Plum pox virus (PPV), also known as sharka, was first reported in 1915 to occur in plums in Bulgaria. It has spread throughout Europe and is considered the most devastating disease of stone fruits. Once established in a region, PPV is difficult to eradicate. PPV was first detected in Chile in 1992. In September 1999, Strain-D of PPV was detected in several orchards in Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2000, Strain-D of PPV was discovered in Ontario, CANADA. PPV is spread by nonpersistent transmission by aphids, budwood, or nursery stock. The only way to determine the presence of PPV is by serological (ELISA) laboratory tests. The only "cure" is destruction of all of the trees in an infected orchard. PPV does not kill trees, but it decreases yields and makes fruit unmarketable. The disease does not affect humans or animals. A tree infected with PPV may not display symptoms on leaves or fruit until three years after the tree became infected. Diagnostic symptoms on leaves may consist of light green to yellow rings or light green discoloration bordering the leaf veins. Severely infected peaches have discolored ring spots, may have brown spots, may be shriveled, and have no commercial value. Many potyviruses are spread by aphid vectors that do not colonize the plants.
Species 1: Homoptera Aphididae Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (green peach aphid)
Species 2: Homoptera Aphididae Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (mealy plum aphid)
Keywords: sharka, potyvirus
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA