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Identification of Citrus Tristeza Virus Strains by Peptide Maps of Virion Coat Protein. J. Guerri, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), 46113 Moncada (Valencia) Spain; P. Moreno(2), and R. F. Lee(3). (2)Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), 46113 Moncada (Valencia) Spain; (3)University of Florida, CREC, Lake Alfred 33850. Phytopathology 80:692-698. Accepted for publication 11 January 1990. Copyright 1990 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-80-692.

Virion coat proteins (CP) from six strains of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were purified by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of semipurified extracts and electroelution of the specific protein band from the gels. Peptide maps obtained by digestion of CPs with five endopeptidases (papain, trypsin, V8 protease, chymotrypsin, and thermolysin) and separation by SDS-PAGE distinguished the six CTV strains. Fewer differences among strains were observed in Western blots when the same digests were reacted with monoclonal antibodies, but Western blots provided additional information about the antigenic properties of peptides. Peptide maps and Western blot analysis enabled differentiation of CTV strains having similar biological properties and the same double-stranded RNA pattern.