Plum pox virus survey of sweet and sour cherry in Bulgaria

B. Stefanova, K. Dragoiski, L. Levy, I. Kamenova, A. Borisova, S. Milusheva, V. Mavrodieva

Abstract: Plum pox virus (PPV), the causal agent of sharka disease affecting the major stone fruit species is endemic in Bulgaria. To investigate PPV incidence level and distribution on sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and sour cherry (P. cerasus) 28 commercial and abandoned orchards were surveyed in 2009 and 2010, as well as some residential and wild cherries. A total of 1141 samples from individual tree were collected and tested using a commercial DAS-ELISA detection system. Some samples were subjected to additional testing by RT-PCR using PPV-specific primers. A commercial sweet cherry sample showing PPV-like symptoms, e.g. chlorotic rings and spots on the leaves and fruits was bud-grafted on GF305 hybrid peach woody indicator seedlings and tested by RT-PCR. PPV was not detected in any samples using serological and/or molecular based tests. Nevertheless, periodic systemic surveys should be conducted to evaluate PPV disease status of sweet and sour cherries in Bulgaria.

Keywords: diagnosis; PPV; tracking; virus strain

Date published: 2019-02-20