First report of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Greece
In Greece, large scale surveys for Citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV - EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have been conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture since 1995. More than 26,000 trees have been tested (ELISA and immunoprinting). In summer 2000, the first tree (sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv. Lane Late grafted on tolerant citrange (C. sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata) cv. Carrizo) infected by CTV was found in Argolis county, Peloponese. This tree belonged to a lot of CAC propagation material (20 trees) which had been illegally introduced from Spain in 1994. Subsequently, trees of this lot were traced back and 45 % were infected. Trees grafted with this infected material were then traced back in Argolis and Chania (Crete), and more than 3,500 trees were removed. Surveys continued to identify and destroy new infections. A few cases (15 cases) of natural transmission to cultivars other than cv. Lane Late were found, but only in the vicinity of the initially infected trees in the Argolis area. In Spring 2001, surveys were extended to certified propagation material of mandarin (Citrus clementina) var. Clemenpons on Carrizo citrange imported from Spain, and 7 of 1,038 plants were infected (0.64%). This is the first confirmed report of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Greece. The situation of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Greece can be described as follows: Present, found in Peloponese and Crete, under official control.
Sources
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Dimou, D.; Drossopoulou, J.; Moschos, E.; Varveri, C.; Bem, F. (2002) First report of Citrus tristeza virus in Greece.
Plant Disease, 86(3), p 329.
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