Genetic variability of orf p29, the putative CiLV coat protein gene.

• Grant number: 08/10642-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2009
• End date: December 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Juliana de Freitas Astúa
• Grantee: Juliana Aparecida Pereira
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/52691-9 - Management of citrus leprosis, AP.TEM

Abstract

Citrus leprosis is an economically important disease due to the high costs associated with its management in Brazilian orchards. It is caused by Citrus leprosis virus C, transmitted by the tenuipalpid mite Brevipalpus phoenicis. This vector is cosmopolitan and has a world wide distribution, which can lead to the appearance of isolates of the virus in different geographic regions. The study of its variability will allow a better knowledge of the pathosystem, the identification of severe strains of CiLV and, possibly, new strategies for the management of the disease. One of the most commonly used techniques to study viral genetic variability is the single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP), which allows the identification of isolates through differences that are not always detected by biological properties. Though still used, this technique has been complemented in the last years with nucleotide sequencing of regions of interest. Altogether, they allow a more robust and comprehensive study of the system, leading to a precise isolate differentiation through the sequenced nucleotides.