Testing of citrus production materials brought from abroad in term of tristeza and spiroplasma citri by using serological and molecular methods

This study was conducted on 6 oranges, 6 mandarin, 5 grapefruits and 6 lemons varieties, brought from abroad for production, maintained in greenhouses of Çukurova University, Subtropical Fruits Research and Experimental Centre. These production materials were tested in term of Tristeza ve Spiroplasma citri by serological and molecular techniques by 2009 and 2010 years.The production materials were tested by DAS-ELISA, and except positive control all samples and negative control were found negative for Tristeza and Stubborn diseases.In PCR assays, CTV1 and CTV10 primers couple were used to amplify 653 bp on coat protein gene of CTV; P58-4f and P58-4r primer couple were used to amplify 450 bp on putative p58 adhesin-like gene of Stubborn. In the result of PCR assays, 653 bp band was observed on agarose gel for only sample coded 24 number for Tristeza and remaining samples were found as negative; 450 bp bands were not observed on agarose gel for all samples for Stubborn.It was determined all of varieties used in this study are not infected with Tristeza and Stubborn by serologically and molecular techniques.Key Words: Tristeza, Stubborn, DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR