Plum pox potyvirus occurs in Kazakhstan
Central Asia is considered as the region of origin of apricot (Prunus armeniaca). In Kazakhstan, wild populations of apricot grow on the slopes of the Tien-Shan mountain range. These trees are useful sources of material for plant breeding. Studies were done on the presence of Plum pox potyvirus (EPPO A2 list) on wild apricot trees growing in the northern range of Tien-Shan (Zailiyski Alatou) and on plum trees from a collection (Pomological Garden in Talgar, east of Almaty). The presence of PPV was detected (ELISA and molecular tests) in all plum trees tested (11 trees) and in several apricot trees (9 trees). All tested plum trees presented severe leaf symptoms, whereas only a single apricot tree showed fruit symptoms. The isolates from plum and apricot were typed as D strain. The EPPO Secretariat had previously no data on the occurrence of PPV in Kazakhstan.
The situation of Plum pox potyvirus occurs in Kazakhstan can be described as follows: Present, reported in 2004 in wild apricots and 1 germplasm collection of plum.
Sources
Spiegel S, Kovalenko EM, Varga A, James D (2004) Detection and partial molecular characterization of two Plum pox virus isolates from plum and wild apricot in Southeast Kazakhstan.
Plant Disease 88(9), 973-979.