Determination of Virus and Viroid Diseases on Satsuma Owari Mandarins by Biological and Serological Methods in Edremit Gulf Region

This study was carried out during 2005-2006 in citrus orchards in Edremit Gulf Region (Edremit, Havran and Burhaniye subprovince) to determine prevalence of virus and viroid diseases including Exocortis, Citrus tristeza virus, Satsuma dwarf and Psorosis on Satsuma Owari mandarins. During 2005-2006 in citrus production areas in Edremit Gulf region were surveyed and samples were collected from symptomatic trees. Samples were tested by biological indexing for Exocortis and Satsuma dwarf, DAS-ELISA for Psorosis and DAS-ELISA and biological indexing for Citrus tristeza virus. DAS-ELISA test reveal that while 38 of 156 samples were infected with Citrus tristeza virus, none of the 10 samples tested was positive for Psorosis. Biological indexing showed that 1 of 20 samples tested was infected with Exocortis viroid, however no symptoms were observed from the Satsuma dwarf samples. On the other hand, indexed Citrus tristeza virus isolates induced vein clearing and stem pitting symptoms on Mexican lime plants.