Detection and characterization of citrus viroid complex in Uruguay

Abstract

Atrog citron Arizona 861 (Citrus medica L.) plants were inoculated with bark from different field sources showing dwarfing and bark scaling and form asymptomatic trees. After 3 and 4 months they showed reduced growth, epinasty in leaves, vein necrosis, point necrosis of the petiole and shock symptoms. sPAGE, slot blot and molecular hybridization analysis of nucleic acids allowed to detect the presence of three viroid group, CVd-I; CVd-II and CVd-III first reported in our country, associated with the causal agent of citrus exocortis (CEVd). The viroids from group CVd-IV has not been detected. All the tested field sources showed a mixture of CEVd with viroids of the groups CV-I, CVd-II and CVd-III.