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Title: PURIFICATION OF VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES FROM CITRUS CHLOROTIC DWARF INFECTED CITRUS - VIRUS OR NOT?

Author
item BRLANSKY, R - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item HOWD, D - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Hartung, John
item GARNSEY, S - ARS (RETIRED)
item KORKMAZ, S - CANAKKALE ORSEKIZ UNIV.

Submitted to: Conference of International Organization of Citrus Virologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2001
Publication Date: 9/1/2002
Citation: Brlansky, R.H., Howd, D.S., Hartung, J.S., Garnsey, S.M., Korkmaz, S. 2002. Purification of virus-like particles from citrus chlorotic dwarf infected citrus - virus or not?. Conference of International Organization of Citrus Virologists.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus chlorotic dwarf (CCD) was found in Turkey in the mid 1980's, several years after the introduction of the bayberry whitefly, Parabemesia myrica (Kuwana). The disease affects nearly all cultivars of citrus although sweet orange is less susceptible. CCD is vectored by the bayberry whitefly and is graft and mechanically transmitted. The etiology is presumed to be viral. However no virion has been associated with the disease. CCD was established in the USDA, ARS exotic citrus quarantine facility in Beltsville, MD and purifications were attempted. Young flush, new leaves and bark tissue from CCD infected citrus were homogenized in phosphate buffer, extracted through cheesecloth, clarified using butanol/chloroform and PEG precipitated overnight. The resuspended PEG pellet was layered on a sucrose cushion and centrifuged. The resulting pellet was resuspended and centrifuged overnight on a cesium sulfate gradient. Light scattering bands viewed were collected and examined using transmission electron microscopy. A slightly flexous filamentous particle was seen from some of the bands. This material was slash inoculated into healthy Citrus macrophylla plants, and these plants will be evaluated for symptom expression. This research may lead to a thorough characterization of the virus and efficient diagnostic reagents for epidemiological studies and phytosanitary quarantine.