Citrus blight, an abnormality of unknown etiology, is a major problem in citrus production, since there are no prevention and control measures to be taken. In order to characterize this abnormality, changes in genetic expression of the affected plants have exhaustedly been studied. Crude proteec extract obtained from the root xylem of the abnormal plants, when separated by SDS-PAGE 12,5%, display a profile with 21, 23, 31 and 42 kDa proteins. This work aimed the production of antibodies against those proteins, as well as their ideal dilution for use. Two subcutaneous inoculations were done in rabbits, within a 15-day interval, both with approximately 120mg of the isolated protein, with each rabbit receiving shots with a specific protein, for the production of the antibodies. A First bleeding was performed 21 days after the first inoculation and afterwards, weekly. Western blotting was carried out to confirm the presence of the antibodies and their respective dilutions. The 1:1500 dilution provided the best specificity for the 21, 23 and 31 kDa proteins, whereas for the 26 and 42 kDa proteins, the best dilution was at 1:3000.
Citrus blight; protein; antibody
