Impact of Citrus ring spot virus on biochemical alterations and fruit yield of Kinnow mandarin

Citrus ring spot virus (CRSV) is a serious disease of citrus, infecting 38–87% existing plantation of citrus in Punjab. Healthy and CRSV infected Kinnow mandarin plants were marked at PAU, Regional Fruit Research Station, Abohar and compared for any harmful effect of the virus on the plant. The virus infection resulted in 25.40% reduction in fruit yield. CRSV impairs the fruit quality by causing a considerable decrease in fruit weight, length and breadth, juice, TSS, vitamin-C and reducing sugars and increase in peel, rag and acidity. The amount of total sugars, starch, total phenols, carotenoids and RNA increased; whereas, total proteins, free amino acids, chlorophylls and DNA decreased in the leaves of plants infected with CRSV when compared with the healthy ones. These alterations may serve as a valuable tool for the identification of the viruses.