' region of the CTV genome, thus, can serve as a measure of the extent of sequence divergence and can be used to define new groups and group members in the CTV complex.     

Biological and molecular characterization of a distinct Citrus tristeza virus isolate originating from a lemon tree in Greece

A Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolate (L192GR) naturally occurring in lemon trees of more than 100 years old in Greece was fully characterized. Virus‐derived small interfering RNAs, induced by Dicer processing of dsRNAs formed during RNA virus replication, were isolated and used as targets for sequencing. Next‐generation high‐throughput sequencing using the Ion Torrent platform was performed. A total of 432 632 sequences, 94·05% of which corresponded to L192GR, were determined. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis enabled the determination of the full‐length 19 251 nt genome of the L192GR isolate (GenBank no. KC262793 ). Comparative analysis of complete genomes revealed molecular homology with CTV‐VT isolate FS2‐2 from Florida (GenBank no. EU937519 ) with 98·2% nucleotide sequence identity. Recombination events were detected in L192GR and they probably contribute to its unique characteristics. Specifically, although most isolates of the CTV‐VT group induce the seedling yellows syndrome and react positively with the monoclonal antibody MCA13, which is typically associated with severe CTV isolates, the MCA13‐positive L192GR gave very mild or even no symptoms in the seedling yellows indicator plants. Furthermore, experimental aphid transmissibility studies revealed a poor transmission efficiency of 20%. This is the first report of a CTV isolate originating from a lemon tree being fully characterized at biological, serological and molecular levels. The present study further confirms that, when the goal is the risk assessment associated with a new pathogen or isolate in a particular area, molecular data have to be combined with the biological properties of the pathogen.