Molecular Analyses of Citrus tristeza virus Subisolates Separated by Aphid Transmission

Abstract

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) exists in field isolates as a complex of virus isolates. This complex may contain both mild and severe CTV. Using single and multiple aphid transmissions, subiso-lates of the various field isolates were separated. Some CTV isolates that tested negative with the monoclonal antibody MCA13 consisted of MCA13-positive subisolates. Using primers to specific and variable regions of the CTV genome, molecular profiles of the isolates and subisolates were generated and compared. The profiles of the subisolates sometimes were very different from the parent field isolates from which they were transmitted.