New citrus disease in Turkey
A new disorder of citrus has been observed recently in Turkey and reached epidemic levels at the end of the 80s. According to the symptoms observed on citrus indicator plants, the absence of serological relationship with citrus crinkly leaf virus and citrus infectious variegation virus and its suspected transmission by Parabemisia myricae, it seems that the causal agent is not related to citrus crinkly leaf virus or citrus infectious variegation virus. A survey has been conducted in three provinces of Turkey (I‡el, Adana, Hatay) and in 55 citrus orchards. In total, 4407 randomly selected trees have been visually observed for symptoms from September 1993 to March 1994. On average, 20.3 % citrus trees showed symptoms. However, nearly all infected trees were found in I‡el with high infection levels and in two small locations in Adana but with a low incidence. The disease was not observed in the province of Hatay. In addition, in order to study the natural transmission of the disease, virus-free rough lemon seedlings (Citrus jambhiri) grown in pots have been placed in heavily infected orchards from May to October 1993 and then moved into a greenhouse for symptom observation. Natural transmission of the disease occurred but only few whitefly vectors, P. myricae, were found in the orchards. The authors are very concerned about the possible further spread of this disease, especially in the Province of Adana.
Sources
Korkmaz, S.; €inar, A.; Bozan, O.; Kersting, U. (1994) Distribution and natural transmission of a new whitefly-borne virus disease of citrus in the eastern Mediterranean region of Trkiye.
Paper presented at the 9th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union.