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Poster: Diseases of Plants: Disease Detection & Diagnosis

531-P

Three genomic regions of Cilevirus allows detection and discrimination of two related species infecting citrus.
W. TURIZO (1), O. Oliveros (1), F. Ochoa-Corona (2) (1) Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia; (2) Oklahoma State University, U.S.A.

Citrus leprosis disease (CLD) is caused by diverse etiological agents such as Citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C) and a newly proposed Citrus leprosis virus cytoplasmic type 2 (CiLV-C2), both in the genus Cilevirus and transmitted by Tenuipalpidae (false spider mites) Brevipalpus spp. CLD is also caused by Citrus leprosis virus nuclear type (CiLV-N) a possible Dichorhavirus (Dichorhabdovirus) and Hibiscus green spot virus 2 (HGSV 2) a Higrevirus infecting citrus trees in Hawaii. The presence of CiLV-C in the western plains of Colombia was reported in 2005 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A second report of CiLV-C2 sequenced from symptomatic citrus samples using next generation sequencing was made in 2013. These two reports had raised questions about distribution of CiLV-C and CiLV-C2 in Colombia and whether both viruses coinfect citrus groves. This study analyzed genomic sequences of CiLV-C and CiLV-C2 seeking target sequences for detection and discrimination using reverse transcription multiplex PCR. The developed assay is fast, sensitive and specific for detection and discrimination of these two species of Cilevirus infecting citrus. Only CiLV-C2 and no coinfections were found in samples collected in the citrus growing region of Meta and Casanare, Colombia.