Topical application of dsRNAs targeting Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) reduces its titer in the CTV infected sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)

Abstract Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is found worldwide wherever citrus cultivated, causing disease resulting in significant yield losses and sometimes the death of plant. Transgenic plants encoding CTV gene sequences have shown to exhibit pathogen-derived resistance CTV. Exogenous application double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) an established strategy for plant control, making this method attractive alternative transgenic interference (RNAi). The dsRNA molecules targeting CP, p20, p23 genes G8 strain were synthesized vitro topically applied onto leaves sweet orange ( sinensis ) infected with G8. exogenous all dsRNAs reduced titer at 10 days post (dpa) as revealed by quantitative RT-PCR assay done four different time points. These results provide a proof-of-concept non-transgenic approach controlling CTV, closterovirus, perennial fruit crop such citrus.