Plum pox virus found for the first time in the Champagne-Ardenne region (FR)
The NPPO of France recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of Plum pox virus (Potyvirus, PPV - EPPO A2 List) in the region Champagne-Ardenne, Northeastern France. During official phytosanitary inspections carried out in a nursery, the presence of PPV was confirmed in 2012-07-02 in 3 plum trees (Prunus domestica cv. ‘Quetsche d’Alsace’ grafted on P. cerasifera cv. ‘Myrobolan’ in 2008). These infected trees belonged to a single lot (other trees had already been sold) which was cultivated on one nursery plot. It is stressed that this nursery is producing planting material only for the local French market (i.e. plants are sold within a radius of 100 km). The source of this infection remains unknown for the moment but investigations are being carried out to determine the origin of the scions and rootstocks. Phytosanitary measures have been taken in accordance with the EU Directive 2000/29/EC (and French legislation) and include: destruction of the infected lot, suspension of the issuance of plant passports for all plots located within a radius of 200 m of the infected plot, tracing-back and tracing-forward studies to identify potentially infected plants, intensification of surveillance activities in the vicinity of the nursery (within a radius of 2.5 km).
The pest status of Plum pox virus in France is officially declared as: Present, restricted distribution only.
Sources
NPPO of France (2012-07).