First findings of M isolates of plum pox potyvirus in Italy
In Italy, plum pox potyvirus (PPV - EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was detected for the first time in 1973 in apricots in Alto Adige. In Trentino, it was first observed in 1975 on apricot and plum. In this region, despite a strict programme of control, the disease continued to spread in plum orchards. The authors recalled that PPV isolates can be separated into three groups, although recently a fourth group concerning cherry isolates has been proposed. So far, PPV-D isolates have been found in: Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain, and former Yugoslavia. PPV-M isolates are present in: Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Turkey and former Yugoslavia. The third group contains the El-Amar isolate which was found in Egypt. In Italy, until recently only PPV-D isolates were detected. PPV-M was found for the first time in 1995 and 1996 on peach in Veneto and Emilia-Romagna (Poggi-Pollini et al., 1996). Studies have been carried out in Trentino to characterize the isolates of PPV; and results showed that both PPV-D and PPV-M isolates could be detected on symptomatic plums (Prunus domestica). The authors noted that this is the first time that PPV-M isolates are detected on plum in Italy.
Sources
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Poggi Pollini, C. Bissani, R.; Giunchedi, L.. Gambin, E.; Goio, P. (1996) [Sharka: discovery of a dangerous strain of the virus in peach crops.]
Informatore Agrario, 52(32), 77-79.