New gene(s) involved in the resistance of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. to citrus tristeza virus

Abstract

 Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) causes important economic losses in the citrus industry worldwide. Resistance to CTV is present in Poncirus trifoliata and is known to be controlled by a dominant gene at the Ctr locus. Short-distance movement of CTV around the inoculum, as well as passive movement through the phloem vessels, were studied in segregant plants derived by self-pollination from P. trifoliata var. “Flying Dragon” in order to genetically analyze the mechanism of CTV resistance. Accumulation of CTV in the vicinity of the inoculum and in new flushes was studied by means of a direct tissue-blot immunoassay (DTBIA). CTV is able to passively move with the phloematic flux from inoculated resistant genotypes Ctr-Rr and Ctr-RR up to a susceptible scion cultivar (Ctr-rr). Differences regarding CTV accumulation around the inoculum were found among Ctr-Rr individuals of the progeny. Bulked segregant analysis identified five RAPD markers linked to a locus (Ctm), or a genomic region, involved in short-distance accumulation of CTV but located in a different linkage group from Ctr. This result indicates that Ctr is not the only locus responsible for resistance to CTV in P. trifoliata, and that at least one other gene is involved. Given that citrus is a perennial crop, breeding for durable disease resistance should take into account selection at both the Ctr and Ctm loci.