PSOROSIS

disease of Citrus plant species caused by several related viruses. Symptoms vary greatly and include formation in some young leaves of elongated, white to yellow-green flecks, spots, rings, or large translucent areas. Certain symptoms tend to fade as the leaves mature. Rings bordered by sunken grooves may form on the fruit. On trees 6 to 12 or more years old, the outer bark in localized areas commonly becomes scaly, or small irregular pustules and gumlike deposits develop, with the wood being stained underneath. Variously sized cavities or narrow grooves may develop in the large limbs and trunk. If psorosis is severe, growth is dwarfed, trees lack vigour, and yields may be reduced one-third or more. The psorosis viruses are transmitted by bud grafts, rarely through natural root grafts. The disease may be controlled by removing seriously affected trees, planting psorosis-free stock, and using only scions and buds from virus-free trees.