Breakdown of cross-protection of grapefruit from decline-inducing isolates of Citrus tristeza virus following introduction of the brown citrus aphid

A 21-year-old replicated field planting of 84 'Ruby Red' grapefruit trees cross-protected with three mild isolates of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was assessed for decline-inducing and non-decline-inducing isolates of the virus 5 years after the brown citrus aphid (BrCA) (Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy) first was established in the experimental area. Prior to the introduction of the BrCA, the cross-protecting mild isolates had significantly reduced detectable infection with decline-inducing isolates of CTV for 16 years (average infection of 13% in cross-protected trees compared with 67% in unprotected trees). After the introduction of the BrCA, infections with decline-inducing CTV (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were 57, 81, and 71% for trees protected with three mild isolates, respectively, compared with 95% in unprotected trees. These results suggest that the introduction of BrCA accelerated the breakdown of cross-protection against decline-inducing isolates of CTV in grapefruit.