LIBRO-CONGRESO-CITRUS

S14
grafted on C. volkameriana, sour orange and Cleopatra mandarin for the CVIIb inoculated trees and the noninoculated
control. Yield of the Maltaise plants on citrumelo and Carrizo citrange infected with this viroid, was
slightly lower without affecting the quality. Concerning Exocortis, data showed that with Poncirus trifoliata and
Rangpur lime, CEVd infection affected tree height by 25% and 20%, respectively, compared to non-inoculated
controls and reduced yield. For Maltaise grafted on Carrizo citrange and citrumelo infected with CEVd, yield
was slightly decreased in comparison to control trees, but fruit quality was conserved.
S14P35
Biological and molecular detection of Citrus psorosis virus in the Northwest region of Morocco
Achachi A.A., and Ibriz M.
University Ibn Tofail, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra (FSK), Department of Biology, Genetics and Biometry Laboratory, Morocco.
asmaeachachi@yahoo.fr
Psorosis is a very well known citrus disease causing important damage in many countries, particularly in
Mediterranean countries. Based on reports of symptoms such as bark scaling on trunks and branches observed
on sweet orange, mandarin and grapefruit trees, this disease is widely present in Morocco. To determine
the presence of Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), RT-PCR was performed on 24 samples from trees with psorosis
symptoms from the Gharb, the Northwest region in Morocco. To assess CPsV association with psorosis disease
in these uncharacterized field sources, samples were examined by biological indexing. Detection of CPsV by
RT-PCR did not always correlate with observation of psorosis-like symptoms in field trees or in graft inoculated
indicator plants, indicating that psorosis-like symptoms may be also induced by pathogens other than CPsV.
These results show for the first time in Morocco that molecular tests reliably reflect Psorosis infection.
252 - VALENCIA CONFERENCE CENTER, 18th-23rd NOVEMBER 2012