Survey on strawberry viruses in Yugoslavia
A survey on strawberry viruses was conducted in Yugoslavia. Strawberry plants showing virus-like disease symptoms were collected from the main strawberry-growing areas of Yugoslavia (Cacak, Grocka, Knjazevac, Leskovac, Smederevo, Sabac and Vranje). Samples were tested by leaf grafting, and subsequently for positive samples by aphid (Chaetosiphon fragaefolii) transmission to several Fragaria vesca and F. virginiana standard indicator clones. In addition, samples were tested by mechanical inoculation to standard herbaceous indicator plants, by ELISA and dsRNA analysis. Results showed that in four of the strawberry-growing areas, cultivars Senga Sengana and Cacanska Rana were most frequently infected with strawberry mottle virus (20/26 fields) and occasionally (3/26 fields) with strawberry crinkle cytorhabdovirus (EU Annex II/A2). In the Lesovac growing area, strawberry mild yellow edge potexvirus* (EU Annex II/A2) was detected in 16 % of the Senga Sengana tested samples. In Grocka and Smederevo fields most plants of the cultivars Cacanska Rana, Favette, Pocahontas and Senga Sengana showed pronounced and unusual symptoms (chlorotic vein streaking with chlorotic spots and rings on leaflets). Identification of the putative causal virus(es) is under way.
* New record according to the EPPO Secretariat.
Sources
Dulik-Markovic, I.; Rankovic, M.; Converse, R.H. (1997) Occurrence of strawberry viruses in Yugoslavia.
Abstract of a paper presented at the ISHS XVII International Symposium on virus diseases of fruit trees, Bethesda, US, 1997-06-23/27, p 107.