PRODUCTION OF AN ANTISERUM SPECIFIC TO CITRUS LEAF BLOTCH VIRUS.

Different Citrus species used as ornamentals and some trifoliate rootstocks were recently found infected by Citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV), the type species of the genus Citrivirus, family Betaflexiviridae. This virus is currently detected by RT-PCR following nucleic acid extraction. For a faster virus detection from crude plant extracts, the feasibility of raising a CLBV-specific antiserum to be utilized for serological testing was investigated.