Citrus tristeza closterovirus occurs in Alabama (US)
Within south-eastern USA, citrus is an economically important crop in Florida and Texas but is also grown in the gulf coast region. In Louisiana, approximately 500 ha of commercial citrus trees are grown (sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and Satsuma orange (C. reticulata)), with many dooryard citrus (kumquat (Fortunella spp.) and Meyer lemon (C. limon x C. reticulata)). In Alabama, approximately 50 ha of citrus are grown (mainly Satsuma). In both areas, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is the most common rootstock. ELISA studies were done on the occurrence of Citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV – EPPO A2 list) in Louisiana and Alabama. In Louisiana, 159 samples tested positive (out of 881) for CTV, and 28 of these positive samples were characterized as infected with decline inducing strains. In Alabama, 17 of 75 trees were found infected by CTV, and 2 isolates were characterized as decline-inducing strains. The EPPO Secretariat had previously no data on the occurrence of CTV in Alabama.
Sources
Valverde R, Landry A, Lotrakul P, Nestbitt M, Dozier W, Ebel R (2004) Identification of Citrus tristeza virus strains in Louisiana and Alabama.
Acta Horticulturae, no. 657, 567-571.