VIEW ARTICLE

Special Topics

Growth and Morphogenesis of Citrus Tissue Cultures Infected with Citrus Tristeza Virus and Citrus Infectious Variegation Virus. N. Duran -Vila, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain; M. Cambra, V. Medina, C. Ortega, and L. Navarro. Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain. Phytopathology 79: 820-826. Accepted for publication 1 December 1988. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-79-820.

Stem segments from citrus tristeza virus (CTV) and citrus infectious variegation virus (CIVV) infected Pineapple sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia), and Etrog citron (C. medica), and uninfected controls were cultured in vitro. Production of roots and regeneration of shoots and buds was reduced as a result of virus infection. The number of explants showing morphogenesis and the amount of rooting and/or regeneration of shoots and buds were affected as compared with the uninfected explants cultured as controls. The effects on morphogenic patterns depended on the virus, the virus strain, and the host. Explants infected with CIVV produced significantly less primary callus than did the controls, whereas CTV did not affect callus induction. The amount and morphology of secondary callus after periodic subculturing was similar in infected and uninfected tissues. Indexing of callus by ELISA-double antibody sandwich and electron microscopy indicated that CIVV-infected callus was a good host system for virus replication, purification, and cell morphology studies, whereas CTV could not be detected after continuous callus cultures.