Citrus exocortis
Citrus exocortis is a disease of citrus plants, caused by the Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd). It can cause stunted growth and reduced yields in affected plants. The disease is also sometimes called "scalybutt".[1] CEVd can also infect tomato plants. The resulting disease is sometimes called "tomato bunchy top disease."[2]
| Citrus exocortis viroid | |
|---|---|
Virus classification  | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | incertae sedis |
| Kingdom: | incertae sedis |
| Phylum: | incertae sedis |
| Class: | incertae sedis |
| Order: | incertae sedis |
| Family: | Pospiviroidae |
| Genus: | Pospiviroid |
| Species: | Citrus exocortis viroid |
Symptoms
Other symptoms include leaf epinasty, stunting, and necrosis of the leaf midvein. Affected trees will show rootstock "shelling" where the bark peels off of the rootstock – the lower tree that the main orange cultivar was grafted onto. Generally trifoliate orange rootstocks and their hybrids are susceptible.[3][4]
Management
Infected trees should be culled from the orchard. When pruning in infected orchards, tools must be vigorously bleached between cuts to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of infections. Heat does not kill the viroid.[3]
See also
References
- "Citrus exocortis" (PDF). NSW Department of Primary industries. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- Mishra MD, Hammond RW, Owens RA, Smith DR, Diener TO (August 1991). "Indian bunchy top disease of tomato plants is caused by a distinct strain of citrus exocortis viroid". Journal of General Virology. 72 (8): 1781–5. doi:10.1099/0022-1317-72-8-1781. PMID 1875190.
- "Exocortis / Citrus / Agriculture: Pest Management Guidelines / UC Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM)". www2.ipm.ucanr.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- "Citrus exocortis". Retrieved 24 October 2017.
