First report of apple stem grooving virus in Lao PDR, detected in citrus

Apple stem grooving virus, the causal agent of citrus tatterleaf disease, was detected for the first time in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Samples were collected from citrus trees across the southern provinces for testing in Australia. RNA was extracted and tested using conventional and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions with the virus detected in 1 of 59 samples tested. Viral identity was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and high throughput sequencing.