Citrus Virus and Virus-Like Diseases in Libya

Abstract

Citrus is one of the most important fruit tree in Libya. The cultivated area of citrus at present is more than 7,000 hectares mainly distributed in the western coast of the country. Commercial varieties include sweet orange, Citrus sinensis (Linn.) Osbeck., mandarin, C. reticulata Blanco, and grapefruit, C. paradisi Macf. Rootstock variety used is mainly sour orange, C. aurantium Linn.
An extensive survey for citrus virus diseases was conducted during the last six years. It showed that most of the sweet orange and mandarin trees budded on sour orange rootstock were affected with one disease or more.
This paper reports citrus virus diseases, and other virus-like disorders, including mycoplasmalike diseases which have been encountered during the survey. Control measures of these diseases are also discussed.