Detection of Citrus Psorosis Virus in the northwestern production area of Argentina by using an improved TAS-ELISA

MARIA CECILIA ZANEK, EDUARDO PEÑA, CARINA ANDREA REYES, JULIA FIGUEROA, BEATRIZ STEIN, OSCAR GRAU, MARIA LAURA GARCIA

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS

ELSEVIER

Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 2006 vol. 137 p. 245 - 251

0166-0934

Citrus Psorosis in Argentina is a serious disease. Citrus is produced in two regions located in the Northeast (NEA) and Northwest (NOA) of the country. These two areas have different climates and soil types, and therefore different citrus species and varieties are cultivated.  In the NEA region, Psorosis is epidemic, and in the NOA region, the disease is present but it is not commonly observed in the orchards. Recently, trees with symptoms of Psorosis were observed in Tucumán and Salta Provinces. Epidemiological observations in Argentina and Texas suggested that the disease is naturally spread by an unknown vector. The causal agent of the disease is the Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), which can be detected by TAS-ELISA and RT- PCR, the most reliable and rapid methods. In this paper, a new faster TAS-ELISA-HRP (Horseradish Peroxidase) is described that is more reliable, quick and sensitive than the currently used for this virus, the TAS-ELISA-AP (Alkaline Phosphatase). By this improved method, in the NOA citrus region Psorosis has been detected in few trees in the orchards of Tucumán and Salta Provinces although no natural spread seems to occur.