Citrus Leprosis Fruit, Leaf, and Stem Symptom Identification
Citrus Leprosis Facts
- Nonsystemic virus, does not move throughout the tree.
- Spread by various flat mite species (Brevipalpus spp.).
- Primarily affects sweet orange and mandarin varieties, but other varieties can be affected.
- Limes are known to be asymptomatic, possibly resistant.
- Lesions are the result of the virus being injected by flat mite feeding.
- Disease management begins with managing the mites.
Fruit Symptoms
- Early symptoms are chlorotic lesions on fruit (see other side).
- Early lesions on fruit are flat, generally circular with early stages of necrosis.
- Older necrotic lesions turn rusty-red to brown with depressed centers and surrounded by a yellowish halo in immature fruit.
- Older lesions can exhibit concentric green rings within the lesion (also called zone pattern).
- Under high temperatures, the necrotic center may crack.
Leaf Symptoms
- 1 to 3 centimeters (0.39 to 1.2 inches) in diameter on both sides of the leaf.
- Start as chlorotic circular lesions.
- Later become brown in color with pinpoint pattern on yellow background.
- Lesions on leaves are usually flat but later become slightly raised.
Stem Symptoms
- Early stage, shallow lesions on stem.
- Reddish-brown color and are irregular, raised.
- Older lesions cause corky, scaly bark.
![Immature fruit symptoms with halos.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Ikqom56g96/Ikqom56g96-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Fruit symptoms with zone pattern.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Iactkvp669/Iactkvp669-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Leaf symptoms with zone pattern.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I5lcrhd739/I5lcrhd739-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Early bark scaling stem symptoms.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I9hqdkl0dh/I9hqdkl0dh-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
Leprosis lesions are localized, and the virus does not move throughout the tree.
![Necrotic fruit symptoms; no halo.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I6sid50ch0/I6sid50ch0-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Early fruit symptoms.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Inu5kmz8if/Inu5kmz8if-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Chlorotic circular lesions (zone pattern) on upper side of leaf.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Itrwuor3g3/Itrwuor3g3-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Chlorotic circular lesions (zone pattern) on under side of leaf.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Iulrio5ahc/Iulrio5ahc-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Fruit symptoms with zones and slight necrosis in the middle.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Ij8c4diuk2/Ij8c4diuk2-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Concentric green rings within lesions on immature and mature fruit.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/In6p4zoqzw/In6p4zoqzw-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Ring structure (zone pattern) of the lesion.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Ivb6spoxve/Ivb6spoxve-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Young (left) to old leaf lesions (far right) on leaves.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Ieipk9mhp1/Ieipk9mhp1-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Fruit symptoms showing color change.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/Iusrorhwmm/Iusrorhwmm-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Older, depressed lesions.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I6p22287zr/I6p22287zr-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Young twig symptoms with rings.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I29vfrubpo/I29vfrubpo-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS
![Severe bark scaling stem symptoms.](/image/PP365/Dit1fx6i96/I0c4ypkvus/I0c4ypkvus-2048.webp)
Credit: UF/IFAS