First report of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Serbia and Montenegro
In Serbia and Montenegro, approximately 400,000 citrus trees (mainly Satsuma mandarins and lemons grafted on Poncirus trifoliata) are grown in the Montenegrin coastal region which is the major citrus-producing area. In December 2003, 8 samples taken near the cities of Bar and Ulcinj were tested by ELISA and IC-RT-PCR for the presence of Citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV – EPPO A2 list). CTV was detected in 7 samples which had been collected from 5 trees showing chlorosis, gummosis and fruit deformation, and from 2 symptomless trees. As symptoms observed in these 5 trees were not typical of CTV, it is felt that the virus is probably not responsible for symptoms observed in the field. Although a very small number of samples was analysed, CTV appears to be very common in Satsuma orchards. It is suggested that this could be due to the traditional use of trifoliate rootstock which prevents the appearance of tristeza decline and enables the unnoticed propagation of infected material. This is the first confirmed report of CTV in Serbia and Montenegro. In former Yugoslavia, the presence of CTV had previously been confirmed in a region which is now part of Croatia.
The situation of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Serbia and Montenegro can be described as follows: Present, first confirmed in 2003 on a few samples taken in the Montenegrin coastal region.
Sources
Papic T, Santos C, Nolasco G (2005) First report of Citrus tristeza closterovirus in Serbia and Montenegro.
Plant Disease 89(4), p 434.