Virus species associated with apple russet ring and apple green crinkle diseases
Among fruit disorders, the EU Regulation 2019/2072 lists as Regulated Non-Quarantine Pests (RNQPs) for Malus species ‘russet ring’ and ‘green crinkle’. They are also listed by other EPPO countries. Apple russet ring and apple green crinkle are graft-transmitted diseases which were first reported more than 60 years ago but no association between a specific virus and the disease had been clearly demonstrated. However they were regulated or included in certification schemes of a number of countries at that time. In 2020, Li et al. conducted a series of experiments and showed that ‘russet ring’ was caused by a variant of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus and that ‘green crinkle’ was caused by apple stem pitting virus (both also listed as RNQPs by the EU).
It can be noted that James et al. in 2013 had already considered that ‘apple green crinkle associated virus’ (AGCaV) could be a variant or strain of ASPV.
EPPO note: These results will be reflected in the EPPO Global Database, and as a consequence the EPPO Codes for these two diseases (APLP00 for russet ring, and APGC00 for green crinkle) will be deactivated, and the disease names will be reassigned to their associated viruses.
Sources
James D, Varga A, Jesperson GD, Navratil M, Safarova D, Constable F, Horner M, Eastwell K, Jelkmann W (2013) Identification and complete genome analysis of a virus variant or putative new foveavirus associated with apple green crinkle disease. Archives of Virology 158, 1877-1887.
Li C, Yaegashi H, Kishigami R, Kawakubo A, Yamagishi N, Ito T, Yoshikawa N (2020) Apple russet ring and apple green crinkle diseases: Fulfillment of Koch’s postulates by virome analysis, amplification of full-length cDNA of viral genomes, in vitro transcription of infectious viral RNAs, and reproduction of symptoms on fruits of apple trees inoculated with viral RNAs. Frontiers in Microbiology 11, 1627. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01627
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019. Consolidated available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02019R2072-20231009