Economic Impact of Mild Strains of Citrus Tristeza Virus, Poster Board #362

In 1963 the tristeza eradication program was established in the San Joaquin Valley of central California for the survey, detection and removal of commercial citrus trees infected with Citrus Tristeza Virus. Under this program production and fruit quality comparisons of CTV infected and non-infected trees were not possible. Under the project addressed in this report, Citrus Tristeza Virus and its effect on dollar returns to growers were evaluated. Production and fruit quality data were measured from infected and non-infected trees in commercial orchards Analysis of data collected over a period of twelve years indicated no significant difference in value of fruit from infected versus non-infected trees. The results of this study provided data on the impact of mild strains of the virus on trees grown on rootstocks tolerant to the virus, information which had not previously been available to the citrus industry.