A new disease in Citrus aurantifolia in Oman, “sudden decline”, is associated with a pathogen complex including a 16SrII group phytoplasma

Witches’ broom disease of lime is a devastating disease in the Sultanate of Oman. In recent years a new disease has been observed, which promotes a sudden decline in Citrus aurantifolia (acid lime). The etiological agent of this new disease has not yet been determined. In this study the presence of phytoplasmas and RNAs was evaluated in plants showing the sudden decline symptomatology. The results reveal the presence of a complex of at least three different pathogens: 16SrII phytoplasmas, Citrus tristeza virus and Citrus exocortis viroid.