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POSTERS: Virology II

P-596 - Investigating the Impacts and Pollen Transmissibility of Citrus Yellow Vein-associated Virus in a California Field Trial

Tuesday, August 5, 2025
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3
Abstract Text: Citrus yellow vein was first reported in California in 1957 in limequat trees, and based on greenhouse studies it was regarded as a mild, graft-transmissible disease. Citrus yellow vein-associated virus (CYVaV) was recently characterized as a ~2.7 kb class 2 umbra-like viral RNA. This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact(s) of CYVaV on citriculture. The research objectives were to evaluate its infection dynamics, natural transmission routes, and effects on tree growth and fruit yield, under field conditions. In 2020, a replicated field trial was planted in Riverside, California with 12 popular scion/rootstock (S/R) variety combinations. Trees were graft-inoculated with CYVaV and monitored for three years; RT-qPCR confirmed viral presence mainly in lemon and mandarin varieties. Although mild foliar yellow-vein symptoms occasionally emerged, no significant reductions in tree vigor, fruit yield, or quality were observed across infected S/R combinations. Further PCR analyses demonstrated that pollen collected from infected trees contained CYVaV; however, field pollination bioassays did not result in CYVaV transmission to untreated trees. Our findings suggest that, under the field conditions and commercial citrus tested, CYVaV poses minimal risk to citrus productivity or health, although ongoing surveillance remains vital. By generating data-driven insights into the biology of an understudied sub-viral RNA, this research reinforces current quarantine measures and management strategies for emerging viral threats in commercial citrus.