Molecular detection and identification of citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) and hop stunt viroid (HSVd) in Palestine

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Citrus plants are natural hosts to several phytopathogens, including viroids, many of which have a significant economic impact on the crop. This research was to identify molecularly the Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) as well as Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) in citrus in Palestine. Field inspections were conducted during August 2020; where virus and virus-like symptoms were noted as epinasty; vein discoloration and leaf deformation were noticed in the citrus germplasm collection in the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC). Using a two-step RT-PCR detection method, HSVd was detected in 9.5% of samples and CBLVd in 7%. The amplified amplicons of both detected viroids were sequenced and deposited in gene bank as Palestinian isolates under the accession numbers PQ084650 and PQ084651, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular identification of CBLVd and HSVd in citrus in Palestine.