Citrus bright spot virus (Dichorhavirus australis), a new virus associated with Citrus leprosis disease in Brazil
Citrus leprosis (EPPO A1 List) is a viral disease of citrus crops associated with a number of viruses (EPPO RS 2017/152): citrus leprosis virus C (Cilevirus, CiLV-C), citrus leprosis virus C2 (Cilevirus, CiLV-C2), citrus leprosis virus N (Dichorhavirus leprosis, CiLV-N), citrus necrotic spot virus (Dichorhavirus, CiNSV), Hibiscus green spot virus 2 (Higrevirus, HGSV-2), the citrus strain of Orchid fleck virus, and citrus chlorotic spot virus (Dichorhavirus citri).
A new virus species was detected in three orchards of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) trees in Southern Brazil (states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul). Symptoms were large bright yellow chlorotic spots, mostly rounded and similar to the symptoms induced by CiCSV. Necrotic lesions were frequently found on the fruits but not on the affected leaves.
The virus was characterized as a Dichorhavirus and named citrus bright spot virus (CiBSV), and the species was tentatively named Dichorhavirus australis.
Preliminary tests of transmission showed that Brevipalpus azores could act as a vector to transmit CiBSV from Citrus sinensis to Arabidopsis thaliana.
Sources
Chabi-Jesus C, Ramos-González PL, Tassi AD, Rossetto Pereira L, Bastianel M, Lau D, Canale MC, Harakava R, Novelli VM, Kitajima EW, Freitas-Astúa J (2023) Citrus bright spot virus: a new dichorhavirus, transmitted by Brevipalpus azores, causing Citrus leprosis disease in Brazil. Plants 12(6), 1371. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061371