Prospection et première caractérisation moléculaire de l’exocortis (Citrus exocortis viroid, CEVd) dans la région du Gharb

Viroids are graft and mechanically transmissible agents, disseminated through budding. A field survey was conducted, during July 2013, for citrus viroids in the Gharb region. A total of 53 samples were collected and used for inoculation of ‘Etrog’ lemon before being tested by RT-PCR for the detection of exocotris (Citrus exocortis viroid, CEVd). The results showed that CEVd was widespread in the region with an infection rate of 84.9% in the analyzed samples. After genomic sequencing, a study of the genetic diversity was conducted on three representative local isolates of CEVd. The comparison between the nucleotide sequences of Moroccan CEVd isolates revealed a genetic diversity of less than 3%