Indexing Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Citrus

Abstract

Citrus is a highly nutritive and prized fruit crop around the world. It contributes a substantial share in local consumption and exports of a nation to earn a handsome foreign exchange. The production of citrus is under the threat of citrus decline. Different factors are responsible for the citrus decline but virus and virus-like diseases have the major role in this decline. Virus and virus-like diseases alone or in association with other biotic and abiotic factors exist in the citrus orchards. Therefore, indexing of diseases caused by virus and virus-like pathogens is the key factor to manage these citrus diseases. Proper facilities and skilled personnel are the pre-requisite for the diseases indexing procedures. Biological, serological and molecular indexing is sensitive, reliable and durable strategy for managing different citrus virus and virus-like diseases under different conditions. Moreover, indexing of viruses and virus-like pathogens are very important for the production of disease free citrus nurseries. This chapter gives a brief review for the commonly used biological, serological and molecular assays for the detection of citrus virus and virus-like pathogens.