Presumed virus particles mostly occur in parenchyma cells of the lesion in affected orange leaves, fruits or stems. Particles are short, bacilliform, 120-130 nm long (occasionally up to 300 nm) and 50-55 nm wide. They occur within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (Kitajima et al., 1974, Colariccio et al., 1995). There is a report of similar but unenveloped particles in the nucleoplasm (Kitajima et al., 1972).;In addition to the presence of the rhabdovirus-like particles within the endoplasmic reticulum of tissues from the lesion, dense viroplasm-like material is commonly found in the cytoplasm, near the particles. Small vesicle-containing fibrillar materials are frequently present in the vacuole, associated with the tonoplast, next to the dense material (Kitajima et al., 1972, Colariccio et al., 1995).;Chloroplasts are usually affected with a disorganized hypertrophied lamella system (Kitajima et al., 1972, Rodrigues, 1995). There is a report in which rod-like particles, considered to be naked rhabdovirus particles accumulate in the nucleoplasm associated with the nuclear envelope (Kitajima et al., 1972).
Related crop
- Passiflora edulis
- Citrus
- Coffea arabica
Related invasive species
- Xanthomonas axonopodis
- Brevipalpus californicus
- Citrus canker
- Coffee ringspot virus
- Brevipalpus phoenicis
- Chlorosis
- Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. axonopodis
- Citrus leprosis virus
Related Farm Practice
- Transmission
- Defoliation
- Materials
Related location
- Brazil
- Argentina
Round to elliptical local lesions are seen on fruits, leaves and twigs. The severity of the lesions varies with the type of citrus and the region of origin. Leaf symptoms are usually round with a dark-brown central spot about 2-3 mm diameter, surrounded by a chlorotic halo, in which 1-3 brownish rings frequently appear surrounding the central spot, the overall lesion size varies from 10 to 30 mm, though larger lesions may form by the fusion of 2 or more adjacent lesions.;On fruits, lesions are necrotic spots 10-20 mm in diameter, with a necrotic centre. Gum exudation is occasionally observed on the lesion. On green fruits, the lesions are initially yellowish, becoming more brown or black, sometimes depressed, and reducing the market value of the fruits.;On stems, lesions may be protuberant, cortical, grey or brown. Lesions may coalesce when present in large numbers, leading to the death of the twig. In extreme cases observed in different places (JCV Rodrigues, personal communication), as described initially in 'lepra explosiva' in Argentina, severe defoliation and fruit fall may occur (Frezzi, 1940, Bitancourt, 1955, Rossetti et al., 1969).;Citrus leprosis lesions are usually very characteristic, but may sometimes be mistaken for lesions of citrus canker caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. axonopodis, or zonate chlorosis (Rossetti, 1980). Zonate chlorosis, which is associated with infestation by the same mites, does not become necrotic. Symptoms are essentially concentric green and chlorotic rings (Bitancourt, 1934).;Other viral diseases are vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis in Brazil. Coffee ringspot virus in Coffea arabica (Chagas, 1978), Ligustrum ringspot virus in Ligustrum lucidum (Rodrigues et al., 1995), and green spot of passion fruit in Passiflora edulis (Kitajima et al., 1997). In addition, Brevipalpus californicus is a vector of Orchid fleck virus in orchids (Maeda et al., 1998). However, cross-transmission was not described among these viruses and leprosis.