Citrus sudden death (CSD) or morte súbita dos citros affects sweet orange cultivars and some mandarin trees grafted on Rangpur lime and Volkamer lemon rootstocks. The disease was observed in trees with ages ranging from two to six years; after showing general decline symptoms, the affected trees suddenly collapse and die. Trees on Cleopatra and Sunki mandarins, 'Swingle' citrumelo and trifoliate orange showed no symptoms of CSD. Cambial yellowing in the rootstock can be observed being this the main diagnostic symptom of the disease. The transmission of CSD by graft-inoculation and the spatial evolution suggest that CSD is caused by an insect-vectored pathogen. In order to search for tolerant rootstocks five nursery trees of Valencia sweet orange budded on each of 254 rootstocks were planted in May 2003 and May 2004 in soils were citrus trees affected by CSD were eradicated. Until November 2006, symptoms of the disease were observed on trees budded on the following Rangpur lime selections: Santa Barbara red lime, Borneo red lime, Limão Cravo Taquaritinga, Rangpur India C-26-1, Rangpur rose lemon, Rangpur Kusaie lime, Rangpur red lime D-33-40, Rangpur Egyptian lime, Rangpur lemon India and Japanshe citroen. The use of an interstock of trifoliate or Cleopatra mandarin between Rangpur lime and the Valencia sweet orange scion did not avoid the disease.
disease; citrus decline; Citrus limonia; Swingle citrumelo