First detection of Plum pox potyvirus-M strains in plum orchards in south-western Germany
Plum pox potyvirus (PPV - EPPO A2 list) has been present in Germany for many years and occurs in most of the major stonefruit-growing areas. During surveys done in 1993, it was found that all tested isolates from western Germany were PPV-D strains, and that only 2 PPV-M strains had been found in eastern Germany. From 2002 to 2003, new surveys were carried out in the major stonefruit-growing regions of south-western Germany on the distribution of PPV strains. More than 200 leaf samples were taken in summer from plum (Prunus domestica), peach (P. persica), apricot (P. armeniaca) growing in commercial orchards, and from wild Prunus (P. cerasifera, P. insititia, P. spinosa). Samples were tested by DASI-ELISA and RT-PCR. PPV-D strains were detected in most samples (187 samples), and PPV-M strains were found for the first time on 35 samples of plums (P. domestica) from 3 regions of south-western Germany (Ortenau, Kaiserstuhl and near Stuttgart - all in Baden-Württemberg).
Sources
Jarausch W, Bassler A, Molla N, Krczal G (2004) First detection and molecular characterisation of PPV-M strains in plum orchards in South-Western Germany. Acta Horticulturae no. 657, 159-164.