Plum pox potyvirus and other fruit tree viruses in Albania
In 1993, surveys have been carried out in Albania in plum, peach and apricot orchards. Stone fruits are important crops in Albania, European and Japanese plum (Prunus domestica and P. salicina) being the most widely grown species (over 2.7 million plants) whereas peach (P. persica) and apricot (P. armeniaca) are generally confined to the plains. Surveys carried, were based on visual observation of symptoms, DAS-ELISA test, immunoelectronic microscopy, graft-transmission to GF 305 and herbaceous hosts. The results of this survey have shown that plum pox potyvirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) is now widespread in large areas of Albania on plum, and an eradication programme does not seem feasible. However, plum pox is rare in apricot and absent on peach. Other viruses have also been found on fruit trees : apple chlorotic leaf spot trichovirus, prunus necrotic ringspot ilarvirus, prune dwarf ilarvirus. Until now, infections of apple mosaic ilarvirus, tomato ringspot nepovirus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) and tomato black ring nepovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have not been detected in Albania.
Sources
Myrta, A.; Di Terlizzi, B.; Digiaro, M (1994) A preliminary account of the sanitary status of stone fruit trees in Albania.
Paper presented at the XVI International Symposium on Viruses and Virus diseases of Temperate Fruit Crops, 1994-06-27/07-03, Rome (IT)
Myrta, A.; Di Terlizzi, B.; Digiaro, M (1994) Occurence and distribution of Sharka in Albania.
Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 33(1), 59-62.