First report of Plum pox virus in the Republic of North Macedonia
Plum pox virus (Potyvirus, PPV – EPPO A2 List) is reported for the first time from the Republic of North Macedonia. A specific survey was carried out in June 2018 across the country, targeting commercial orchards and private gardens, as well as wild Prunus trees. Leaf samples were collected from 173 Prunus trees (including P. persica, P. armeniaca, P. domestica, and P. cerasifera) exhibiting typical sharka symptoms (chlorotic rings and vein yellowing; 115 samples), atypical symptoms (necrotic spots; 29), or no symptoms (29). Samples were tested (ELISA, PCR tests, sequencing) and PPV was detected in 69% of the samples (110, 8, and 1 sample(s) with typical, atypical, and no symptoms, respectively). In addition, 88 isolates were characterized as PPV-M (74%), 10 as PPV-D (8%), and 21 as PPV-Rec (18%). A mixed infection with PPV-M and PPV-D was detected in 1 sample. During this survey, it is noted that all sampled peach (P. persica) and plum (P. domestica) orchards were found to be infected by PPV; and up to 100% yield loss has been observed in the most susceptible local plum cultivars (e.g. Požegača).
The situation of plum pox virus in the Republic of North Macedonia can be described as follows: Present, widespread.
Sources
Dallot S, Kuzmanovska B, Brevet M, Rusevski R, Thébaud G (2020) First report of plum pox virus strains M, D, and Rec infecting Prunus spp. in the Republic of North Macedonia. Plant Disease 104(1), p 296. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-19-0475-PDN