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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206935

Title: 2006 University Citrus Pest Management Guide: Tristeza

Author
item BRLANSKY, R.H. - CITRUS REC
item Hilf, Mark
item SIEBURTH, P. - DPI-FDACS
item DAWSON, W. - CITRUS REC
item ROBERTS, P. - SOUTHWEST FL REC
item TIMMER, L. - CITRUS REC

Submitted to: University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agriculture Science
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2006
Publication Date: 1/10/2006
Citation: Brlansky, R., Hilf, M.E., Sieburth, P.J., Dawson, W.O., Roberts, P.D., Timmer, L.W. 2006. 2006 university citrus pest management guide: tristeza. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agriculture Science.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a major cause of the decline and eventual death of trees on sour orange rootstocks. Initially, affected trees have small leaves and twig dieback. Diseased trees often produce a crop of very small fruit. Eventually, large limbs die back and the tree gradually declines. In some cases, trees may suffer from quick decline and wilt and die in a matter of weeks. On sour orange rootstock, some isolates of CTV cause an incompatibility at the budunion, which results in the loss of fibrous roots and reduced ability for water uptake. Bark flaps cut from across the graft union of declining trees often show pitting consisting of small holes (honeycombing) on the inside face of the bark flap from the rootstock side of the union. Quick decline trees may only have a yellow-brown stain at the budunion, and not show the honeycombing. Only trees on sour orange rootstock are affected by tristeza decline. Sweet oranges usually are more affected than grapefruit, whereas lemons on sour orange rootstock are not affected by tristeza decline.