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Etiology

Mechanical Transmission of Citrus Tristeza Virus. S. M. Garnsey, Horticultural Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Orlando, FL 32803; D. Gonsalves(2), and D. E. Purcifull(3). (2)University of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL 33850; (3)Plant Virus Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Phytopathology 67:965-968. Accepted for publication 20 January 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-965.

An isolate of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was mechanically transmitted by a knife-cut inoculation procedure to Etrog citron (Citrus medica) receptor plants. The virus was transmitted directly from donor to receptor plants via a contaminated knife blade in 16 of 120 attempts, and from three bark extracts of varying purity to receptor plants in 20 of 67 attempts. Plants infected by mechanical inoculation showed typical systemic symptoms and contained flexuous, threadlike particles (TLP) that are associated with tristeza infection. Control plants remained healthy.