The presence of the vein enation virus, also known as woody gall virus, in Citrus limon, in Santa Catarina State, is reported. The virus was introduced through contamined nursery plants acquired in the São Paulo State. `Volkamer' lemon budded with contamined buds has developed typical woody gall symptoms, more frequently in Alto Vale do Itajaí (High Itajaí River Valley), and less frequently in Santa Catarina's Northern Coast. A significant decrease in plant development and fruit yield was been observed. All known contaminated material was erradicated. It is suggested that official research institutions carry out indexing tests for this virosis at their germplasm banks, since part of the citrus varieties fail to develop symptoms of this disease.
Siciliano lemon; Volkamer lemon; indexing; vein enation virus