THE ANATOMY OF TUMORS INDUCED ON CITRUS BY CITRUS VEIN-ENATION VIRUS

Citrus vein-enation virus-induced tumors on leaves, thorns, stems, and roots of Citrus auranti-folia (Christm.) Swingle and C. jambhiri Lush. were investigated. Leaf vein tumors are initiated as cytological abnormalities of phloem fiber primordial cells adjacent to protophloem sieve tubes. The tumors then enlarge through hyperplasia of the affected fiber primordia. The mesophyll and epidermal tissues on the abaxial side of affected veins divide less prolifically and contribute to the tumor mass. Leaf vein tumors are determinate, like the protophloem where they originate, and cease enlarging as the leaf matures. Most thorn tumors are initiated in fiber primordia and develop similarly to vein tumors. Stem tumors and some thorn tumors develop from affected cells of the procambial tissue that lies between the metaxylem and metaphloem of vascular bundles. The cambium which differentiates in these areas is composed of affected cells and produces large amounts of abnormal xylem tissue. The resulting woody tumors are indeterminate like the cambium and secondary xylem.